What to Wear for Family Photos in Denver & Colorado

Styling Made Easy So You Can Enjoy Your Denver Family Photos

Choosing outfits is often one of the hardest parts of planning family photos. You want everyone to coordinate without matching, choose colors that photograph beautifully, and still make sure everyone feels like themselves.

Colorado adds another consideration: your surroundings. What photographs beautifully against summer greenery can look completely different against golden fall grasses or a mountain backdrop.

After photographing families for more than 15 years, I’ve found that the best wardrobes start with a simple color palette, a mix of textures, and clothing that complements the location rather than competing with it.

Location Determines Styling Choices

I always recommend choosing your location before you start shopping for outfits. What works for a mountain session can feel completely different from what I would suggest for a garden, open field, or downtown Denver setting.

For mountain locations with golden grasses and big views, I love warmer earth tones and pieces with a little movement and texture. For greener summer locations, creams, soft blues, denim, and lighter neutrals stand out beautifully. Your outfits don’t need to match the scenery, but they should feel like they belong there.

Choosing a Color Palette for Denver Family Photos

Once your location is set, choose two or three colors that work well together and with the scenery. You don’t need to stay completely neutral, but I do recommend thinking about what will be behind you before settling on your palette.

During summer sessions, Colorado is usually filled with deep greens. Cream, dusty blue, warm neutrals, denim, and softer colors stand out beautifully without competing with the landscape.

By late summer and fall, everything starts shifting toward golden grasses and warmer tones. This is when I love rust, camel, olive, navy, chocolate, and soft creams. You can also bring in color through one patterned piece and use it as the starting point for everyone else.

The goal isn’t to blend into the scenery or perfectly match it. Your outfits should complement the location while still allowing your family to be the focus.

Family Photo Outfit Ideas: Mixing Textures and Patterns

Rather than matching outfits exactly, aim for pieces that work together. Mixing textures like knits, corduroy, linen, denim, or soft woven fabrics adds depth without needing to introduce a lot of different colors.

Patterns can work beautifully when used sparingly. I usually like to choose one patterned piece and pull a few of those colors into the rest of the family’s outfits. A floral dress for mom, a patterned dress for one of the girls, or a great overall set for a little one can be an easy place to start. From there, add solids and textures in coordinating tones so everyone looks pulled together without looking overly matched.

Accessories and Layering Add the Perfect Finishing Touch

Accessories can elevate your family photos and add personality to your styling. Layering is an easy way to add dimension and movement to your outfits. Chunky cardigans, textured sweaters, delicate jewelry, scarves, or layered shirts can all help complete the overall look.

For children, details like knee-high socks, simple bows, or cozy sweaters add charm without overwhelming the photograph. These small styling choices can pull your outfits together and create a natural, timeless look for your Denver family photos.

What Should Kids Wear for Family Photos?

For little ones, I always recommend choosing something they can actually move and play in. If a dress is itchy, pants are too stiff, or shoes are uncomfortable, we’re probably going to know about it pretty quickly! Soft dresses, sweaters, overalls, linen, denim, and simple layers all photograph beautifully while still letting kids be kids.

I also like to give kids a little more personality in their outfits. A subtle pattern on one child or a different texture can add interest without making the photos feel busy. Just avoid putting every child in a pattern or dressing siblings exactly alike. Coordinating usually photographs much better than matching.

For babies, keep things simple. Soft knits, rompers, and neutral layers are always a good choice, especially when there will be photos of them being held. And if your session is during one of Colorado’s cooler months, bring an extra layer we can easily add between photos rather than starting with something bulky.

What Not to Wear for Family Photos

There aren’t many hard rules when it comes to family photos, but there are a few things I usually recommend leaving at home. Large logos, neon colors, very tiny patterns, and too many bold prints can pull attention away from your family. I’d also avoid having everyone show up in the exact same color—coordinating will give your photos much more depth than matching.

Pay attention to little details, too. Athletic shoes, baseball caps, hair ties on wrists, and bright watches are easy to overlook when you’re getting everyone out the door. Before your session, take one last look at everyone together and remove anything that doesn’t need to be there.

Putting Your Family’s Outfits Together

Once you have everyone’s outfits picked out, lay everything together before the day of your session. This is the easiest way to see if you have too much of one color or if something feels out of place. I usually recommend mixing solids with one or two subtle patterns and adding texture through knits, denim, linen, or layers.

You don’t need everyone in a different color either—repeating a few tones throughout the family can make everything feel really cohesive. And don’t forget about shoes! They tend to be the last thing we think about, but they can make a big difference, especially for outdoor family photos.

If you’re still in the planning stages, you can find more details about my family photography sessions, including what to expect and how the experience works.

Brands I Love for Family Photos

These are a few of my favorite brands for family photo styling. Their textures, tones, and timeless designs photograph beautifully during outdoor sessions.

• Rylee & Cru
• Zara
• J. Crew
• Janie & Jack
• Old Navy
• Free People
• Anthropologie
• Nordstrom
• Adelisa & Co