Summer Family Photo Outfits: A Complete Style Guide for Every Family Member

It’s that time of year again—summer family photo season is here, and if you’re anything like most of my clients, you’re probably staring at your closet wondering how on earth you’re going to coordinate summer family photo outfits without everyone looking like they’re wearing matching pajamas. Trust me, I’ve been there as both a photographer AND a mom trying to wrangle my own family into photo-worthy outfits!

Summer is absolutely the perfect time for family sessions when the weather is so beautiful and warm. The beach is a great option in the summer when the weather is nice! There’s something magical about capturing families against the backdrop of golden sand and sparkling water, with that gorgeous natural light that only comes during these longer summer days. The relaxed beach atmosphere helps everyone feel more comfortable and natural, making for some truly stunning family portraits. Fields that are still a little green and haven’t turned golden like they will in the fall are another great location option for summer family photos.

I know how hard it is to choose outfits for photos and I actually think it’s the hardest part of having a photo session! You need to make sure everybody looks good and is comfortable, and styling a whole family together can be quite challenging. I understand this struggle completely!

Through nearly two decades of photographing families and developing my styling eye, I’ve learned that families look their best when there’s a consistent color theme, but without everybody being too ‘matchy-matchy’. The good news? With the right approach to summer family photo outfits, you can have your family looking effortlessly coordinated and comfortable in no time!

The Foundation: Choosing Your Color Palette for Summer Photo Outfits

For summer family photo outfits, I actually think it’s the easiest outfit season to style. Because you can use breezy fabrics like linens and cottons to keep everybody cool, kids can be in shorts and they’re happier, and it’s a little less formal than fall family photos. These photoshoots often take place at the beach or outdoors in a field, so they can be a little more casual.

When selecting your summer family photo outfits, start with 2-3 main colors and add 1-2 accent colors maximum. Great color palettes for summer are things like blues, greens, and neutrals—things that are light and breezy just like the season. These combinations work beautifully: soft neutrals with pops of color, earth tones, or classic navy and cream.

Colors to avoid include neon brights, all black (too hot for summer sessions), or too many competing patterns. Consider your photo location when choosing colors—beach sessions call for different palettes than park settings.

My best piece of advice is to choose one clothing item as your anchor piece. Usually, it’s a dress for mom or a daughter that can have a light pattern or specific colors. Then choose the other family members’ outfits so their colors coordinate with the colors in that one dress you’re starting from. It’s a great strategy to have an anchor piece when planning summer family photo outfits.

Styling Mom: Comfortable Elegance That Photographs Beautifully

For mom, we want to make sure that she’s cool and not hot and sweating during the photoshoot. Long flowing dresses or skirts in linen, cotton, and other natural fabrics work wonderfully for summer family photo outfits. Neutrals look great on everybody, and flowy is better than tight for summer sessions.

I avoid things with too much texture, too many knits, or sweaters that will make you miserable in the heat. Instead, opt for:

• Flowy midi or maxi dresses that move well and hide any post-baby concerns
• Blouses with nice pants or skirts for a polished but comfortable look
• Breathable fabrics like linens or cotton blends that photograph beautifully
• Simple jewelry and comfortable shoes that won’t have you sinking into sand or grass

My favorite place to shop for Mom’s outfit is Baltic Born. Check them out…you won’t be disappointed!

As both a photographer and a mom who gets photographed with her own family, I get it—you want to look good but also feel like yourself. The right outfit makes all the difference in how relaxed and natural you look in your photos.

Dad’s Summer Photo Style: Looking Sharp Without the Sweat

Dads have some great options when it comes to summer family photo outfits. Button-down shirts in solid colors or subtle patterns work wonderfully—both short and long sleeves photograph well. Khaki shorts and a chambray shirt look good on both boys and dads, creating a cohesive family look.

For hot weather sessions, consider:

• Nice shorts or lightweight chinos
• Polo shirts as a comfortable alternative to button-downs
• Clean sneakers, loafers, or boat shoes depending on location
• Breathable fabrics that won’t show sweat

Dressing the Kids: Age-Appropriate Styles That Stay Put

I actually find that summer family photo outfits for kids are pretty easy. Girls can wear dresses—you can go shorter and cute, like a little shorter dress at the beach. Boys can wear shorts, and I think khaki shorts with chambray shirts always look great.

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Older Kids (Tweens/Teens) Let them have some input while guiding toward family-friendly choices. For teen boys, solid colored tops with coordinating bottoms work best, and avoid graphic tees with large logos or text that might date your photos. For teen girls, a fun dress or a tank top with a skirt is a perfect choice.

Little Kids (Ages 3-8) Comfort is key—choose summer family photo outfits they can move and play in. Rompers, sundresses, or coordinating separates are perfect. Just make sure everybody’s cool and wearing breezy, breathable outfits that won’t be too hot during the photo session.

Toddlers (Ages 1-3) Easy-to-change pieces are essential in case of accidents. Avoid anything too precious or restrictive. Suspenders, overalls, or simple dresses work great for this age group.

Babies (Under 1 Year) Simple onesies or rompers in solid colors are ideal summer family photo outfits for the littlest family members. Choose soft, breathable fabrics for sensitive skin, and always have multiple outfit options ready for spit-up emergencies.

Most summer photo sessions are held at times that are not during the middle part of the day to avoid the heat. We typically do either an early morning session around an hour after sunrise, or in the evening, an hour before sunset. That’s when the light is best—nice and natural and soft—and it’s not as hot during that part of the day. In summer, evening sessions usually start between 6:30 and 7 PM, especially at the beach where we’re outdoors in bright sun with no shade. Beach sessions often start around 7 PM.

Pro Styling Tips That Make All the Difference

Here are my top professional tips for perfecting your summer family photo outfits:

The Anchor Piece Strategy: Like I mentioned earlier, choose one anchor piece that somebody will be wearing in the photos. It can be a dress or a shirt for dad with a print. Choose all other pieces based on what will look good with that anchor item.

The Layout Test: A great idea to make sure your summer family photo outfits work together is to lay them out on a bed with a white comforter. Take a quick glance at the outfit combination—if something catches your eye or stands out, that piece needs to be swapped.

Professional Guidance: For my clients, I work with them closely to choose what everybody’s going to be wearing for their shoot. I encourage them to text me a photo of their outfit layout, and I give them my honest opinion about what will and will not photograph well. This service is included with all my family sessions, and most clients take me up on the help.

Additional Pro Tips:

• Bring light cardigans or jackets for variety in photos, even in summer
• Have everyone dressed and ready 15 minutes before leaving (trust me, this saves so much stress!)
• Always pack an extra outfit for each child—seriously, trust me on this one!
• Have kids wear their photo outfits at home first to make sure they’re comfy
• Check the forecast and have backup outfit options ready
• Bring flip-flops for walking to the beach, and then ditch them for barefoot beach photos

Creating Picture-Perfect Summer Family Photos Starts With the Right Outfits

The most important thing about summer family photo outfits is that everyone feels comfortable and confident, because that’s what will really shine through in the photos. When families arrive at their session feeling good about how they look, it shows in every single photo.

Great styling enhances the overall photo experience and creates images you’ll treasure for years to come. I’m passionate about making families feel confident because I know how much these photos mean to you. Remember, while coordinated summer family photo outfit ideas matter, genuine smiles and family connection matter even more.

With these styling guidelines, you’ll be well-prepared for a successful summer family photo session. The right outfits will help you feel relaxed and confident, allowing your family’s authentic personality to shine through in every photograph.

Ready to put these summer family photo outfits into action? I’d love to help you create some amazing family memories this season. Check out my family session portfolio to see these styling tips in action, and get in touch to schedule your own session. My summer calendar is almost full at this point, so don’t wait too long to secure your spot!