What to Wear for Family Photos in Colorado: The Ultimate Style Guide
You booked your family photos!
Now comes the question I hear all the time...
“Okay Alexandria… what in the world are we supposed to wear?!”
First: don't panic. Choosing outfits for family photos does not have to mean ordering 47 things online,
covering your bed in clothes and questioning every fashion decision you've ever made. The goal isn't for your family to look perfectly matched. Actually, I don't want you perfectly matched at all!
I want you to look coordinated, comfortable, and like yourselves, just the slightly more polished version that's ready to hang on the wall. So, whether we're heading into the Colorado mountains, chasing fall colors, walking through an open field, or photographing your family among the red rocks, here's exactly how I recommend planning your outfits.
Start With Mom. Seriously.
Moms, I'm giving you permission to choose your outfit first. So often, Mom plans everyone's clothes, gets the kids looking adorable, finds something perfect for Dad…and then realizes she has absolutely no idea what she's wearing. We're not doing that. Find something that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable first. Then build everyone else's outfits around yours. Long, flowy dresses photograph beautifully because they add movement. Midi and maxi dresses are especially gorgeous outdoors and against Colorado's mountain scenery. But if dresses aren't your thing? Don't wear one! A beautiful sweater, jeans and boots can be just as perfect. Feeling comfortable and confident matters more than following a photography fashion rule.
Coordinate—Don't Match
Remember the days when everyone showed up for family pictures wearing a white shirt and jeans? We've evolved. Instead of choosing one color for everyone, start with a color palette of three to five complementary colors.
For example:
Cream + camel + rust + olive + denim
Or:
Cream + dusty rose + taupe + soft brown + sage
Now everyone's outfit feels connected without looking like you ordered family uniforms.
Neutral Colors Are Your Best Friend
There is a reason I recommend neutrals again and again.
Cream, beige, camel, taupe, brown, soft gray and denim photograph beautifully and allow your family and the scenery to be the focus. Then we can layer in a few muted colors.
Think:
Sage • Olive • Rust • Burgundy • Dusty Rose • Mustard • Terracotta • Soft Blue
These colors are especially gorgeous against Colorado's natural landscapes.
You don't have to avoid color—I LOVE color!
We just want your colors to complement the location instead of competing with it.
Think About Your Colorado Location
This is a BIG one.
Your outfits should make sense with where we're taking your photos.
If we're photographing your family surrounded by golden aspens in the fall, warm neutrals, creams, deep greens, burgundy and rust can look incredible.
If we're somewhere with red rocks, softer neutrals, cream, sage, denim and earthy tones photograph beautifully. For a green summer mountain session, creams, dusty blues, soft pinks and warmer neutrals can give us a lighter feel. And for snowy winter photos?
Give me chunky sweaters, beautiful coats, boots and layers ALL DAY.
Your location and wardrobe should feel like they belong in the same story.
Add Texture Instead of Tons of Patterns
Texture photographs SO beautifully.
Think chunky knits, linen, corduroy, denim, suede, lace, flowy fabrics and layered sweaters.
These little differences create depth without making your photos feel busy.
Patterns aren't completely off limits either.
The trick is to choose one person to wear a subtle pattern and pull colors from that outfit for everyone else. For example, if your daughter's dress has cream, sage and dusty pink flowers, Mom might wear cream, Dad could wear sage, and your son could wear a soft neutral.
Suddenly everything coordinates without matching.
Layers Are PERFECT for Colorado
If you've lived here for five minutes, you already know:
Colorado weather does whatever Colorado weather wants. It can be warm and sunny when you leave Denver and chilly by the time we reach the mountains. Layers aren't just cute, they're practical. Cardigans, sweaters, jackets, scarves and beautiful coats give us options throughout your session and can create completely different looks without anyone changing clothes. For little ones especially, bring an extra warm layer. A cold toddler is not interested in our photography vision.
Shoes Matter More Than You Think
Remember that many of my Colorado sessions involve walking on dirt, grass, rocks, trails or uneven mountain terrain. Choose shoes you can actually move in. Boots, ankle boots, loafers, clean neutral sneakers and other comfortable shoes usually work beautifully. If you have gorgeous heels you really want for a few portraits, bring them! Just bring walking shoes too. There is absolutely no award for hiking through Colorado in stilettos.
What Should You Avoid?
There aren't many absolute rules because I want your photographs to represent your family. But there are a few things I usually recommend avoiding:
Neon colors, giant logos, distracting graphics, extremely tiny busy patterns, and having everyone in the exact same color. You also want to watch for athletic shoes or super-casual clothing if everyone else is dressed up. Most importantly, don't choose something just because you think it's what you're supposed to wear for professional photos. If your child is miserable in an itchy sweater, we're going to see it.
Comfort matters.
Don't Forget the Little Details
Once everyone's main outfit is planned, look at the entire picture.
Belts. Jewelry. Hair accessories. Socks. Shoes. Jackets.
Those little details can make everything feel polished. But don't feel like you need to over-accessorize either. Your family is still the star of the photograph.
Dress for Movement
This is especially important for a Serendipity Studios session because we are not standing still the entire time. I'm probably going to have you walk. You'll snuggle. You'll play with your kids. Someone might get thrown into the air. There will probably be running. There will definitely be laughing. Choose clothes that allow you to actually move and interact with each other. That's how we get those natural photographs that feel like your family rather than a perfectly posed catalog.
Still Not Sure? Send Me Your Outfits!
This might be my favorite tip:
You don't have to figure this out alone.
My clients are always welcome to send me pictures of their outfit ideas. Lay everything on the bed, snap a picture and send it over! I can help you decide whether something works, suggest a different color, or help you pull the entire family together. That's part of the experience. I don't want you arriving at your session stressed. I want you pulling into that parking lot thinking:
WE LOOK GOOD. Let's do this.
The Most Important Rule? Look Like YOU.
Pinterest is wonderful for inspiration. Instagram is wonderful for inspiration.
And yes, even this guide is meant to inspire you. But your family photographs shouldn't look like someone else's family. If your family loves dressing up then dress up! If you're a jeans-and-boots family, give me jeans and boots. If your daughter refuses to leave the house without her favorite sparkly shoes? Honestly... we might just need to document the sparkly shoes. Years from now, you won't care whether every shade of beige coordinated perfectly. You're going to care about the people in the photograph. So choose outfits that make you feel good, trust me with the rest, and let's have some FUN.
Ready to Plan Your Colorado Family Photos?
Whether you're right here in Colorado or you're traveling from across the country for a Rocky Mountain adventure, I'd love to help you plan a session that feels completely like your family.
We'll choose the location.
We'll plan your wardrobe.
We'll chase beautiful light.
And we'll create photographs you'll want all over your walls.
Let's make some magic in the mountains.
Serendipity Studios Photography Colorful, joyful family photography throughout Denver and the Colorado mountains. Alexandria.
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