"What should we wear?" is the question we get before every single session — so here's the complete answer we send our clients, free to anyone who needs it. Follow the palette rule and the avoid-list and you're 90% of the way to a gallery you'll love.
The one rule: coordinate, don't match
Matching white-shirts-and-jeans went out with the mall studio. Instead, pick a palette of 3–4 colors and dress everyone within it. Easy formula: start with one anchor outfit (usually mom's — choose it first), pull two or three colors from it, and dress everyone else in those tones. Different garments, same family of colors.
Reliable palettes for the Twin Cities' most-photographed settings: cream + rust + olive (fall prairie), white + sky blue + tan (summer lakeside), navy + gray + burgundy (urban and winter), sage + blush + ivory (spring gardens).
What photographs well
Solid colors and small, quiet patterns. Texture is your friend — knits, linen, corduroy, denim all add depth without noise. Long sleeves and long pants flatter almost everyone and read more polished. Movement pieces — skirts and dresses that swish — bring life to walking and twirling shots, which is half of a good family session.
Dress for the location. Prairie and beach want relaxed and flowy; Summit Avenue and downtown want a notch dressier. If you're unsure, one notch above everyday errands is the sweet spot.
What to avoid
Large logos and graphic tees (they date the photo and pull the eye), neon colors (they cast color onto faces — literally), big bold stripes or busy florals on more than one person, brand-new white sneakers (they glow), and head-to-toe black (it swallows detail in outdoor light). Also skip transition lenses — they'll be sunglasses in every photo.
Kids, comfort and the secret weapon
Dress kids in clothes they can move in — a toddler fighting a stiff collar shows up in every frame. Bring a backup outfit for anyone under five, and do snacks before the session, not during (crackers photograph exactly as well as you'd think).
The secret weapon: get yourself ready first. The sessions where parents feel good in their outfits are the ones where everyone relaxes. If it helps, we're happy to look at outfit photos before your session — clients send them all the time. Book a session and we'll send our full prep guide.
Common questions
Should our family all wear the same color?
No — pick a palette of 3–4 coordinating colors and dress everyone within it. Matching outfits flatten the photo; coordinated palettes look intentional and timeless.
What colors look best in outdoor photos?
Warm neutrals (cream, tan, rust, olive), soft blues and muted earth tones. Avoid neon (it reflects onto skin), head-to-toe black, and large logos or busy patterns.
How many outfits should we bring?
One well-chosen outfit is plenty for a standard session; a 90-minute session comfortably fits two. Always bring a backup for kids under five.