What to Wear for Family Photos in Tasmania

One of the most common questions families ask before their session is:

“What should we wear?”

The good news is that it doesn’t need to be complicated.

You don’t need perfectly styled outfits or a completely new wardrobe. A few simple guidelines usually make everything come together beautifully.

Coordinated Is Good. Matching Is… Not.

Let’s start with the most important rule.

Coordinated outfits look great.
Matching outfits usually don’t.

When everyone wears the exact same thing — white shirts and jeans, for example — it can look a little… uniform. I sometimes joke that matching outfits make families look like they’re in a cult.

Instead, aim for coordination.

A simple way to do this is to choose two or three colours that appear across everyone’s outfits in some way. They don’t have to be identical pieces — just small connections that tie everything together.

It also helps if everyone’s outfit has the same vibe.

For example:

You probably don’t want Mum in a beautiful flowing dress while Dad is wearing trackpants and a T-shirt. The clothing styles should feel like they belong in the same world.

Think of it more like dressing for the same occasion rather than dressing the same.

Avoid Distracting Logos, Graphics, or Patterns

Clothing with large logos, graphics, or very busy patterns tends to pull attention away from what the photograph is actually about — your family.

Simple fabrics and subtle textures photograph much more beautifully.

Knits, linen, cotton, denim, and wool often work really well because they add visual interest without becoming the focus of the image.

Consider Your Location

One of the things we talk about during the planning appointment is where your session will take place, because location can influence clothing choices more than people expect.

For example:

If we’re photographing your family at Hollybank Forest Reserve, I usually suggest avoiding lots of browns and greens. In a forest environment those colours can blend into the background.

Similarly, if we’re at the beach, outfits that are heavily blue or beige can sometimes disappear into the sand and sky.

You don’t need to avoid those colours completely — just be mindful of balance so your family still stands out from the environment.

Dress for the Weather (Trust Me on This One)

Tasmania is beautiful… but it’s not always predictable.

And some places seem to have their own microclimates. Hollybank, for example, always feels about five degrees colder than it does in town.

I once photographed a large extended family there in the middle of winter — five children under five, all beautifully dressed, but not really dressed for the weather.

Everyone looked fantastic when they arrived.

But they were freezing.

For the hour and a half we were there, there was always at least one person crying because they were so cold.

In the end, we took the big family portraits while three of the kids were wearing their big puffy jackets.

So yes — dress nicely, but also dress warmly if the weather calls for it.

Shoes: Comfort Is Key

For shoes, comfort is usually the best guide.

In-home sessions often end up being barefoot naturally, while outdoor sessions tend to work well with simple neutral shoes.

The main thing is consistency.

If everyone else is wearing shoes, one person barefoot can look a little out of place — and vice versa.

A Simple Trick That Helps

Once you’ve chosen everyone’s outfits, lay them all out together on a bed or the floor.

Seeing them side by side makes it very easy to spot if something feels out of place.

If one item suddenly jumps out as “not quite right,” it usually means it’s worth swapping it for something else.

It’s a simple trick, but it works surprisingly well.

The Planning Appointment Helps With All of This

The good news is you don’t have to figure this out on your own.

During your planning appointment, we’ll talk through your session location, the time of year, and the general feel you’d like the images to have.

From there, I can help guide clothing choices so everything works together naturally.

Most families arrive at that appointment feeling unsure about what to wear and leave feeling much more confident about their plan.

The Goal Isn’t Perfect Styling

The goal isn’t to create perfectly styled outfits that look like they belong in a magazine.

The goal is to make sure nothing in the image distracts from what actually matters — your family and the connection between you.

When the clothing feels comfortable, coordinated, and suited to the environment, everything else tends to fall into place.

And that’s when the photographs start to feel like you.