What to Wear for Navarre Beach Family Photos: 6 Easy Tips

One of the most common questions I hear as a family photographer is:

“What should we wear for our family photos?”

Choosing outfits for yourself can be hard enough. Trying to coordinate an entire family—especially a large or extended family—can feel overwhelming.

If you're planning Navarre Beach family photos, your clothing can make a big difference in the overall look of your finished portraits.

But here's the good news:

Everyone does not need to match.

In fact, coordinating colors, textures, and styles usually creates a much more natural look than putting everyone in identical outfits.

As a Navarre Beach family photographer, here are six tips I recommend when choosing what your family should wear for your photography session.

1. Choose a Color Palette Instead of Matching Outfits

Start with a color palette rather than choosing one color for everyone.

Pick two or three main colors and then add complementary shades and neutrals throughout the family's outfits.

For example, instead of everyone wearing a white shirt and jeans, you might combine several coordinating shades so each person's outfit looks individual while the family still looks connected.

Lay everyone's clothing out together before your session.

Take a picture with your phone and look at the outfits as a group. If one outfit immediately grabs all your attention, you may want to adjust it.

Your goal is for the clothing to complement your family—not compete with them.

2. What Colors Look Best for Navarre Beach Pictures?

This is one of the biggest questions families have when planning beach photos.

There isn't one perfect color combination.

Navarre Beach already gives us a beautiful palette with white sand, blue and green Gulf water, natural grasses, and colorful evening skies.

Soft neutrals, creams, blues, greens, muted pinks, earthy shades, and pastels can complement a coastal setting beautifully.

But don't be afraid of color!

My photography style at Inspired By You Photography is bold and colorful, so richer colors can also photograph beautifully when they're coordinated thoughtfully.

If you love bright colors, wear them.

Your family photographs should still feel like your family.

3. Mix Patterns and Textures Carefully

Patterns aren't automatically bad for family pictures.

The trick is balance.

If one family member is wearing a patterned dress or shirt, consider pulling colors from that pattern for everyone else's outfits.

Try not to have every person wearing a different bold pattern.

Textures can also add beautiful visual interest. Think about flowing fabrics, knits, linen, lace, denim, layers, or subtle details.

For beach pictures, lightweight fabrics can work particularly well because they move naturally in the Gulf breeze.

Most importantly, make sure everyone's clothing fits properly and feels comfortable.

4. Keep Kids Comfortable and Let Their Personalities Show

Children's clothing should photograph well, but your child should also be able to move and play.

During family sessions, I don't want children worried about an uncomfortable outfit while we're asking them to walk, sit, cuddle, laugh, or play with their family.

Choose clothing that fits your child's personality.

Dresses, skirts, linen shirts, rolled sleeves, textured fabrics, suspenders, subtle hair accessories, and other details can add personality without overwhelming the photograph.

But don't feel like you have to dress your child in something completely different from what they'd normally wear just because you're having professional pictures taken.

You want to recognize your child in the photographs.

5. What Shoes Should You Wear for Beach Family Photos?

For Navarre Beach family photography, bare feet are often perfect.

If we're photographing your family near the shoreline, shoes can sometimes look less natural than simply going barefoot in the sand.

If you do want shoes in your photographs, choose footwear that works with both your clothing and the location.

I'd avoid making everyone's shoes the main attraction unless they're intentionally part of your family's style.

And don't forget about socks!

If there's a chance you'll remove your shoes during the session, think about whether you want sock lines or marks immediately before your photographs.

6. How Do You Coordinate Outfits for a Large or Extended Family?

Coordinating clothing for an extended family photography session doesn't mean choosing one identical outfit for 15 people.

Start with a general color palette and share it with everyone.

Then allow each individual household to choose outfits within that palette.

For example, one family might use more of one color while another uses more of a coordinating shade. When everyone comes together, the group still looks cohesive without looking overly matched.

This also makes the smaller family combinations look good when they're photographed separately.

For a large family vacation in Navarre Beach, start discussing outfits before the trip. You don't want everyone trying to coordinate clothing the night before your photography session.

BONUS: Dress for the Beach, Weather and Wind

When choosing outfits for outdoor photography, consider your environment.

Navarre Beach can be windy, so lightweight dresses and skirts can create beautiful movement—but very short or extremely lightweight clothing may also be difficult to manage on a windy evening.

If you have long hair, bring a brush or comb and a few hair pins or ties just in case.

Also consider the temperature.

You want everyone comfortable enough to enjoy the session rather than spending the entire time worrying about being too hot or too cold.

What Should You Avoid Wearing for Family Beach Pictures?

I generally recommend avoiding clothing with large logos, words, characters, or graphics that pull attention away from your faces.

Extremely busy patterns can also become distracting, especially when several family members are wearing them.

Be careful with neon colors because they can sometimes reflect color onto skin.

Most importantly, don't wear something you don't feel comfortable in just because you think it's what you're “supposed” to wear for family pictures.

Confidence and comfort show in photographs.

Should Everyone Wear White for Beach Pictures?

You certainly can wear white, but you don't have to.

The traditional white-shirt-and-khaki beach look can be beautiful, but it's only one option.

Because Navarre Beach has very light sand, adding other shades and textures can create more visual interest and help your family stand out from the background.

Instead of thinking:

“What is everyone supposed to wear?”

Think:

“What colors and clothing feel like us and look good together?”

That's a much better place to start.

When Should We Choose Our Family Photo Outfits?

Don't wait until the night before your session.

Start choosing clothing a few weeks beforehand when possible.

Have everyone try their outfits on—including shoes and accessories—and make sure everything still fits comfortably.

This gives you time to replace something if necessary without adding stress to your vacation or photography day.

Navarre Beach Family Photography

At Inspired By You Photography, I want your family pictures to feel like you.

Your outfits should complement the photographs, but the real focus should always be the people wearing them—the personalities, relationships, laughter, and connections within your family.

I photograph single families and large extended families throughout Navarre, Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and surrounding Florida Gulf Coast communities.

If you're planning a vacation and searching for a Navarre Beach family photographer, don't be afraid to ask about clothing before your session. I'm happy to help you think through your outfit choices so everything works beautifully together.

If you would like some inspiration, click here I have put together some Pinterest boards to help.

You are also welcome to send me pictures of your outfit ideas and I am happy to give you my recommendations. 

Click here if you are interest in hiring me to be your professional photographer. It would be my joy and honor.