One of the most common questions I receive is, "What should we wear?" The good news is you don't have to overthink it! The best family photos happen when everyone feels comfortable, confident, and coordinated—not necessarily perfectly matched.
Whether your session is at Forsyth Park, Tybee Island, downtown Savannah, or one of our beautiful marshes, these tips will help you choose outfits you'll love for years to come.
🎨 Coordinate, Don't Match
Gone are the days of everyone wearing white shirts and blue jeans!
Instead, choose a color palette that complements one another. Think about mixing different shades and textures while staying within a similar color family.
For example:
- Soft blues + creams + khaki
- Sage green + ivory + tan
- Dusty blue + blush + light gray
- Navy + camel + white
Everyone can have their own style while still looking cohesive.
🌿 Dress for the Season & Location
Savannah offers so many beautiful backdrops, and your clothing can help complement each one.
🌳 Forsyth Park & Historic Savannah
Classic dresses, linen shirts, soft sweaters, and timeless styles pair beautifully with historic architecture and Spanish moss.
Recommended colors: sage, soft blush, cream, dusty blue,
🌊 Tybee Island
Lightweight fabrics and soft colors always look beautiful on the beach.
Recommended colors: white, sand, soft blue, seafoam, sage, light denim
Bare feet work wonderfully on the beach, but I always recommend bringing sandals for walking between locations.
🌾 Marsh Sessions
Warm neutrals and earthy tones blend perfectly with the Lowcountry landscape.
Recommended colors: olive, rust, cream, dusty blue, taupe, soft mustard
🎨 What If Someone Doesn't Want to Wear Neutrals?
Let's be honest—not every family member is excited about coordinating outfits.
Maybe your toddler insists on wearing a superhero shirt. Maybe your teenager's favorite color is bright red. Or maybe Dad has one shirt he'll actually wear.
The good news? Your family doesn't have to look perfectly matched to create beautiful photographs.
Instead of trying to force everyone into beige, start with the color someone really wants to wear and build a palette around it. For example, if your daughter has her heart set on a burgundy dress, the rest of the family might wear cream, camel, olive, or soft gray to complement it. If your son loves navy, consider pairing it with white, khaki, dusty blue, or sage.
The goal isn't matching—it's creating a color palette that feels balanced.
💡 Pro Tip: Build a Color Palette
If you're not sure what colors work together, there are several free websites that can help. Simply enter the color you'd like to use, and they'll suggest coordinating shades that look beautiful together.
Some of my favorites are:
- Coolors.co – Generate beautiful color palettes from any starting color.
- Adobe Color – Explore complementary, analogous, and triadic color combinations.
- Canva Color Palette Generator – (My favorite) Upload a favorite outfit or inspiration photo to pull coordinating colors.
👕 Keep Patterns Simple
Patterns can add personality, but less is usually more.
Choose:
✔ Small florals
✔ Thin stripes
✔ Subtle textures
Avoid:
✘ Large logos
✘ Neon colors
✘ Busy prints on everyone
If one family member wears a pattern, let everyone else wear solids that coordinate with those colors.
👗 Mom First!
I always recommend choosing Mom's outfit first.
Why?
Because moms usually have the hardest time finding something they love.
Once Mom has chosen her outfit, it's much easier to coordinate everyone else's clothing around those colors.
👶 Dress for Comfort
Especially with little ones.
If your toddler hates stiff collars...
Don't wear one.
If your daughter loves twirly dresses...
Bring one!
Comfortable kids tend to smile more naturally and enjoy the experience.
👟 Shoes Matter
Don't forget to coordinate shoes.
Neutral shoes almost always photograph best.
Athletic sneakers with bright logos can pull attention away from everyone's faces.
For beach sessions, many families choose to go barefoot once we reach the sand.
🧥 Layers Add Variety
Adding a light cardigan, denim jacket, sweater, or scarf can completely change the look of your photos without requiring a full outfit change.
💍 Accessories
Simple jewelry, hats, and hair accessories help complete your look without overwhelming it.
Tybee is a gorgeous location, but it is WINDY. I always recommend a backup plan for your hair. That can be an updo, a big floppy hat, braids, or something you can switch to quickly if needed.
If you're carrying a smartwatch every day, decide whether you'd like it in your portraits—or leave it at home for a more timeless feel.
If you wear glasses, decide if you want them in your photos or not. Some people want a photo with their sunglasses, or to make them part of their look by wearing them up on their head. I am all for you being you, but I always recommend you plan the accessories you want and don’t want beforehand.
*Bring a purse/tote to store things in that you may not want to wear during your photos.
🚫 What to Avoid
- Neon colors
- Everyone wearing the exact same outfit
- Large logos
- Wrinkled clothing
- Bulky pockets filled with phones and keys
- Brand-new shoes that haven't been broken in
Most Importantly...
Wear something that feels like you.
The goal isn't to look like someone else's Pinterest board. It's to create photographs that capture your family's personality and relationships. Years from now, you'll be glad you chose outfits that felt authentic instead of simply following the latest trend.
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