What to Wear for Your Spring & Summer Family Photo Session
Here's one of the questions I get asked more than almost anything else before a session:
"What should we wear?"
I love this question, because it tells me you care — not about being perfect, but about showing up in a way that feels intentional. And I want to make this as easy as possible for you, because honestly? Outfit stress is real, and it doesn't have to be.
Here's everything I tell my families before a spring or summer session.
Start Here: Coordinate, Don't Match
This is the single most important thing I can tell you, so I'm putting it first.
Matching outfits — everyone in the same color shirt, or the same shade of blue — tends to read stiff and costume-y in photos. It flattens the image and pulls attention away from the thing that actually matters: the connection between your people.
What works instead is coordination. Think of it less like a uniform and more like a color palette. Choose 3–4 colors that feel harmonious together, and then let each person wear something that's their own — something they actually feel comfortable in — within that range.
When your family is coordinated but not matching, the photos have visual interest. Everyone looks like themselves. And that is always more beautiful than a matching set.
Colors That Love Spring & Summer Light
When I'm shooting at Duke Gardens, Croasdaile Farm, or anywhere with lush green surroundings, certain colors just sing in that light. Here's what I reach for when I'm advising families:
Reach for:
Soft whites and warm creams
Sage green and muted olive
Dusty rose and mauve
Chambray and soft denim blue
Warm terracotta and rust
Soft yellow and butter tones
Sand, camel, and warm neutrals
These tones work beautifully against greenery. They're soft enough to let your faces — and your expressions — be the focus of the image.
Be thoughtful with:
Very bright, saturated colors — a bold red or royal blue can dominate the frame and draw the eye away from faces. If one person loves color, balance it with softer tones on everyone else.
Neon. It tends to cast a color glow on skin in warm light and can be tricky to edit around.
Very dark colors in full sun — black and navy absorb heat and can look heavy against a bright summer backdrop. They work beautifully in shade, though.
Patterns: A Little Goes a Long Way
A subtle pattern — a small floral, a soft stripe, a light texture — can add dimension and make images feel alive. A bold pattern can fight for attention. Here's my rule of thumb: if one person is wearing a pattern, keep everyone else in solids. That balance gives the eye somewhere to rest.
What to skip entirely: large graphic logos, words on shirts, and cartoon characters (I say this with so much love for your kids who are deeply committed to their dinosaur tees).
Texture Is Your Friend
Spring and summer are the seasons of linen, eyelet, gauze, and seersucker — and all of those photograph beautifully. Texture adds depth and warmth to images in a way that a flat, basic cotton tee just doesn't. If you're shopping for the session, reach for something with a little visual interest in the fabric itself. It doesn't have to be fancy — a linen button-down on dad or a flowy tiered dress on your daughter does so much more work in photos than you'd expect.
A Note on What Kids Wear
Little ones are wild cards, and that's exactly what makes their photos so wonderful. My one ask: dress them in something they can move in. If your daughter is going to run down a path, twirl in the grass, and climb on a bench, she needs a dress she can do that in without anyone worrying. Same for your son — if the shorts are scratchy and the button-down is a battle, those feelings will show up in the photos.
Comfort doesn't mean sloppy. It means intentional. A soft linen romper, a flowy sundress, a well-fitted tee in a great color — all of these can be beautiful and practical.
One more thing: please, no brand new shoes for the kids. There is nothing sadder (photographically speaking) than a toddler who's been put in shoes she's never worn before and is now staging a sit-down protest. Wear the shoes they know and love. We'll work with it.
What About You, Mama?
I want to say something to the moms reading this: please don't be the last one you think about.
I know you'll spend time picking out everyone else's outfits and then throw something on at the last minute. I've seen it happen so many times. And I want you to feel beautiful in these photos — not just presentable, but you at your best — because your children are going to look at these images for the rest of their lives.
Wear something that makes you feel like yourself. If that's a flowy maxi dress in a color you love, wear that. If it's your favorite pair of jeans and a linen top, that's perfect too. The goal isn't to look like someone else — it's to look like the most at-ease, most confident version of you. That's who I want to photograph.
Practical Spring & Summer Tips
A few last things before your session:
Layers can be magic. A light kimono, a denim jacket tied at the waist, a linen blazer — these add dimension and give you something to remove if it gets warm, which creates a natural variety in your gallery without anyone having to change.
Avoid anything that needs constant adjusting. If you're going to be pulling your top down or tugging your hem every five minutes, you won't be present — and presence is everything. Wear something you can forget about.
Think about the whole picture. Lay everyone's outfits out on the bed together before the session and look at them as a group. Do they feel cohesive? Does anyone's outfit overwhelm everyone else's? A quick visual check beforehand saves a lot of second-guessing on the day.
When in doubt, come back to this: soft, coordinated, comfortable, and you. That's the formula.
I'm so honored to be your photographer, and I genuinely want this to feel easy. If you're ever second-guessing something, send me a photo of your outfits before the session — I'm happy to weigh in.
Ready to book your spring or summer session? Let's chat →
Katrina Williams is a family photographer and filmmaker in Durham, North Carolina, specializing in lifestyle and documentary-style sessions for families in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, and beyond. She believes the best family photos feel less like a photoshoot and more like a Tuesday afternoon — just a little more golden.
Hello there and thank you for stopping by! I’m Katrina, the heartbeat behind Fifty Two Hundred Photo + Film, in Durham, North Carolina. I specialize in capturing meaningful and precious memories for remarkable families in North Carolina. I hope you enjoyed this story I shared today and if you are interested in learning more about The Time Capsule membership, or let’s connect. Not quite ready to connect, but you would like to follow along the journey? Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Katrina is a family photographer and family filmmaker based in Durham, North Carolina. She offers lifestyle newborn photography, family sessions, and storytelling family films that focus on honest, heartfelt, and authentic moments. Her clients love receiving both their digital files and beautiful artwork to display in their homes. Katrina also creates custom heirloom albums so you can revisit your favorite memories for years to come.
Katrina has previously partnered with Adobe to share her expertise in capturing magical light and the true essence of each family—an experience that continues to shape her approach and craft.
Want an easy way to make something beautiful out of all your phone photos and videos? Learn more about the Time Capsule Membership here.
Katrina serves Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Carrboro, Apex, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina