Best colours for family pictures outside
Booking your next family photoshoot may seem like the easy part… compared to the anxiety of deciding what to wear! 😅 Choosing outfits for family pictures can feel confusing and overwhelming but we have great news! Dressing for photos doesn’t have to be intimidating, and we’re here help you choose the best colours for your family photos, making this part of the process as easy, painless, and beautiful as possible. 👍 Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photoshoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. 🌎 Today, we asked our local photographers to share some photo style tips to help plan the best colours for family pictures outside. 🎨
(Be sure to also check out our Top 10 Photoshoot Tips with Outfit Ideas & Poses and Ultimate Guide for Planning Family Photos with Kids too!)
Now, without further ado, let’s talk COLOUR! 🌈 →
TLDR
(A little sneak peek just for you 😊)
- Earth tones – dressing in earth tones is the perfect way to emulate the natural beauty of your surroundings and scenic backgrounds.
- Pastels – choosing a pastel palette that compliments your photoshoot location elevates photos, giving them a professional portrait look and feel.
- Black and white – there isn’t a more classic (or easy!) colour combo than black and white.
- Different shades of one colour – try out different shades of the same colour, giving your whole family a super cohesive, coordinated vibe.
- Pop of colour – utilizing a family-wide pop of colour is a really fun idea, particularly in urban areas to show off yourselves and a poppin’ background!
- Casual but coordinated colour scheme – a fantastic option to keep everyone looking and feeling happy is choosing casual, coordinated pieces instead of more formal attire.
- Spring colours – neutrals, soft colours, and gentle patterns are a lovely option for outdoor family pictures.
- Summer colours – summer colours are some of the happiest, most lively colours and really exude cheer and boldness.
- Fall colours –fall colours, as a uniquely seasonal tonal treasure, are typically warm, earthy neutrals and often include soft and cozy clothing too.
- Winter colours – with winter starker in comparison, naturally, winter colours feel cooler and typically highlight the individuals against the background.
Photo: Martina in Barcelona for Flytographer. Martin and family capture memories in Barcelona with a family photoshoot in The Gothic Quarter.
1. Earth Tones
Dressing in earth tones is a perfect way to emulate the natural beauty of your surroundings and scenic backgrounds. 🏞 We love the idea of earth tone colour combinations in particularly scenic areas and/or if yours is a golden hour shoot like this one! 🌅 Highlighting a colour palette that shows off a range of colours can be a great way to go through existing closets to see what you already have and what additions and combinations you can use to really show off each member of your family, reflecting one another and the beautiful landscape.
Photo: Flytographer in Kona. Sally and family capture memories in Kona with a family photoshoot at Old Kona Airport.
2. Pastels
Selecting a pastel colour palette 🟣 is a great option for any family portrait session but can be a particularly lovely option for larger family groups. Perhaps start with an inspiration photo from your particular photo route (like these stunning cliffs in Cinque Terre!) and use that as a springboard for family members to select/shop for their attire. Going with a bright pastel background that compliments your family photoshoot (look for colours opposite each other on the colour wheel!) is flattering and really elevates photos, giving them a professional portrait look. 👌
Photo: Gaia in Cinque Terre for Flytographer. Cagney and family capture memories in Cinque Terre with a family photoshoot in Manarola.
3. Black and White
There isn’t a more classic colour combo than black and white. ⚫️ Any family photographer will tell you these are some of the best colours for family pictures outside. Black and white are a win–win for literally any photo session, whether there’s two of you or 20! Our favourite part about a black-and-white colour palette is it’s so easy! Everyone has black and white pieces in their closet. But, if you’re shopping for a new piece or two, it doesn’t get any more straightforward to dress to impress in these perfect neutrals. ✔️
Hot tip! If you’re itching for a pop of colour, accent colours are the perfect surprise to add to your black-and-white basics for some of your photoshoot—you can add a hat, scarf, sweater… you name it! 👛 These accessories are also easy to add, or take away, for some gallery variety.
Photo: Kirill in Paris for Flytographer. Heather and family capture memories in Paris with a family photoshoot at Bir-Hakeim & the Eiffel Tower.
4. Different shades of one colour
Coordinating your whole family in different shades of the same colour is a great option for your outdoor family pictures. We love the idea of a beautiful light blue–teal–navy blue 🔵 combo or, perhaps, monochromatic shades of orange (like a peach–burnt orange combo for photos near the beach, for example)! If you have a colour that’s super flattering to your skin tone, it’s the perfect opportunity to try out different shades of that colour on your whole family for perfect family photo outfits! 👨👨👧
Photo: Cheryl in Ft. Lauderdale for Flytographer. Jamie and family capture memories in Ft. Lauderdale with a family photoshoot at Hollywood North Beach Park.
5. Pop of colour
Utilizing a family-wide pop of colour is a really fun idea, particularly in urban areas. Bold colours or bright colours like red, pink, or yellow can be awesome additions to truly make your family photos stand out from the crowd. 🟡 Pops of colour can come in the form of matching items or in various forms of attire and/or accessories. 🤩
Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Suzanne and family capture memories in New York City with a family photoshoot in Times Square.
6. Casual but coordinated colour scheme
Although we loooove a good glam look, don’t forget that you can stay casual if that’s more your jam! A casual, coordinated colour scheme not only can look great but can also feel great. 😎 Especially if you know your kids may push back against dressing up or if space for one-time-only clothes is a concern for light-travelers on a vacation photoshoot, go casual. Keeping the rest of the family feeling comfy and chill may be the key to happy family photos, so lean into the casual vibe. 🆒
Photo: Daniel in Tokyo for Flytographer. Nikki and family capture memories in Tokyo with a family photoshoot in Asakusa.
7. Spring colours
Spring family photos are some of our favourites. Spring photography sessions usually mean mild weather, beautiful flowers and foliage, and buds of new life everywhere! Spring colours can mean neutrals with gentle pops of colours, but they can also mean patterns! Florals, simple or subtle stripes, or other soft colours that accent your background make spring colour attire a great palette option for your family photo session. 💐
Photo: Ellie in Florence for Flytographer. Megan and family capture memories in Florence with a family photoshoot at Duomo & Ponte Vecchio.
8. Summer colours
Summer colours are some of the happiest, most lively colours to wear during your summer family photos (or, in a warm climate, photos in any season)! Choosing the right colour is easy when the goal is to be cheery and bright. ☀️ Whether or not you choose a main colour to lean into, push the neutral tones aside and go full throttle bright. Neon colours? Ok! 🟠 Bold colours? Good thinking! Emphatic, complementary colours are a great choice. 🔥
Photo: Raul in Old San Juan for Flytographer. Melanie and family capture memories in San Juan with a family photoshoot in Old San Juan.
9. Fall colours
Fall family photos are a classic when it comes to family photography. 🧥 Fall is a season for warm colours, earthy neutrals, and cozy clothing. 🟤 Fall weather, fall clothing, and fall colours are a perfect photo trifecta! Fall photos can be deep, rich, jewel-toned, or simple and classic. Lean into the season and try to really embrace fall’s best colours for family pictures outside. 🍁
Photo: Joanna in Orlando for Flytographer. Tamarah and family capture memories in Orlando with a family photoshoot.
10. Winter colours
Winter colours are your chance to really juxtapose you and your background. 🔴 With winter tending to be a bit starker, naturally, winter colours feel cooler and typically highlight the individuals against the background more than softer, warmer shades. Cooler winter colours compliment creative clothing pieces, emphasize great lines and structure, and are a way to really stand out. 〰
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Alexandra and friends capture memories in Paris with a family just because at Bir-Hakeim & the Eiffel Tower.
Outro
Family photo colour schemes can be seriously fun to plan—did we inspire you to get creative!? 💬 Whether it’s matchy-matchy, coordinating, utilizing seasonal tones, or simple solids, great outfit colour choices have the potential to accentuate, highlight, and show off both your family members and your scenery. Think about your location, time of year, and the composition of your family, and lean into what might be possible!‼️ It is so much fun to find the best colours for your family pictures outside.
Don’t forget to scroll through the Flytographer destinations pages, photographer portfolios, and routes to get inspiration and ideas. 🙌 We can’t wait to capture you and your family! 📸
Looking for more photo and style tips? 👩💻 Be sure to read our Ultimate Guide on How to Look Good in Photos and our 10 Outdoor Family Photo Ideas for All Ages!
“Liz was an amazing photographer! My friends and I hired her for a post-bachelorette celebration. Liz was informative and even helped us find a parking spot by the meeting location. She was patient and had great ideas of picturesque scenery, she was also open to our ideas and suggestions as well. Liz was very friendly and sweet! We are also happy with the results of the photoshoot. Liz didn’t feel like just a photographer she also made it seem like she was a friend! Thank you Liz!”
Ann
“I absolutely enjoyed my experience with Ellie! She helped me execute a surprise proposal and subsequent engagement photo shoot with my partner. She graciously assisted me throughout the planning process: asking about my vision, and providing location recommendations to help out with the execution of this proposal. During the photo session, she came ready with extensive ideas, made sure we felt comfortable, and provided us guidance throughout the whole shoot. We absolutely LOVE the photos and would highly recommend her!”
Akwasi
“Carly was absolutely fabulous! She made us feel comfortable and natural. The shoot was fun and her prompts were great. I am in love with how the photos came out! Not only the quality but how many pictures she was able to get. Cannot recommend her enough!”
Natalie
