One of the first questions I hear when a family books extended family photos is, “What are we supposed to wear?”

And when you’re coordinating grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, and kids, choosing outfits for everyone can feel like a much bigger project than it needs to be.

The good news? Your family does not need to match perfectly.

The goal is to choose outfits that coordinate with each other, work with your location, and still let everyone look and feel like themselves. Whether you’re planning family photos at Bear Lake, in the mountains, or somewhere close to home, these tips will help you put together outfits that look cohesive without feeling overly styled.

Choose a Color Palette First

Instead of telling everyone to wear the same colors, start with a small color palette.

Pick three to five colors that work well together and let each family choose how they want to incorporate them. This gives everyone some freedom while keeping the final gallery cohesive.

For an outdoor location like Bear Lake, colors inspired by nature tend to photograph beautifully. Think:

• Cream and ivory
• Tan and brown
• Soft blue
• Sage and olive
• Rust and muted warm tones
• Denim
• Soft neutrals

You don’t need every color represented in every family. The goal is simply for the overall group to feel connected.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

Matching outfits can be cute, but a large extended family usually looks more natural when everyone coordinates instead.

If every person wears the exact same shirt or everyone is dressed in the same color from head to toe, the photographs can start to feel a little uniform.

Instead, think about textures, shades, and patterns that complement each other.

For example, one family might wear cream and denim, another might incorporate sage, and another might use tan and soft blue. They don’t have to match individually to look beautiful together.

Consider the Location

Your location should play a role in what you wear.

If you’re taking extended family photos at Bear Lake, you’ll have water, sand, mountains, trees, and open scenery in the background. Clothing that complements those natural surroundings will help keep the focus on your family.

This is also where color can make a big difference. Soft neutrals and muted colors tend to blend beautifully with an outdoor environment without disappearing into it.

Think about the season, too. A summer beach session will obviously call for different clothing than a cool fall evening in the mountains.

Start With One Outfit

When you’re coordinating a large group, it can be helpful to choose one outfit you absolutely love and build from there.

Maybe Grandma has a dress in the perfect shade of blue. Maybe the kids already have outfits you know you want them to wear.

Use that as your starting point.

From there, choose colors and textures that complement that outfit rather than trying to find everyone’s clothing at the same time.

This can make the process feel much less overwhelming.

Be Careful With Patterns

Patterns aren’t automatically a bad idea for family photos. In fact, they can add personality and visual interest.

The trick is moderation.

If everyone wears a bold pattern, the group can start to look visually busy. Instead, choose one or two subtle patterns and balance them with solid colors and simple textures.

Stripes, small florals, subtle plaids, and other understated patterns can work beautifully when they’re surrounded by coordinating solids.

Think About Textures

Texture is one of the easiest ways to make a large family outfit palette feel interesting.

Think linen, denim, knits, dresses with movement, sweaters, textured fabrics, and layers.

Even if everyone is wearing relatively simple colors, different textures keep the photographs from feeling flat.

This can be especially beautiful for outdoor family photography because the clothing adds another layer of visual interest alongside the natural scenery.

Don’t Forget the Kids

When choosing outfits for children, comfort matters.

If your child hates the outfit they’re wearing, they’re probably not going to suddenly love it because there’s a camera nearby.

Choose clothing that allows them to move, play, sit, walk, and be themselves. This is especially important for extended family sessions because there can be a lot of waiting and moving between different groupings.

Comfortable kids are generally happier kids, and happy kids make family photos much easier.

Plan for the Whole Group

One of the biggest advantages of an extended family photography session is that you’ll have photographs of both the entire group and smaller family units.

When choosing outfits, think about how each individual family will look together and how everyone will look as one large group.

You don’t need to coordinate every outfit down to the last accessory. Just look for a visual thread connecting everyone—similar tones, complementary colors, and a consistent level of formality.

What About Shoes?

Shoes are easy to forget, but they can be surprisingly noticeable in family photographs.

Choose shoes that fit the setting and coordinate with the rest of the outfit. For outdoor sessions, make sure everyone can comfortably walk around in them.

And if you’re doing a beach session at Bear Lake, you may want to plan for the possibility of going barefoot.

Avoid Making It Too Complicated

The best family outfits are the ones that still feel like your family.

You don’t need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for everyone. You don’t need to make every person match. And you definitely don’t need to spend weeks stressing over whether every shade of beige is exactly the same.

Choose a color palette, coordinate rather than match, consider your location, and prioritize comfort.

Then let your photographer focus on the part that matters most: photographing your family together.

Planning Extended Family Photos at Bear Lake?

Bear Lake is a beautiful setting for extended family photography, especially when your entire family is already gathering for a reunion, vacation, or special occasion.

At Kylee Ann Studios, we’ll help you plan a session that gives you a variety of photographs—from the full extended family to smaller family groupings and candid moments.

If you’re wondering what to wear for extended family photos, start with colors you love, add a little variety, and don’t overthink it. Your family being together is what matters most.

McKayla Vincent

McKayla is a Brigham City photographer, wife, and mom who has loved photography since receiving her first camera at 14. After five years as a history teacher, she followed her passion and now photographs full-time, bringing her natural storytelling skills and love of people to every session.

She specializes in weddings, family and extended family sessions, and commercial photography throughout Brigham City, Cache Valley, Logan Canyon, the Wellsvilles, Mendon, and Bear Lake.

kyleeannphotography.com/mckayla