What to Wear for Family Pictures at the Beach

What to Wear for Family Pictures at the Beach

This couple is wearing whites, tans, and blue. Colors that you see every day at any beach you would come across. One thing that I have noticed is that the more calm and neutral the colors the clients choose the better they “belong” in that environment.

The clothing that the couple picked out is perfect for their personalities. The guy is a much more laid back type person so shorts and a white t-shirt fit perfectly for his style. It also goes well with the rock wall and the sand. The tan shorts and white shirt blend in well with the sand but stand out again the rock wall. The girl’s shirt and skirt fit her bubbly personality to a tee. They also add a great balance and color to the surroundings as well as to her boyfriends clothing color.

For this image, the color of the clothes, the flowyness of her skirt and hair are a perfect balance for this beach. Her hair was crimped for the session and it added the “beachy” look to the overall image. The clothes help enhance the “dreamy” look that the photo already gives.

Even though this is a closer view of the soon-to-be bride. She also chose a dark blue color for the beach. Having blonde hair and blue eyes already, it was important for her to choose an outfit that was a bit more bold so that way she would stand out rather than blending in to the surrounds too much. This color matched well with her eyes as well at her fiances shirt color. The blue and white checkered shirt brought a great balance from the beach tones as well at his fiances skin tone, hair & eye color, and her shirt color.

The fiancé is again facing away however, in this image you can better see the surroundings as well as, now, his hair color. Since his hair is darker, he needed to choose a shirt that wouldn’t wash him out (because of his pale skin) but yet also would be more bolder than his fiances shirt. Both of their shirts don’t over power each other, meaning your attention goes to one person because their clothes is the first thing that catches your eye. This couple did an amazing job at choosing what to wear.

In the end, balance is the biggest issue you have to face. Its not about the color of the clothes, its about how the style and color of the clothes balance with each other and the setting that you are in. No matter what the setting is, choose colors that you would see from there. If you are in the woods, browns, white, greens, and even yellows go great with that type of surrounding.   You don’t want to wear something that is going to take away the focus from the location; example: pink or bright oranges or even black (in some cases) will take from the images. It is always good to discuss with your client what they are going to wear ahead of time and if they are stressed out about what to wear or have no idea, send them example of what you have found works best in the location of their session. Its always good to help them find whats best verses trying to work with what they are wearing into the setting.

Want more tips and resources?  We have it for you over at –> What to Wear for Pictures!

Jessica Lillie Photography

My name is Jessica Lillie and first and foremost I am a daughter of Christ, wife, mother, and lastly a photographer. My husband and I have 2 boys and own 20 acres out in the country on the Oregon Coast; it’s our little slice of heaven on earth. I started my photography business in 2011 and earned by bachelors in Physical Health and Wellness from Eastern Oregon University in 2012. Photography is something that brings me much joy and capture your joy, to me, is a blessing.

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