What To Wear To A Family Shoot

Deciding what family photo outfits to wear can be challenging. These are photos you are going to hang on your walls and cherish for years to come. It can seem overwhelming when considering what to wear but it doesn’t need to be. Whether you are looking for fall family photo outfits or beach family picture outfits use these tips to help you pick out the perfect outfits for you and your family.

1. Your Clothes Are Just A Small Part Of The Magic

I know this might sound corny, but it is honestly less about your clothes and more about documenting your connection and your love as a family. So take a deep breath knowing that no matter what you choose, I will be highlighting this season of your family wayyy more than your bad ass pair of shoes or earings. Now that I’ve said the obvious, lets get to the clothes!

2. Know where you are shooting

Check in with your photographer on what your location options are before you think about clothing. Will you be barefoot in beach photos? In front of a building downtown with beautiful architecture? Outdoors in a field or at a farm? These will all impact the vibe of the photos and therefore the clothes that look best in the setting.

3. Have a color palette in mind.

Have a Color Palette in Mind There are endless ways you could go with this! In my experience, softer, muted hues look best on camera, but a skilled photographer will be able to capture prints and dark hues if you want something truly seasonal. To simplify your choices, I’ve broken it down into four fall family photo palette options. 

Beachy Neutrals: Shades of ivory, cream, and white on their own or paired with denim (for all).

Coordinated Print: One subtle print paired with coordinating solids (you in print, guys and kiddos solids).

Muted Tones: Creams, blushes, blues, and tans (on the girls) paired with denim, khaki, and browns (on the guys).

Fall Colors: Muted yellows, tans, and creams or reds, burgundies, or jewel tones (on the girls), which pair well with denim, khaki, and plaid (on the guys).

4. Start with your outfit

Your children will look adorable in whatever you choose, so I recommend starting with your look first. Dresses and skirts are flattering on every female body, and they photograph beautifully because of the movement and drape. However, don’t go to billowy—a more fitted cut is your friend! Thick layers, including scarves, cardigans, and chunky knit sweaters, can also look unflattering on camera. Midi and maxi dresses and skirts aren’t a hard and fast rule, though. If you love denim, go for it! Wear whatever you feel your best in as confidence translates on camera.

5. Select coordinating colors

Once you’re all set with your perfect outfit, choose 2-3 coordinating colors for the rest of the family. Consider tones that fit together and are in the same color family—you can use the four color scheme options I listed earlier to start. If you’re wearing a patterned dress, for example, pull 1-3 coordinating colors from that and build your spouse’s and littles’ outfits off of it. This will break up the shades visually so that the photo doesn’t look too redundant top to bottom. Keep in mind that it can be helpful to consider your home decor if you plan to frame these family portraits for the walls.

6. Make Your Looks Stretch + Be You

When it comes to putting together your guy’s outfit for family pics, I recommend fitted pants, closed-toed shoes, and layers. Men look great in layers. Look at any male mannequin at the mall and you’ll see what I mean. A blazer, sport coat, vest, or even a v-neck sweater with a collared button down underneath looks handsome because it draws attention to the face. It may take convincing, but tell him the discomfort is worth it because you’ll have the photos for years! Brown leather dress shoes will compliment every look, and ties, belts, suspenders, watches, bowties, and other accessories will bring his—and your boys’—outfits up a notch.

Dressing in layers is a great way to not only add dimension to your looks but also make them stretch. Wear a cute, simplistic shirt underneath your cardigan so you can take it off. Bring along a flannel that you can wear, take off or tie around your waist. Most importantly I want you to be and feel like yourself. I want your photos to be a great reflection of who you are!

7. Blend (don’t match) the kids

This is key! Your outfits will look cohesive on camera and the photos will be timeless if you coordinate family members’ looks rather than get matchy-matchy. Plan each outfit combo with dominant and accent colors in mind. If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them in the same outfit. Mixing up the pieces will bring interest to the photo and can help express their individual personalities. As a general rule, avoid having anyone wear the same color top/pants/dress and putting anyone in matching outfits.

 P.S. Pinterest is a GREAT place to find engagement session outfits and inspiration.

My best tip for taking great family photos with little kids is keeping a realistic set of expectations. If you go into the session expecting a ton of perfect photos, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Kids have short attention spans; they’re not going to give you or your photographer much time with posed shots. Attempt those photos first but if it goes south faster than you planned, take a breath and know there’s still plenty of magic to be had in more organic moments. When they start to get wiggly, walk with them, tickle them, swing them, twirl them, snuggle them. All these make for great natural photo opps and show genuine connection between you and your family. Also: Trust me as your photographer. You can rest easy knowing I will make magic no matter what.

I hope you know feel empowered to pick out clothes that will make you shine, feel confident and help get you the images you want, focusing on what’s most important, the love and connection between you two. 

Let's go shoot!!

Want to see more family photos, check out my portfolio

Welcome To The New Website!

A New Season, A New Look — Welcome to the New Me! 🌿✨

After 8 years in the industry, countless beautiful stories captured, and a whirlwind of growth both creatively and personally — I’m thrilled to finally share something that has been a long time coming: a complete rebrand and the launch of my brand new website!

This has been in the works for quite a while now. The last time I rebranded was in 2019, and let’s just say... a lot has changed since then. As I step into a new season of life, hello Austin, Texas! (yes, surprise!!), I knew it was time for my brand and online presence to reflect the creative, passionate, ever-evolving artist I’ve become.

My journey with photography began when I picked up my first camera at just 14. By 16, I was officially chasing light and love, falling head over heels with wedding photography and documenting life’s most joy-filled milestones. That love has only grown deeper over time.

From launching my business to relocating across cities — from Dallas in 2020 to St. Louis in 2022, and now Austin — this business has grown with me, and it's only right that my branding evolves with it.

This rebrand feels like a true reflection of who I am now. Every detail, every element feels so me. And that’s all thanks to my incredibly talented best friend and designer, Samanthah Santana. When it came time to choose someone to bring this vision to life, it wasn’t even a question. Samanthah knows my heart, my style, and my story — and she brought all of that into this rebrand in a way that only she could.

Her creativity, her attention to detail, her ability to get me — it’s all unmatched. Working with her was such an honor, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her love, support, and brilliance throughout this process. Sammi, thank you for capturing the essence of me so perfectly. I love and appreciate you more than words can say.

My philosophy & Vision as a photographer

Whether it’s your wedding day, a new season of family life, or a quiet moment in between, my goal is to preserve what’s real—the warmth, the joy, the in-between glances, and all the little things that make your story uniquely yours.

I believe that the best photos come from collaboration. Every session is a creative partnership—where your personality, your story, and your vision are at the heart of everything we create together. I’m not here to force stiff poses or create something that doesn’t feel like you. Instead, I’m here to guide you, hype you up, and help you feel seen and celebrated in every single frame.

I know that being in front of the camera can feel awkward for most people—almost every client tells me this at first! But I promise, by the end of our time together, you’ll not only feel comfortable, but you’ll walk away feeling confident, cared for, and excited to see yourself through a new lens.

When it comes to weddings, I focus on capturing both the big moments and the small ones—the tiny details you poured your heart into, the way your person looks at you when no one else is watching, and the wild, joyful energy of your people dancing under the stars. These are the moments that matter—the ones you’ll want to relive again and again.

Whether you're building a life together, walking down the aisle, or growing your family, I count it an honor to step into your world and preserve these extraordinary seasons through thoughtful, intentional storytelling. My hope is that the photographs we create together will become heirlooms—images that live on long after the moment has passed, telling your story to the people who matter most.

Whats next?

2025 is an exciting new year for me. With my move to Austin, Texas, I’m stepping into a fresh new season—leaning into destination weddings, serving more couples, and diving deeper into documentary-style family sessions. I’ll be scaling back senior portraits, blogging more, and working toward being full-time in photography again. I’m so excited to grow, create, and capture even more love in this next chapter.

So here it is — the new chapter, the new look, and a whole lot of excitement for what’s ahead. I’m so glad you’re here, whether you’ve been following my journey for years or just found your way to this corner of the internet. I can’t wait to continue capturing love, life, and everything in between — now with a brand that truly feels like home.

Take a look around the new site, explore the fresh vibe, and stay tuned for all that’s to come.

Xoxo, Dev

Most photos taken by Maddie Kamp