The secret is to coordinate rather than match. Think of everyone heading to the same barbecue: a little dressed up, but comfy enough to play in. (We’ll leave the Wiggles look of every colour at once for the kids’ parties.) Choose colours you already love living with, so your portraits sit comfortably in your home for years to come.
Choosing what to wear for a family photo shoot can feel surprisingly overwhelming.
You want outfits that feel like you, photograph beautifully, and still look timeless years from now.
The truth is, great family photos don’t start with complicated styling, they start with intention.
At Enhance Studios, we focus on clean, considered styling that supports connection, emotion and storytelling. Clothing should enhance your family, (pun intended) not distract from them or who they are.
This guide walks you through what works, why it works, and how we build styling in layers, so you can feel confident, prepared and completely yourself when you arrive at the studio.
Clean and simple at Enhance Studios does not mean bland, muted or all wearing beige. (though there is nothing wrong with beige)
It means:
You don’t need everyone dressed the same.
You just need everyone heading in the same visual direction, looking like they are going to the same place.
From this clean foundation, we then layer in colour, texture, personality and home styling — always with the final artwork in mind.
“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”
“Colour can raise the dead.”
Pick one palette and choose two or three colours from it for the whole family. Mix light and dark tones, vary your textures and keep patterns to a minimum.
You’ll look coordinated without being matchy-match – but learn more about our colour recommendations HERE
The goal is harmony, not uniformity.
Start by choosing two or three core colours for the whole family, then mix light and dark tones, play with different textures and keep patterns to a minimum.
Doing that will create a sense of balance across the group while still letting everyone’s personality come through.
It’s especially helpful for larger groups, families with teens and families with three or more children.
Your family portraits aren’t just digital files. They’re artwork made to be displayed proudly in your home, so it’s worth thinking about where they’ll hang before you choose outfits.
If your home has a soft, neutral or pastel feel, strong reds or bright primary colours can feel jarring once framed. Instead, choose colours that either complement your existing palette or make a deliberate statement in your space.
Not sure where to start?
Pick one anchor colour, perhaps the olive green of a cushion or a tone already in your home, and search Google Images for “colour palette with olive green” (or your chosen colour). You’ll see a range of colours that work beautifully together, ready to share with the family so everyone is on the same page
“Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered.”
“More is more and less is a bore.”
Keeping things clean and simple never means stripping away personality. It’s something Enhance Studios is known for and proudly embraces. We don’t believe in styling families into something they’re not; we photograph you as you are, with care, intention and an eye for timeless storytelling. Some of our most loved images include the little details that make a family them:
The secret is balance. When one piece is bold or expressive, keep the rest of the outfit simple, so personality shines through without overwhelming the image. It’s this mix of simplicity and self-expression that makes an Enhance Studios portrait feel authentic, modern and unmistakably you.
Every family session at Enhance Studios includes a pre-shoot styling consultation.
We’ll help you:
You are never expected to figure this out alone.
Not quite. Coordinate instead. Choose two or three colours from one palette and let everyone pick their own pieces within it. You’ll look like a family without looking like a uniform.
Neutrals, soft earthy tones and rich jewel tones are the easiest to get right. Brights can look fantastic too, as long as the rest of the outfit stays simple.
But for the most detailed advise and examples check out our Colour Palette blog HERE
Large logos, slogans, busy patterns and neon colours. They pull attention away from the most important part of the portrait: your faces.
Soft, comfortable fabrics in lighter tones. Skip jet-black and anything stiff or scratchy. Comfortable little ones are happy little ones.
Absolutely. Every family session includes a pre-shoot styling consultation, so you never have to work it out alone.
“The best fashion show is definitely on the streets. Always has been, and always will be.”
If you’re ready to create timeless family portraits that feel natural, relaxed and beautifully styled, we’d love to photograph your family.
Book a call HERE us to discuss the best session style for your family
Your future walls will thank you.
