Best Places to Shop for Outfits for Your Family Photo Session
Choosing what to wear for family photos is often the part people think will be simple… until they actually try to put outfits together.
You might find a dress you love, or a shirt for your son, but then it becomes a question of how everything works together. What colors coordinate without matching too much? What will photograph well at your location? What feels like your family, but still looks elevated and put together?
Finding the right pieces is a great place to start, but the way everything comes together is what really makes the difference in your final images.
This is one of the things I guide my clients through before every session so it never feels overwhelming or like guesswork.
If you want help pulling everything together, I created a simple styling guide that walks you through exactly how to coordinate outfits and choose colors that photograph beautifully.
WHAT ACTUALLY PHOTOGRAPHS WELL
Before getting into where to shop, it helps to know what tends to work best in photos.
Soft, muted, or earthy tones tend to photograph more naturally than bright or overly saturated colors
Texture (like linen, gauze, knits, or subtle embroidery) adds depth without being distracting
Movement in dresses or skirts helps images feel more natural and less posed
Coordinating colors works better than everyone wearing the exact same thing
Slightly off-white or cream tones are often more flattering than bright white
The goal is not perfection; it’s creating a look that feels cohesive, relaxed, and true to your family.
BEST PLACES TO SHOP FOR FAMILY PHOTO OUTFITS
These are a few places I often recommend to clients when they’re starting to look for pieces. Each one offers something a little different depending on your style, timeline, and budget.
Amazon
Ok, so I don’t really know anyone who is not an Amazon Prime member. Amazon is great because they ship fast, have a great return policy and if you read the reviews, you can get a good sense of the product you will receive. Some items are not the best quality, but if you are only wearing it for one session, then it is ok. Things to look out for is the type of fabric and if it is too sheer. Also, I find there are a lot of color discrepancies with Amazon, so when you receive your items, make sure they are aligned with the color palette selected. Here are some items my clients purchased on Amazon. Sometimes it is hard to find what you are looking for on Amazon, so I have a list of Amazon favorites on hand that I send to my clients to make shopping a breeze.
Mom’s beautiful chiffon swiss dot dress is from Amazon and comes in an array of colors.
Target
You can’t go wrong with Target and you can shop for the entire family there. The Art Class line is great for kids and they have a lot of great dresses for women and simple Henleys for dads. It truly is one stop shopping.
Simple brown tee from Target
Dad’s shirt Target, Boy’s sweater Old Navy, Mom’s dress Baltic Born Pippa dress
Need help pulling outfits together for your own family?
Download my free styling guide for color palette ideas, what photographs well, and the most common outfit mistakes to avoid.
Joyfolie
This is my absolute favorite vendor for women’s and girl’s dresses. If you are looking for something that is special, photographs well and is feminine, then Joyfolie is the site for you. Plus, their dresses all have that twirl factor that every little girl loves. The colors they supply are perfect for photos and they use subtle patterns and beautiful textures in their garments. They do have sales often, so it is a good idea to join their newsletter and start scouring their site in advance of your session. Some sizes do sell out quickly, so if there is something you love, get it right away.
Another Joyfolie Dress
Mom’s dress is Joyfolie’s Aniya dress They have variations of this style in varying colors every season. It is a super flattering and versatile dress
All of these outifts are from Joyfolie in gorgeous Fall tones.
Shein
Ok, so Shein is hit or miss, but worth trying. I only like this site for children’s clothing, but some women swear by the adult garments. I have not had luck with anything for myself, but for outfits for kids that are designed to be worn for just a photo session, this site is perfect. You need to read the sizing chart and reviews and be prepared to exchange if needed. This site is not a good resource if you are planning you wardrobe last minute.
All outfits from Shein
Girl’s dress, boy’s jacket and sweater are all from Shein
Old Navy/Gap
This is another great one stop shopping location. Old Navy/Gap coordinate all of their clothes each season, so it makes your job that much easier. I prefer Old Navy for children, but I have plenty of clients who have purchased their own clothing for the session there as well.
Old Navy Sweater
Old Navy Gauze dress. This style dress is perfect for the summer and the texture of the material photographs beautifully.
Baltic Born
Baltic Born has beautiful and high quality dresses for women. The colors are gorgeous, they all have gorgeous texture to add visual interest to images and the cuts are ultra flattering. Many of their dresses are bump friendly, so they work well for maternity and also flattering post pregnancy and will work for newborn sessions. The only downside is that you can only return for store credit, so you want to make sure you look at the size chart and choose carefully.
Bump friendly Gauze dress from Baltic Born
Baltic Born Pippa dress. This dress is super flattering and comes in various sleeve lengths and colors.
H&M
I prefer H&M site for men and children’s clothing. They often have outfits that are trendy, in colors that photograph well and at an affordable price point. I find I have more luck with boys clothing then girls, but have sent outfits to clients for both genders.
Boys outfit is from H&M
Zara
I love Zara. They have beautiful clothing for children and adults. I love the patterns and textures of their clothing. I do think they sell out of sizes quickly, so if you love it, buy it.
Boy’s striped shirt is from Zara and the toddler girl’s tan gauze dress
Other Lesser Known Brands
If you are willing to try new vendors or ok with buying from multiple vendors, here are some fo my favorite other sources:
Free People women’s dresses
Vici women’s dresses
Jen’s Pirate’s Booty women’s dresses
The Simple Folk whole family
Etsy I prefer this mostly for toddlers for unique hand made pieces
Alice & Ames girls clothing
Amazon onesie
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Finding the outfits is one piece of it, but how everything comes together is what really shapes your photos.
This is usually where families start to feel unsure; how to balance colors, how to avoid clashing patterns, or how to make everything feel cohesive without looking overly styled.
Before your session, I help guide you through this process by creating a color palette and offering feedback so everything works together naturally.
Family photo sessions in Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine all have slightly different light and surroundings, which is why wardrobe choices matter more than people expect.
Planning a session?
If you’re starting to think about family photos and want help pulling everything together so it feels easy from the beginning, you can view available dates here:
