What to Wear for Family Photos in Michigan

Outfit planning is usually the part of family sessions that stresses people out the most. Here's what actually matters — and what you can stop worrying about.

Start With One Person

The easiest way to plan family outfits is to start with whoever is hardest to dress — usually mom, or whoever cares most about how they look in photos. Pick that outfit first, something you genuinely feel good in. Then build everyone else around it. It's a lot easier to coordinate four people around one anchor piece than to try to build from scratch with everyone at once.

Pinterest is useful here — search "family photo outfits" or add a season ("fall family photo outfits") and you'll find plenty of palettes and combinations that actually work together. It's a good way to get a feel for color direction before you start shopping.

The One Rule That Makes Everything Easier

Coordinate, don't match. Matching outfits look stiff in photos. Coordinating — choosing a palette and letting each person express themselves within it — looks natural, warm, and like a real family.

Pick 2–3 colors that work together and let everyone's outfit pull from that range. You don't need to overthink it beyond that.

Colors That Photograph Well in Michigan

West Michigan has a lot of texture to work with — water, woods, downtown brick, fall foliage. Some palettes consistently photograph well here:

• Warm neutrals: Cream, tan, camel, rust, terracotta — beautiful in fall especially
• Cool blues and greens: Navy, slate, sage, olive — great against water and trees
• Muted earth tones: Dusty rose, burgundy, forest green, warm gray
• Classic white/navy combinations — always clean and timeless for beach or park sessions

What to Avoid

A few things make post-processing harder and photos look more dated:

• Neon or very bright colors — they pull the eye away from faces and can cast color onto skin
• Busy patterns and logos — stripes, plaids, and large graphics compete with faces in group shots
• Identical outfits on everyone — it tends to feel more costume than family
• Clothes that don't fit well — something too tight or too baggy will bother you in every image

Think About the Setting

Where we're shooting matters for what you wear. If we're at a beach in West Michigan, lighter colors and casual layers work beautifully. A downtown Grand Rapids session can handle something a little more put-together. Fall sessions in a park call for the warm tones that mirror the leaves.

If you're not sure what fits the location, reach out before you start shopping — I'm happy to give you a few specific direction points based on where we're planning to shoot.

Kids' Outfits

A few things that make a real difference with kids:

• Make sure they're comfortable. A kid in an itchy or stiff outfit will let you know about it — loudly, in the photos.
• Bring a backup outfit if you have a little one who's prone to spills.
• Shoes matter more than people think. Beat-up sneakers on an otherwise pulled-together kid stick out.
• If they have a "favorite" piece of clothing, consider building around it — they'll feel more like themselves.

What About Accessories?

Accessories are great — they add texture and personality. Scarves, hats, jewelry, and layers all photograph well. Just make sure they don't cover faces or dominate the frame. A baseball cap can work in the right setting; a hat that casts a shadow across half the face is trickier to work around.

The Real Answer

Most families I work with spend a lot of time on this and then realize it didn't need to be complicated. Pick a color direction, make sure everyone is comfortable and looks like themselves, and let the rest happen. The best family photos are the ones where people feel good — not the ones where everyone matched perfectly.

If you want to talk through your specific plans before the session, just ask. I'm glad to help you think through what will work for your family.