Family session outfit ideas for summer
—5 tips + how to create a family session moodboard
When we were visiting family in Los Angeles, we decided to book a family session with Nicki Sebastian. I’ve been a huge fan of Nicki’s work for years and the stars finally aligned and she had some availability while we were in town.
With the session planned for July in LA, I knew I could have some fun with bright summery colors while still staying true to my family’s style preferences.
Choose ONE outfit to base the color palette around.
Even as a photographer myself, it can be overwhelming to plan outfits for a photoshoot. When you are able to narrow down colors and textures, it makes decisions a lot easier. Usually, I suggest that Mom chooses her outfit first and bases everyone else’s clothes to compliment the colors of her outfit. In my case, I was wearing a white denim jumpsuit so….not much to pull from there! Instead, I chose my daughter’s outfit to be the source of the color palette.
I knew I wanted some embroidered flowers in her outfit. I immediately found some super cute options from ZARA. I narrowed it down to 2 options and let my daughter, Cora, pick which one she preferred. She chose the cutessssst little set and I was so stoked with all the colors within!
Like…..HOW perfectly adorable is she?!
So, with that being the base of my color palette — I got to work on everyone else’s outfits!
2. Remember to stay true to each family member’s personality.
My 9-year-old, Max, loves baseball. My 3-year-old, Niko, loves Lightning McQueen. Instead of decking them out in logos and cartoon characters galore, I got creative with how I could incorporate these elements of their interests without being so literal.
For Max, I went with a classic 90s Sandlot theme. The Sandlot is his favorite baseball movie, so I started there for inspiration. I couldn’t track down the classic P.F. Fliers in time, but got pretty close with some high-top Vans & fun socks.
And for Niko, I landed on a red jumpsuit from Noble — he felt like he was in Lightning McQueen’s “pit crew” and was so stoked to put it on. I love the authenticity these outfits added to the images; I’ll always be reminded of their obsessions at this age.
3. Comfort, comfort, comfort — it’s key!
If you’re reading this, you most likely have young kids so I’m sure you understand this little tip. If kids are uncomfortable in their clothes, they will not hide their emotions about it!
Soft, breathable cotton and linen are great choices for summertime. Little bonus tip is to bring a little blanket or sweater in case the ocean breeze is chilly. (Something I did not do myself, but luckily Nicki had a blanket to wrap around Cora as her “butterfly wings”)
4. Don’t be afraid of color — not everyone has to wear white/cream.
Summer is the perfect time to lean into a more colorful palette. Little pops of yellow or red are some personal favorites of mine. You can also try softer earth tones like blues or greens.
Adding a few bits of color creates a playful and joyful atmosphere that can be felt in the final images. Remember to lean into what makes your family unique — if you’re not normally a cream flowy dress & neutrals kinda family, don’t force it! Jeans and casual clothes are just as beautiful in family photographs.
5. Have kids try on clothes beforehand if they’re new.
If you’re purchasing new clothes for the shoot, make sure you have kids try them on beforehand! By doing this, you can make sure clothes fit properly and it gives kids a little confidence boost and more excitement about the upcoming shoot. When they’re involved in the process leading up to the shoot, chances are they’ll be more cooperative and excited on the day of the actual shoot.
It’s a fun little tip to snap some photos of them in their new outfit on your phone so they can see how great they look. And if there’s any pushback on getting dressed on the day of the actual shoot, you can pull up the photo to remind them how great the looked in the clothes (sometimes it’s good to have a little trick up your sleeve if things go….not as planned…while getting ready!)
My favorite way to make a quick mood board is a website called Milanote. It’s super user-friendly with a drag-and-drop format. I’m a sucker for mood boards as a way to “brain dump” everything that’s swirling around in my head.
I knew I’d be wearing some sort of white jumpsuit and my parents based their outfits off the mood board — a blue shirt and jeans for my dad and a floral shirt and white linen pants for my mom.
Here’s how it all came together —
*all photos by Nicki Sebastian
Remember to have fun with the process! Family sessions are an opportunity to celebrate the joy, uniqueness and special connection of your family. Don’t stress over looking “put together” or perfect — photos are about preserving memories, not achieving a perfect look. Overemphasizing outfits might detract from enjoying the experience and creating genuine memories with your crew.