Of all the questions I get from families before a session, "what do we wear?" is by far the most common. And I get it — it feels like a lot of pressure. The clothes are in every single photo. Get it wrong and it's hard to unsee. Get it right and everything just looks effortless and beautiful.
The good news: it's much simpler than you think. After photographing hundreds of families across the Texas Hill Country, I've developed a clear, practical approach that works every time. Here's my complete outfit guide.
Start with a color palette, not matching outfits
The first thing I tell every family: do not match. Matching outfits — everyone in white shirts and jeans, or the whole family in red — looks stiff, dated, and corporate. It screams "we're having our photo taken" instead of "this is just how we look."
Instead, choose a cohesive palette of 3–4 colors that all work together. Think of it like decorating a room — you want pieces that coordinate, not ones that are identical.
My go-to palettes for Hill Country sessions: Soft neutrals (cream, tan, warm white, sage) — Dusty earth tones (rust, terracotta, olive, ivory) — Muted blues and tans (chambray, navy, stone, blush) — Warm greens and browns (forest green, camel, off-white)
Once you have a palette, pick one person's outfit first — usually an adult, since adult options are more limited. Then build everyone else's outfits around that anchor piece.
The one rule that matters most: no large logos or busy patterns
Your eye is drawn to contrast. In a family photo, you want attention to go to faces and expressions — not to the Nike swoosh on a shirt or the giant tropical print on a dress. Logos and busy patterns pull focus and date photos faster than anything else.
Small patterns (delicate stripes, subtle florals) can work beautifully. Bold graphic tees, loud plaid, and anything with text generally don't.
Colors to choose
- Neutrals: cream, ivory, white, tan, taupe, warm gray
- Earth tones: rust, terracotta, sage, olive, warm brown
- Muted cool tones: dusty blue, mauve, soft lavender
- Rich saturated tones (used sparingly): forest green, deep navy, burgundy
Colors to avoid (usually)
- Neon or very bright colors — they cast color on skin and distract from faces
- Pure black — it becomes a visual void in group photos
- Identical outfits for everyone — it reads as forced
- Colors that clash with the landscape — hot pink in a Hill Country meadow
Dressing kids: the practical truth
Kids have limited closets and strong opinions. Here's my honest advice: pick your kids' outfits first, then build the adults around them. Kids look adorable in almost anything that fits the palette — rompers, overalls, sundresses, simple tees with shorts. Don't overcomplicate it.
More importantly: dress them in something comfortable that they'll actually wear without complaint. A kid who hates his outfit will be miserable, and it will show in every photo. Comfort and palette over perfection every time.
Pro tip for toddlers: Bring a backup outfit. Kids at that age are one fallen ice cream cone away from a wardrobe change, and you'll thank yourself later.
Footwear matters more than you think
If we're doing a walking or outdoor session (which most Texas Hill Country sessions are), wear shoes you can actually move in. That means no heels on grass or uneven ground, and no brand-new shoes that will make you walk awkwardly.
Great options: white sneakers, sandals, ankle boots, loafers. Whatever the shoes, make sure the kids' shoes aren't too distracting — plain sneakers or simple sandals almost always work.
What to wear for fall sessions in Dripping Springs, TX
Fall (September through November) is peak season for outdoor photos in Texas, and the good news is that the weather finally cooperates with layering. This is the time to pull out:
- Flowy linen dresses in cream or rust tones
- Lightweight sweaters or cardigans in warm neutrals
- Chambray or flannel shirts (not plaid) for the guys
- Boots — this is Texas, and they look incredible in fall light
The golden-hour light in fall in the Hill Country is warm and amber. Warm tones in your clothing echo that light beautifully. Cool tones (bright blues, purples) can work but may feel slightly off against the warm landscape.
Hair and makeup: my practical advice
Look like yourself, just put-together. If you never wear bold lipstick in real life, this is not the day to start. If you love a natural look, lean into it. Makeup photographs beautifully at 1.5x your usual level — a bit more than a normal day, but still you.
For hair: styled but not stiff. Wind happens outdoors. A few loose waves or a relaxed updo looks amazing in outdoor photos. A shellacked helmet of hair looks exactly like a shellacked helmet of hair when it moves (or doesn't).
The bottom line
Don't overthink it. The best outfits for family photos are the ones where everyone feels comfortable, looks like themselves, and coordinates without matching. When in doubt, go neutral. When in even more doubt, send me a photo of your outfit options before the session — I'm happy to weigh in.
The most important thing in your photos won't be what you're wearing. It'll be the look your daughter gives your son right before she tackles him, and the way you laugh at something your spouse does, and the way your toddler reaches for your hand without being asked. The clothes are just the frame. The moment is everything.