Thank you to Reef for sponsoring today’s post about what to wear in family photos.
Mommy: / sandals c/o Reef / cardigan 
/ dress / leather earrings /
Daddy: / sandals c/o Reef / v neck
/ shorts
/
Lydia: / sandals c/o Reef / tutu 
/ beach tee / hair clip /
Photos by Maile Mason
I know, it’s been forever since we’ve added to our What to Wear in Family Photos series. Why? Since the holidays, we’ve been working on a ton of projects……and we haven’t had as much time together as we would like. So these beach pictures? Even more special! We took them early in the morning a few weeks ago and then had the ENTIRE day together. It was amazing!
What did we do? We ran around the sand, brunched at one of our favorite places near the beach, took naps, visited our favorite playground and ate way too much ice cream. 
Now let’s talk about what to wear in family photos……..and how to select a location. Why the beach for these? Because we live in Southern California……and our relatives in other parts of the country are constantly asking to see beach pictures! Location is a huge part of what makes family photos special. Especially with toddlers. Pick a location where your child can run and play……it makes that photo shoot a whole lot easier. And pick clothes that match the location. We certainly wouldn’t have worn dress shoes to the beach.
A few things to consider when picking outfits and locations for family pictures:
- Wear comfortable and stylish shoes: if you have young children, you’ll be chasing them around. A lot. Heels? Probably won’t work.
- Contrasting colors: If you are shooting against a light background like the beach……don’t wear white. It washes out, and is hard to shoot. Light background? Colors. Dark background? Light colors. Bright background? Muted colors. If you’re not sure what colors to wear in a certain location….ask your photographer!
- Pick a location that has personality: Does your family love to hike? Shoot on your favorite trail. Do you live near a famous ski lodge? Shoot on one of the slopes off season. Years later, you’ll be happy you took the time to find a great location.
Want to see more tips for family photo shoots? Check out To Pose or Not To Pose or What to Wear in a Casual Photo Shoot!
Great suggestions. I am going to Punta Cana in a month and was wanting to get pictures taken of my hubby and I on the beach when we go. Just having trouble figuring out what to take will keep this in mind
These photos are so sweet! I love the one where you’re pointing!
These are lovely photos! Your daughter is gorgeous and the beach looks like such a perfect back-drop! Thank you for all the tips, especially about what color to wear against what backdrop. It’s always so cliche to wear white t-shirts and light washed jeans to a beach photo-session. These outfits and colors look so much better! Thanks so much for sharing this with us on #shinebloghop!
These are great tips. I never know what to wear when getting our pictures done. Thanks for sharing!
A beach photo shoot for family photos would be so much fun. Lovely. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared…