The number 1 question I get from clients after they book is, what should we wear for our family beach photos?? One thing I’ve learned in my years of experience with family photography is that styling is so important. It’s an absolutely essential element to the overall look of your photos, so don’t wait until the last minute to plan out everyone’s outfits! That just adds so much stress to the day of if you are scrambling to throw together outfits. So take the time to think about it and talk to me. I love helping clients with styling, so your family can look just as beautiful as the South Bay beaches we are shooting at!

Here are my tips for what to wear for family beach photos:

When it comes to styling for your family photos at the beach, simple neutrals are where it’s at. You can’t go wrong with whites and creams, which are perfect when paired with other neutrals like denim or khaki. If you want to incorporate some color, shades of blue or green always work beautifully at the beach. Other colors can work too, but I always like to keep the overall look balanced with more neutrals. Perhaps Mom wants to wear a color, or you want to pull in a soft print on one of the kids. That’s great, but just avoid anything too loud/bright.. especially at the beach, you want to look like you are part of your surroundings, verses standing out against them. Below pictures are beautiful examples of outfits that blend and accentuate the environment.

For Mom:

Long, flowy dresses look beautiful at the beach, as do jeans and a sweater. I recommend something with movement, that will blow with the wind and look light and airy against the ocean. You want to avoid anything too stiff or form fitting. Especially at the beach, you want to be able to move… to run around and play with your kids, to dance in the waves! A simple sandal works for shoes, but most likely you’ll be barefoot majority of the time.

Even though we are at the beach, don’t forget to add on jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, and rings all add thoughtful details to the photos. And a cardigan layered over your dress adds nice dimension, and extra warmth on a chilly night.

For Dad:

A go-to suggestion for Men is a white linen shirt paired with denim or khakis. That is a classic look for the beach that you can’t go wrong with. A simple henley style shirt with shorts is another great option. I love whites, creams, greys and blues, as these colors all pair beautifully with the natural surroundings of the beach. Shorts or pants both work, but if wearing pants, just know you’re probably going to get wet by the end of the night! So be prepared to cuff your pants. Shoes typically aren’t necessary, but you may want to start with a simple boat shoe or sandal, and then just end up barefoot.

For Kids:

First and foremost with kids, you want them to be comfortable. Kids need to be able to run around and not feel constricted by what they are wearing.

Dresses are great for little girls. Or if dresses aren’t her thing, causal linen pants or denim are cute options too. Again sticking with the neutral color pallet, or incorporating some subtle color/prints.

For boys, similar to Dad, shorts with a neutral button up, sweater, or henley style shirt works great.

I hope you found this helpful! And if you are still struggling with what to wear for family beach photos, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Send me pictures of what you are thinking, I’ll give you my honest feedback and help make sure everyone shows up to the shoot looking and feeling great!

And if you are ready to book your family beach photos, inquire here. I’d love to meet you!