Tips & Guides · Beach & Outdoor · 6 min read
What to wear for family photos on the Northern Beaches
By Aline ·
Outfits are the single thing families stress about most, and the single thing that changes a gallery the most. You do not need new clothes — you need clothes that agree with each other and with the light we are shooting in.
This is what we send our own clients, adapted for the Northern Beaches: coastal light is bright and slightly cool, sand reflects, and there is almost always wind at the water.
Start with one palette, not one colour
Matching exactly — five people in white shirts and jeans — reads as dated and flattens everyone into one shape. Instead, pick three or four tones that sit near each other and let each person wear a different combination of them.
Palettes that photograph beautifully here: warm neutrals (oatmeal, camel, ivory, soft rust); soft coastal (stone, sage, dusty blue, cream); or muted earth (olive, terracotta, taupe, warm white).
Fabrics matter more than brands
- Linen, cotton, gauze and light knits catch the light softly and move well in wind.
- Flowing maxi dresses and long skirts photograph gorgeously on the beach — movement is your friend.
- Avoid stiff polyester and anything with a sheen; it reflects colour onto skin.
- Skip loud logos, slogans and tight repeating patterns, which shimmer strangely at high resolution.
Dressing toddlers and small children
Comfort wins every time. A child fighting a scratchy collar will not relax, and no amount of retouching fixes a miserable face. Choose something they have worn before, bring a backup outfit for the inevitable, and let them keep bare feet for beach sessions.
One tip that saves sessions: let a strong-willed toddler pick between two outfits you have already approved. Choice defuses most standoffs.
Beach sessions: the coastal reality
Northern Beaches light is at its best in the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, which is also when the wind usually softens. Even then, plan for a breeze.
- Long hair will move — bring a hair tie, and know that windswept looks better than helmet-sprayed.
- Layers you can remove let us change the look without a full outfit change.
- Bring a towel and a change for the children; someone always gets wet.
- Bare feet or simple sandals only — sneakers date a photograph instantly.
Studio sessions: what the backdrops want
Our Mona Vale studio works in warm neutral tones — cream, tan, soft grey. Anything in that family sits naturally against the backdrops. Black works beautifully for a moodier, timeless set. Bright primary colours fight the palette and pull attention away from faces.
We also keep a maternity wardrobe in the studio and can advise on it before your session, so a maternity or maternity-plus-newborn booking does not need a shopping trip.
The night before
- Lay every outfit out together on a bed and photograph it on your phone — problems show up instantly.
- Iron or steam everything; creases are surprisingly hard to remove in editing.
- Trim nails, and skip fresh haircuts within three days of the session.
- Pack snacks that do not stain, and a spare top for whoever is holding the baby.
— Quick answers
- What colours photograph best for family photos?
- Warm neutrals — oatmeal, camel, ivory, soft rust — and muted coastal tones like stone, sage and dusty blue. Coordinate within one palette rather than everyone wearing identical colours.
- Should we all match?
- No. Coordinate instead: pick three or four tones and give each person a different mix. Identical outfits flatten the group.
- Do you provide outfits?
- We keep a maternity wardrobe and all newborn wraps, outfits and props in the studio. For family sessions we give styling guidance before your session rather than supplying adult clothing.
