If you are wondering what to wear for beach family photos, start with comfort. You should be able to sit on the sand, walk beside the water and pick up a child without worrying about your clothes. When everyone feels at ease, the photographs usually feel more like your family.
You do not need to buy a new wardrobe. A few colours that work together and clothes that fit well will do more than identical outfits ever could.
Choose a small colour palette
Pick two or three colours, then let each person wear a different combination. Cream with soft blue and sand works beautifully near the sea. You could also try white with muted green and beige, or denim with warm neutral tones. Treat these as starting points, not rules.
Before the session, lay everyone’s outfits on the bed together. If one item draws your eye much more strongly than the rest, decide whether you want that to be the focus in every photograph.
Coordinate without matching
Matching white shirts and jeans can look formal when your family is anything but. Different textures and shades give the photographs depth: a cotton dress, a linen shirt, a simple knit or a soft denim layer can all work together.
Keep large logos, busy slogans and very fine stripes to a minimum if you do not want them competing with faces. A favourite item that feels true to your child may matter more than a perfectly controlled palette.
Dress for the coast, not only the photograph
St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Jeffreys Bay can be breezy. Bring a light layer, especially for children after sunset. Choose clothes that allow movement and avoid anything that constantly needs adjusting. If a dress is likely to blow across your face throughout the session, a different cut may be easier.
Bare feet often look natural on dry sand, but pack shoes for the walk to the location and check the ground before taking them off. Wet sand, rocks and shells can be uncomfortable for little feet.
Plan for babies and young children
Bring a spare outfit if you have a baby or toddler. Sand and water have their own plans. Dress children in clothes they can play in, and choose something they will actually keep on. A happy child in a simple outfit photographs better than an uncomfortable child in an elaborate one.
A quick outfit check before you leave
- Can everyone walk, sit and move comfortably?
- Do the colours look good together without being identical?
- Have you packed a layer for the wind and a change for the youngest child?
- Will shoes be comfortable for the walk to and from the beach?
Once your session is booked, you can send me a photo of the outfits laid out together. I am happy to help you make a simple choice. See more about my family photography sessions or WhatsApp me on +27 82 413 7984.
If you would love portraits like these of your own horse, you can read more about equine photography sessions, see recent work in the horse gallery, or simply tell me what you have in mind.