Think of your family's outfit like a good recipe: one dominant flavor, a couple of complementary ones, and no surprise ingredients that throw everything off. You don't all need to match — you need to coordinate. There's a big difference.
Avoid logos, busy patterns, and anything that fights with your location. Pick one person's outfit first (usually the person who's hardest to dress — kids, toddlers, or anyone with strong opinions), then build everyone else around that. Colors that look good in real life usually look good in photos. Trust your instincts.
Below are 20 palettes I love — organized by setting. Each one gives you a starting point, not a prescription. Mix textures, vary the depth of the colors across family members, and let the location do some of the work.
Fall & Outdoor Sessions
Warm Palettes for Parks, Trails & Golden Light
These combinations work beautifully against fall foliage, open fields, and tree-lined paths.
01
Forest Green, Navy & Rust
Warm and purposeful. The rust keeps this from going too dark and adds intimacy. Pairs beautifully with tan boots, leather belts, and simple gold jewelry. The forest green signals togetherness — it's a palette with emotional depth.
Parks, tree-lined paths, fall foliage
FallOutdoorsGolden Light
08
Garnet, Olive & Black
Rich and grounded. The garnet pops against greenery without being too bright. Black anchors the palette and keeps it from feeling seasonal. This one photographs especially well in dappled light.
Christmas tree farms, wooded areas
FallHolidayWooded
15
Marigold, Forest & Dark Brown
This palette was made for fall leaves. The marigold catches light beautifully and reads as joyful without being loud. Dark brown grounds it. One of my favorites for a late afternoon session.
Fall leaves, open fields, golden hour
FallWarmGolden Hour
16
Aubergine, Moss & Taupe
Moody, sophisticated, and completely timeless. This palette works beautifully for families who don't want the typical fall look. The taupe keeps it wearable and approachable. Stunning in soft, overcast light.
Moody fall settings, overcast light
FallMoodyEditorial
Western & Rustic Sessions
For Ranches, Barns & Wide Open Spaces
These palettes complement wood, leather, dry grass, and suede — without looking like a costume.
02
Turquoise, Sand & Chocolate
Grounded and natural. The turquoise evokes joy and freedom without going too bright. Sand lets it breathe. Chocolate holds everything together. Perfect with cowboy boots, suede, and well-fitted denim. This one photographs especially well at golden hour in a desert landscape.
Ranches, barns, western landscapes
WesternRusticGolden Hour
06
Sage, Cream & Deep Brown
Soft, organic, and effortlessly elegant. The sage and cream together feel like a breath of fresh air. This is one of those palettes that looks like it came from a magazine spread but requires almost no effort to pull together. Works beautifully in soft outdoor light.
Soft outdoor settings, fields, gardens
Soft LightNeutralTimeless
13
Emerald, Tan & Black
Dressy without trying too hard. The emerald is bold but not overwhelming when paired with tan and black. This one works as well inside as it does outdoors, which makes it a great choice for families who want maximum flexibility from their session.
Indoor or outdoor, dressy settings
VersatileDressyIndoor/Outdoor
20
Midnight Navy, Gold & Burgundy
Rich, formal, and completely stunning. This is the palette for families who want their photos to feel like a painting. It's a lot of palette — commit to it fully and it pays off. Best in soft, controlled light rather than harsh sun.
Formal portraits, holiday cards
FormalHolidayStatement
Soft & Neutral Sessions
Timeless Palettes for Portraits That Age Well
Understated and editorial — these combinations look just as good in ten years as they do today.
07
Mauve, Chocolate & Soft Blue
Gentle and warm. This one is particularly beautiful for newborn or young family photos where you want softness over drama. The soft blue adds just enough contrast without pulling focus.
Newborn sessions, soft studio light
NewbornSoft LightGentle
14
Blush, Wine & Espresso
Romantic and intimate. This palette photographs beautifully in late afternoon light and works especially well for portraits where the goal is warmth and connection over lifestyle energy. One of my personal favorites for couples and growing families.
Late afternoon, intimate portraits
RomanticIntimateWarm Light
10
Sky Blue, Navy & Coral
Light, fresh, and joyful. The coral is the secret ingredient here — it prevents this from reading as too cool or clinical. Particularly beautiful for beach or water sessions where the environment provides a lot of the blue tones already.
Beach, lake, water settings
BeachSummerBright
12
Lavender, Slate & White
Airy and light. This palette is made for spring — blossoms, soft green grass, and diffused natural light. The white keeps it bright without washing anyone out. Layer in different textures to prevent the overall look from feeling flat.
Spring blossoms, soft green settings
SpringAirySoft Light
Holiday & Dressy Sessions
For Cards, Celebrations & Formal Portraits
Classic combinations that hold up beautifully on a card or a wall — and photograph as well in December as they do in July.
05
Cranberry, Camel & Dark Wash Denim
A holiday card classic done right. The cranberry is festive without being costume-y. Camel and dark denim bring it back to earth and make it feel real — like people who actually dress this way, not a stock photo. Great for families who want something celebratory but not overdressed.
Holiday cards, outdoor fall/winter
HolidayClassicVersatile
09
Burgundy, Navy & Oatmeal
The most reliable classic portrait palette on this list. These three colors have never failed in a family portrait. They're warm, they're timeless, and they work on virtually any skin tone. If you're stuck, start here.
Classic portraits, any setting
ClassicTimelessAll Seasons
17
Raspberry, Navy & Gray
Cheerful and polished. The raspberry brings energy and warmth. Gray keeps it sophisticated. This palette works beautifully for winter sessions when you want the family to feel warm and inviting against a cooler background. Also one of the most photo-card-ready combinations on this list.
Winter, holiday, cheerful energy
WinterHolidayCheerful
18
Cobalt, Camel & White
Clean, polished, and a little unexpected. The cobalt is strong but the camel softens it. This palette photographs especially well in bright, open light and works beautifully for brunch-style or garden portrait sessions. It's the palette for families who want to look put-together without looking like they tried too hard.
Bright outdoor, garden, polished settings
PolishedBright LightGarden
Spring & Sunset Sessions
Fresh Palettes for Early Mornings & Golden Evenings
Colors that work with the light rather than against it.
11
Mint, Charcoal & Denim
Fresh and easy. This palette feels effortless — like a family that just looks good together without overthinking it. The mint is subtle enough to not dominate, the charcoal is grounding, and the denim is the great equalizer. Works especially well early in spring before the greenery gets too saturated.
Early spring, casual outdoor sessions
SpringCasualFresh
19
Peach, Teal & Warm Brown
Made for sunset. The peach glows in golden hour light in a way that's almost magical. The teal provides contrast without competing. Warm brown grounds it all. This is one of those palettes where the environment completes the look — schedule this one for late afternoon and let the light do the rest.
Sunset sessions, golden hour
SunsetGolden HourWarm
03
Plum, Charcoal & Soft Gray
Sophisticated and urban. This palette works beautifully against brick, concrete, and architectural backdrops. The plum is the right amount of bold — it reads as confident without being loud. Charcoal and soft gray let it breathe.
Urban settings, brick, architecture
UrbanSophisticatedMoody
04
Mustard, Denim & Olive
Relaxed and genuinely good-looking. The mustard is warm and energetic. Denim keeps it casual and real. Olive ties it to the outdoors. This is the palette for families who want to look like themselves — comfortable, easy, and natural — not like they got dressed up for the camera.
Fields, casual outdoor sessions
CasualRelaxedNatural
From Behind the Lens
A Few Things I Always Tell My Families
- Pick one person's outfit first — usually the hardest person to dress — and build everyone else around them.
- Coordinate, don't match. Different shades, different textures, same general palette. It reads more natural and more interesting in photos.
- Avoid logos, text, and busy patterns. They distract from faces, which are always the point.
- Comfort matters more than you think. Squirmy kids and stiff adults make harder photos. Wear something you can actually sit, play, and move in.
- Bring a backup layer — a jacket, a cardigan, a flannel shirt. Layers give us more to work with and something to ditch if it gets warm.
- When in doubt, bring the outfit options and we'll decide together at the session. I'm happy to take a look before we start shooting.
- Don't overthink it. The best family photos happen when everyone is relaxed — and that starts long before the camera comes out.