What to Wear for Family Photos—With or Without Pets

Family photo with two adults, two kids, and two dogs outside in the fall in Loudoun County.

Fall is coming, and with it, the most popular time of year for family photos. One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“What should we wear?”

One of the main goals of a family portrait is to direct the viewer’s eyes to everyone’s faces. Clothing choices can play a big part in making that happen. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite tips for what to wear—and what to avoid—when planning your family photo session.

What to Wear for Your Family Photos

Choose timeless over trendy. Clothing can easily date your portrait. (Leg warmers, anyone?) Simple, classic options—like jeans and a solid-colored shirt or dress—are always great choices.
Keep it cohesive. Family photos look best when everyone’s clothing is coordinated in both color and style. in similar tones for a polished, unified look. Variations of the same color and a consistent style, e.g., jeans and long sleeve shirts in similar tones. These creates a polished, unified look, keeping the emphasis on your faces and relationships, not your clothing choices.
Stick with darker, muted colors. These help keep the viewer’s eye on your faces (and they’re more slimming, too).
Solid colors beat bold prints and patterns. Loud patterns or bright colors can draw attention away from your family’s faces. This is especially true outdoors as they often clash with the natural environment. If you love prints, consider using them as accents like scarves or a collars or bandana for your pup.
Avoid choppy clothing lines. Choose long sleeves and long pants or skirts or dresses with tall boots. This helps avoid “chopped up” photos where your skin breaks the flow.

Why This Outfit Works

A timeless look: a solid-color dress paired with tall boots.
Red is a perfect choice for fall—it pops without overpowering the photo.
The dog’s bow coordinates with her dress, tying the look together.
Her boots meet the hem of the dress, creating a smooth, uninterrupted line.

Outdoor photoshoot with woman sitting outside with her dog in front of trees with fall colors.

More Tips for What to Wear for Your Family Photos

Add texture with layers. Layers and accessories not only provide more visual interest in your portraits, but they can also give you more variety. For example, you can add or subtract scarves, sweaters, vests, collars, etc. and create a different look.
Wear something comfortable. You’ll be sitting, walking, and interacting during your session. Choose clothes that fit well, stay in place, and let you move easily.
Check your shoes. Your shoes will show in at least some of your photos. Make sure they complement your outfit and aren’t scuffed. Avoid white sneakers.
Don’t forget your hands. Your hands will be in the photos. Check your nails—if you wear polish, make sure it’s not chipped or overly bright.
Think long-term. You will be looking at these photos on your walls for many years, so choose outfits that reflect your style and is flattering.
Do a test run. Lay everyone’s outfits on a bed, or even better, in the room where you’ll display your photos. This helps you see not only how your clothing works together but also how those colors will look in your home. And add your pets to this mix so you can see how your clothing looks with them.

More Examples of Clothing Options That Work

Man and woman with two dogs outdoors in Northern VA for family photo.

Family photo with pets in Northern Virginia outside in the fall.

Couple sitting outdoors for a fall family photo with two dogs, a Beagle puppy and a German Short-Haired Pointer.

What Not to Wear for Family Photos

Avoid white shirts and white sneakers. They’ll be the brightest part of the image and draw focus away from your faces.
Skip high-contrast pairings. A light top with dark pants—or vice versa—draws attention to the midsection (not usually the goal).
No logos or text. Anything with writing pulls the eye and distracts from your faces.
Avoid wearing black if your dog is black. Your dog will blend into your clothing.

Great Color Palettes for Fall Photos

Not sure which colors to pick? Here are three palettes that work really well for fall outdoor photo shoots:

Clothing color palette for fall colors

Clothing color palette for fall colors

Clothing color palette for fall photos

Need More Help or Want to Book a Photo Shoot

Thanks for reading—I hope these tips help you feel more confident choosing outfits for your photo shoot.
If you have any questions, then feel free to call or text me at 703-727-3368, email ellen@ellenzanglaphotography.com, or reach out here.

Thinking about booking a session with your pets? Learn more about what to expect, or schedule your free consultation.

I’ve been a professional pet photographer in Loudoun County, Virginia since 2009, specializing in dog photography, cat photography, and family portraits that include your pets. During that time, there’s never been a dog or cat I couldn’t photograph. Pets are family, and I believe you deserve portraits that reflect their personalities and the bond you share. Because they’re with us for far too short a time, great photos matter even more.

I’m a Certified Professional Photographer through the Professional Photographers of America and a Master of Animal Imagery through Animal Image Makers.

Pet photography, dog photography, cat photography, and family photography with pets in Loudoun County, Northern Virginia, and the DC Metro area—including Ashburn, Leesburg, Reston, Fairfax, Great Falls, and McLean.