I sometimes have clients who are excited to share ahead of time what they’re wearing for their upcoming sessions, which I love. If you’re every wondering what to wear for a family session, I’m always happy to offer suggestions, because believe me, I have lots of opinions! But since I also have a lot of families who never ask, I wanted to share one of my recent session with the Marciel family. Their style is so fantastic and I was thrilled with what we captured.

I’m just going to start by saying I love it when clients check in with their outfits. It means they’re as excited as I am about their upcoming session. Molly texted me photos to show what she was thinking about for their session and I was immediately in love. I was screaming, “YES YES YES” as she shared what she was thinking. Molly brought a change of clothes and both of her outfits were the perfect blend of flowing, prairie sunshine. I’m always a fan of dresses that flow, because I encourage my clients to move and these types of dresses create beautiful movement on the camera.

Dressing the kids for a family session

Can we just talk about sweet little Ruby for a moment, too? I just died over what Molly picked for her to wear. The light pink floral design perfectly matched Molly’s first outfit. If you’re choosing what to wear for a family session, I cannot recommend enough finding colors that complement each other. I loved how Ruby’s dress had the same colors and a more restrained floral pattern than her mom’s bright, fun floral patterns. Their outfits perfectly played off of each other.

What dad should wear for family sessions

Dads tend to be the most un-invested when it comes to family photos, and that’s okay! That’s why keeping things as simple for the men is usually my recommendation. In Wally’s case, a white button-down and khaki pants was all it took. I’m all for keeping it simple with the guys. I loved Wally’s look, and as a Hawaiian guy, I think the look pretty well suits him anyway. When choosing shorts, make sure they aren’t too distracting. Khaki pants and shorts will nearly always work if you ask me.

Can’t decide what to wear? Bring a backup!

I absolutely loved that Molly had a second dress to wear. The best part? So did Ruby! You guys, I don’t know if I loved the first set or second set better. But before I get to Ruby, let’s just talk about Molly’s costume change for a moment. I’m loving these bubble sleeves on this gorgeous boho dress. This sage green was perfect for a golden hour session. I’m obsessed. I usually recommend Baltic Born if you’re looking for affordable boho style!

And then, that sweet Ruby just melted me again. That natural linen dress kept her cool in the heat, which is a must-have during summer family sessions. In other words, if you’re wondering what to wear for a family session during the summer, find something cool and comfortable that matches mom and dad and you’ll be good! I also loved how the color blended beautifully with dad’s look without contrasting mom. How adorable is this kiddo?

Fully inspired by the Marciels? Let’s talk!

I hope you love what the Marciel family wore as much as I did. And I also hope it inspired you how to think about what to wear for a family session. While I don’t have much available for the fall, I’d love for you to get in touch about how we can get you on the books. I can’t wait!