Coordinating Family Photo Outfits: A Mom’s Guide
Let’s start with the truth: coordinating family photo outfits is equal parts puzzle and patience test…. and somehow, us moms are the ones in charge of all the pieces.
Even in my own family (where I’m literally a professional photographer), I’m still the hardest person to shop for. Why? Because I’m the most critical of myself. I can find something for my kids in five minutes flat, but my own outfit? That’s a Venti coffee + clear the afternoon kind of job.
And yes, I’ve been known to spiral into the Pinterest rabbit hole and emerge 47 tabs later, wondering if we’re going to show up to our shoot looking like we coordinated in the dark.
The good news? You don’t need a completely new wardrobe or a family dressed in five identical shirts. Start with one outfit you love, choose a few colors that work together, and give everyone their own version of the look.
I also offer a complimentary online styling service that takes a whole lot of the guesswork out of the process. My clients love it, and for good reason.
But if you’d rather shop your own closets or head to a few local stores, I’ve got you covered with tips from 12 years of helping families look their best in front of the camera.
Table of Contents
Start With the Setting
Before you start coordinating family photo outfits, decide on your photo location. (I help all of my clients with this, don’t worry!) Your location sets the tone for the session and can make outfit choices so much easier.
- Urban settings: Sleek, structured pieces, bold pops of color, or monochromatic layers work beautifully against brick, glass, and architectural details.
- Natural settings: Flowy fabrics, layered textures, and colors that complement the landscape work beautifully among trees, fields, or wide-open skies.
And no, choosing a natural setting doesn’t mean your entire family needs to wear beige. Rich blues, burgundy, and other thoughtfully chosen colors can look gorgeous outdoors, too. We’re going for a look that feels intentional and like your family.
Need some inspiration for the backdrop? My guide to the best places to take photos in OKC will help you picture the possibilities.
Choosing the setting first gives us a direction for your outfits—and saves you from buying a dress that feels completely wrong for the location.
Use My Complimentary Styling Tool
If coordinating family photo outfits is the part you’re dreading, this is where I make your life easier.
My clients receive complimentary access to Style & Select, an online styling tool created specifically for photo sessions. Here’s how it works—and why my clients love it:
- Fill out a short, easy form. Answer a few questions about each family member, including sizing, so you can browse options that make sense for your family.
- Choose your style direction. Whether you lean classic, modern, relaxed, or feminine, start with a look that feels like you.
- Pick your color palette. Explore coordinated color combinations so you can see how the pieces relate without putting everyone in the same outfit.
- Keep your budget in mind. Look for the pieces you need at prices you’re comfortable with. You can use clothes you already own and shop for the missing pieces.
- Browse clothing and accessories with shopping links. See options for tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, and finishing touches together instead of bouncing between a dozen websites.
- Mix and match your favorites. Build a visual style board, compare the looks, and adjust individual pieces until the whole family feels connected.
Why clients love it:
- Less endless scrolling and second-guessing
- Coordinated ideas you can actually picture together
- Shopping links in one place
- Options for different ages, sizes, styles, and budgets
- A much easier starting point than a blank Pinterest board
Pair this with my Family, Senior Guy, and Senior Girl Lookbooks in your Client Portal, and you’ll have plenty of inspiration without the 47 open tabs. The goal is to help you feel confident about what everyone is wearing—and actually enjoy putting it together.
And you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Text me photos of what you’re considering! I’m happy to help you narrow down the options and look at how the outfits work with your location.
Build Around One Person’s Outfit
Once the location is set, choose one person’s outfit (usually Mom’) as the anchor. Then build everyone else’s look around it.
Why Mom first? Because I know how easily you can find something for everyone else and leave yourself trying to squeeze into whatever color is left. Let’s skip that part.
Choose something that feels like you and makes you feel amazing. A dress with movement is lovely, but so are well-fitting jeans with a beautiful blouse, wide-leg trousers, or a great jumpsuit.
If your anchor outfit has a print, pull a few colors from it for everyone else. A dress with blue, burgundy, and cream gives you a starting point: a blue shirt for Dad, a cream sweater for one child, and burgundy somewhere else in the group.
Not everyone needs every color. That’s the beauty of coordinating family photo outfits….you’re connecting the looks, not copying them.
Mom tip: Think about practicality. If your toddler is in the grabby stage, skip dangly earrings and a neckline you’ll constantly be adjusting. Try sitting, bending, and picking up your child in your outfit before session day. You should be able to hug your people without tugging at your clothes.
Where to Shop for Family Photo Outfits in Oklahoma City and Edmond
Sometimes you need to try something on, see the actual color, and decide whether you can sit down in it. Here are local shopping options to help you fill the gaps in your family’s outfits.
Before you shop: Choose your anchor outfit and save a photo of your palette on your phone. Bring pictures of the pieces you already own. “I need a blue top that works with this dress” is a much easier shopping mission than “I need outfits for my entire family and possibly a small miracle.”
For Mom
| Shop | What I’d look for here | Find it |
| EVEREVE — Classen Curve | Polished everyday pieces you’ll wear again: denim, a beautiful blouse, a textured sweater, or a jacket that finishes the outfit. A useful starting point if you want help styling separates instead of defaulting to a dress. | Google Maps |
| Cargo Room — Automobile Alley | A feminine anchor outfit with personality. Look for a midi or maxi dress, a distinctive blouse, or a textured layer you can build the family’s palette around. | Google Maps |
| Tallulah Lou — Western Avenue | A statement dress or polished separates when you want a little more personality. Think an outfit you’re excited to wear, then let everyone else’s clothes support it. | Google Maps |
| CK & Company— Nichols Hills Plaza | An elevated investment piece for a dressier session, or shoes and accessories to finish an outfit you already love. Worth exploring when you want something especially refined. | Google Maps |
| HABIT — East Edmond | Denim, dresses, and coordinating tops for women and teens. A practical stop if you’re shopping for yourself and an older daughter. | Google Maps |
| Lush Fashion Lounge — North OKC | Casual separates, sweaters, layers, shoes, and accessories. Look for the missing piece that pulls your outfit together rather than feeling like you need to start over. | Google Maps |
For Teens—and Dad, Too
| Shop | What I’d look for here | Find it |
| Mode — Edmond and Midtown | For teen girls shopping women’s sizing, explore denim, sweaters, skirts, and tops that feel like their own style while fitting the family’s palette. HABIT is another option for a mother-daughter shopping trip. | Edmond Google Maps · Midtown Google Maps |
| American Eagle— Penn Square Mall | Jeans and comfortable casual pieces for teens. Start with denim they like wearing, then add a sweater or simple top in your palette. | Google Maps |
| Abercrombie & Fitch — Penn Square Mall | Another option for older teens shopping men’s or women’s sizing. Look for coordinated separates that feel polished without making your teen feel like they’re wearing a costume. | Google Maps |
| Jackson Dean + Co — Western Avenue | For Dad and older teen boys who fit men’s sizing, explore shirts, knits, and layers. It shares a storefront with Tallulah Lou, so you can work on more than one person’s outfit in the same stop. | Google Maps |
A little advice for shopping with teens: Give them the palette and let them help choose. A polished version of their own style usually works better than an outfit they would never willingly wear. We want them to feel good, too.
Prefer to Shop Online?
Some of my favorite places to browse:
- EVEREVE: Stylish, wearable pieces for women—and the option to try things on locally at Classen Curve.
- Altar’d State: Feminine dresses and flowy layers.
- Francesca’s: Affordable statement pieces and accessories.
- Joyfolie: Dreamy dresses for women and girls.
Consider Renting Your Outfit
You don’t have to buy a dress you’ll wear once.
I’ve been a loyal Rent the Runway customer for over two years, and I absolutely love it. Renting gives me variety without constantly shopping for new clothes—and it’s a great option when you want something a little extra for your family photos.
Just give yourself time to try everything on before your session, with a backup outfit in mind.
If you’d like to try it, you can use my Rent the Runway affiliate link to see the current new-member offer.
This is an affiliate link, which means I may receive a benefit if you sign up through it.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
Matching everyone in the same shirt color might feel safe, but it can leave your portraits feeling a little flat. Instead, aim for a shared palette with some variety.
When coordinating family photo outfits:
- Choose three or four colors total, including neutrals. You don’t need every person to wear every color.
- Mix related shades. Navy and dusty blue can work beautifully together. Colors don’t have to be identical to feel connected.
- Add texture. Knits, linen, denim, corduroy, and suede give the outfits interest without requiring another pattern.
- Keep everyone at a similar level of dressiness. Mom’s dressy outfit and Dad’s athletic shorts might share a color, but they won’t tell the same style story.
Be Thoughtful With Patterns
You don’t need a strict “two people maximum” rule. The size of your family, the scale of the prints, and how the outfits look together matter more than counting patterned shirts.
For an easy starting point, choose one patterned piece and pull colors from it for everyone else. If you’d like to add another print, look for a shared color and a different scale or style (such as a floral dress with a subtle plaid shirt).
Then step back and look at the whole group. Does everything feel connected, or are several outfits competing for your attention?
Also, be careful with very tiny, repetitive stripes and checks. They can create distracting visual effects on camera even when they look perfectly normal in person. I explain this—and how to mix patterns thoughtfully—in my guide to wardrobe mistakes and easy fixes.
And if you’re unsure? Send me the lineup. That’s what I’m here for.
Small Details, Big Impact
These tiny adjustments can elevate your photos instantly:
- Nails: A fresh coat of polish or none at all—chipped polish can be distracting.
- Fit: Especially for kids, choose clothing that fits now. Too-big pieces can bunch, slip, and need constant adjusting.
- Comfort: Everyone should be able to move, sit, and hug without fussing with their clothes.
- Shoes: Include them when you’re planning the outfits. Check that they fit and work for the location, rather than discovering a problem as you’re walking out the door.
Before session day, lay everything out together—including shoes—and take a quick phone photo in natural light. It’s much easier to spot the piece that feels out of place when you can see the whole family’s outfits at once.
You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone
The best outfit is the one that lets you forget about what you’re wearing and focus on who you’re with.
Coordinating family photo outfits should help you feel confident, not leave you exhausted before we’ve taken a single photo. Start with something you love, build a thoughtful palette, and let me help with the rest.
With complimentary styling, lookbooks, and a second opinion just a text away, you’ll have support long before we meet for your session.
Ready for family photos that feel joyful, timeless, and polished? Let’s plan your Oklahoma City family session.
Happy looks good on you!