Every year my mom wanted to take family photos. Completely understandable. But she insisted that our outfits matched.

That has continued, even now that all of her children are grown. It is one of the ways we show our mom we love and appreciate her - by all of her adult children making sure to come home, have the right outfits, and smile for the camera. And now that our family of 6 has turned in to a family of 20, somehow picking the correct outfits for everyone has hands down become the most stressful part of the whole ordeal.


Now that I am a professional photographer, I have discovered that picking out outfits is an issue for a lot of families. So here are a few tips from my personal experience of having a large family, and what has worked for the vast number of families I have worked with over the years. Here are my Top 3 Tips for picking out good outfits for large groups and families.



Tip #1 - Pick a color scheme and stick to it.


Pick a color scheme and have everyone in the group stick to it! The easiest thing to do is pick a color or two (that are in the same tone) and then have everyone wear a various style of it matched with a neutral. Add in simple patterns and textures that coordinate with the color scheme. A small pin stripe on a man's shirt or a simple floral pattern that isn't too bold can add a lot of depth to a photo. The most popular colors on the beach are light blue, light green, white, and cream. But a pop of color like coral also do beautifully - just use the bolder colors more sparingly.


The following three images show different color schemes and how to achieve the coordinated without exactly matching look.

All photos done on the beaches of 30A, FL and Destin, FL by Whitney White Photography

Sea Foam Green and White Color Palette - Very Well Coordinated

Shades of blue and white pallete - simple patterns and details added for depth in the images

Two colors in the same tone mixed with neutrals and simple small patterns



Tip #2 - kids first


If your group is a family and a family that has multiple generations in it, I would recommend selecting the kids outfits first, or at least as the starting point for everyone else's outfits. Chances are, the kids will be in the majority of the photos, so having them look good with all groups present will help keep everything looking as cohesive and coordinated as possible.

Note: I have had many large groups get together for mom's birthday or a parent's anniversary. If this is the case, you can have them be the starting point.

Grandparents with their grands - kids wore the color and patterns while grandparents stayed in neutral

This was a special gift for mom, so she wore the main outfit and everyone coordinated around her outfit choice



Tip #3 - Communication is key


Communicating about the outfits is important, even once the color scheme has been selected. This will really help your outfits be as cohesive as possible. You will need to find out what works best for your family or group.


Potential ways to have a healthy structure for communication about outfits:


  1. Pick one or two family members to be in charge of all outfits (my mom has done all of the shopping for everyone in the past - we just sent her our sizes and preferred style)
  2. Have a group text that everyone sends their outfits to for honest feedback
  3. Have the head of each family select the outfits for their individual families and then coordinate with the other heads of the families (this is our family method most of the time)


Below are a few ideas of different types of styles and outfits for large groups.


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All of these tips and more are included in my style guide provided to every client who I work with whether a large group, couple, or immediate family. My goal is to make your photo experience in 30A and Destin as easy and smooth as possible. Ask your photographer if they have a style guide - it will make a huge difference!


Location of Photos: 30A, FL and Destin,FL

Type of Session: Extended Family

Photographer: Whitney White Photography

Photographer Bio: Whitney White is a professional photographer who services Destin, FL and 30A, FL. She specializes in large families, small families, maternity, couples, and intimate weddings. She is a native of the Panhandle of Florida, and loves that she gets to be a professional photographer in the town she spent most of her childhood. The beaches of the Emerald Coast hold a special place in her heart, and she is thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of your special memories in the place she most cherishes!