What to Wear for Holiday Family Photos
Quick Answer
The best holiday outfits are coordinated, not identical. Choose a color palette that complements your holiday setting, dress everyone in clothing that fits well and feels comfortable, and mix textures and layers to add depth without overwhelming the photo. Classic styles, soft fabrics, and timeless colors keep the focus on your family's connection, creating holiday portraits you'll still love years from now.
Timeless Outfit Ideas for Beautiful Christmas Pictures in Los Angeles
Looking for family holiday photos in Los Angeles? Also, learn more about my Private Santa Experience and Baby in a Box Holiday Portraits.
Introduction
Choosing outfits for holiday family photos can feel overwhelming. Should everyone match? Are Christmas sweaters still in style? Do the kids need dress shoes? What colors photograph best?
The good news is that you don't need an entirely new wardrobe to create beautiful family Christmas photos.
As a portrait photographer, I've found that timeless clothing almost always photographs better than trendy outfits. The goal is to create images you'll still love ten or twenty years from now.
Whether you're planning Christmas card photos, a family portrait for your wall, or your baby's first holiday session, a little planning goes a long way.
Start With One Outfit You Love
Instead of shopping for everyone at once, choose one outfit that you absolutely love.
It might be Mom's dress.
A child's plaid outfit.
Dad's sport coat.
Once you have your starting point, build the rest of the family's wardrobe around those colors instead of trying to make everyone match perfectly.
What Should Mom Wear for Family Holiday Photos?
Mom's outfit often becomes the foundation for the entire family's wardrobe, so it's a great place to start when planning your holiday portraits. Choose something that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and like yourself. Dresses with sleeves, wrap dresses, knit midi dresses, tailored jumpsuits, or elegant sweaters paired with trousers or skirts all photograph beautifully.
Solid colors generally work better than large patterns or bold logos because they keep the focus on your family's faces. Rich holiday tones like burgundy, forest green, cream, navy, and soft neutrals are timeless choices, while winter pastels create a fresh, modern look. Add texture with velvet, knits, wool, or chiffon for extra visual interest.
Complete your outfit with simple jewelry, boots or classic heels, and a flattering hairstyle. Once you've chosen Mom's outfit, coordinate everyone else's clothing around its colors rather than trying to match exactly. This creates a polished, cohesive look that feels effortless and helps your family holiday portraits remain beautiful for years to come.
Coordinating Is Better Than Matching, In My Photographer’s Opinion.
Years ago, families often wore identical white shirts and blue jeans.
Today's portraits look much more natural when outfits coordinate instead of matching exactly.
Think of your family's clothing as a color palette rather than a uniform.
Beautiful combinations include:
Cream, camel, and soft green
Burgundy, navy, and gray
Forest green, ivory, and gold
Soft winter whites with warm neutrals
Deep reds paired with cream and tan
Different textures also add visual interest while keeping the overall look cohesive.
Can Matching Outfits Work for Family Holiday Photos?
Absolutely. While I often recommend coordinating rather than perfectly matching, there are times when matching outfits can create a beautiful, timeless portrait. The key is to make the look intentional rather than accidental.
Matching works especially well when the clothing has texture and depth. For example, everyone wearing cream sweaters with blue jeans, or coordinating flannel pajamas for a Christmas morning session, creates a cozy, unified look without feeling dated. Matching holiday pajamas are a popular choice for indoor Christmas sessions and bedtime-themed portraits because they reinforce the warmth and tradition of the season.
For more formal family portraits, however, coordinating colors often produces a more polished result than identical outfits. Instead of everyone wearing the exact same shirt, choose a color palette and let each family member wear clothing that reflects their own style. This adds visual interest while keeping the focus on your family's faces and connections.
If you decide to match, vary the textures and accessories. Knit sweaters, velvet dresses, scarves, boots, suspenders, hair bows, and layered pieces add dimension so the image doesn't look flat. Whether you choose matching outfits or a coordinated color palette, the goal is the same: create a cohesive look that highlights your family's relationships and becomes a timeless holiday portrait you'll enjoy displaying year after year.
If you still are not sure, or need more ideas, see my Complete Guide To Planning Holiday Photos In Los Angeles
Choose Timeless Colors
Classic holiday colors never go out of style.
Some favorites include:
Forest green
Burgundy
Deep red
Cream
Ivory
Camel
Navy
Soft gray
Rich brown
Emerald
These colors photograph beautifully in both traditional Christmas sets and elegant neutral holiday backgrounds.
In fact, colors also help with poses that make you look thinner in photos.
Don't Forget Texture
Texture often photographs better than busy patterns.
Consider:
Knit sweaters
Velvet dresses
Corduroy
Wool jackets
Linen
Chunky scarves
Cable-knit cardigans
Texture adds warmth and depth without distracting from your family's faces.
Avoid Large Logos and Busy Prints
Your family should be the focus—not your clothing.
I recommend avoiding:
Large brand logos
Neon colors
Busy graphics
Character clothing
Tiny stripes
Small checks that can create distracting patterns
Simple clothing allows your expressions and connection to shine.
Form fitting solid colors are also one of the many ways to look slimmer and feel confident in photos.
Dress for the Portraits You'll Display All Year
Many families use one outfit for their Christmas cards and another for portraits they'll display in their home throughout the year.
That's one reason I include an outfit change whenever time allows.
A festive outfit works beautifully for holiday cards.
A more timeless outfit creates artwork you'll enjoy every season.
Don't Forget the Little Details
Small details make a big difference.
Think about:
Clean shoes
Neutral socks
Freshly steamed clothing
Coordinated belts
Simple jewelry
Well-groomed nails
Haircuts one to two weeks before the session
These finishing touches help create polished family portraits.
Babies Need Comfort First
For babies and toddlers, comfort is always more important than fashion.
Choose clothing that allows movement and doesn't scratch or overheat your child.
Simple rompers, knit outfits, velvet dresses, suspenders, or classic holiday pajamas often photograph beautifully.
For babies celebrating their first Christmas, timeless outfits usually age much better than novelty holiday clothing.
Dogs Are Family Too
If your dog will be joining your holiday family photos, coordinate their accessories with the rest of the family.
A simple holiday bandana or festive collar is often all you need.
Avoid bulky costumes that make your pet uncomfortable.
After all, they're part of the family.
Not Sure What to Wear?
One advantage of working with a boutique studio is that you're not expected to figure everything out on your own.
Before your session, I'm happy to help families coordinate outfits, choose colors that work well together, and make recommendations based on the holiday set you've selected.
Sometimes a quick text message with a few clothing options can make all the difference.
Colors That Photograph Best on My Holiday Sets.
Show examples such as:
Winter white set → creams, camel, sage, burgundy.
Rustic holiday set → forest green, plaid, denim, warm neutrals.
Santa's Workshop → rich reds, green, cream, brown, corduroy, wool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should everyone wear the same color?
No. Coordinating colors create more natural and timeless portraits than identical outfits.
Can we change outfits?
Yes. Unlike many holiday mini sessions, I include an outfit change whenever time allows, giving your gallery more variety for Christmas cards and wall art.
Can we wear Christmas pajamas?
Absolutely. Matching holiday pajamas can be a fun choice, especially for young children. Many families pair them with a second, dressier outfit for a more formal portrait.
Should we wear shoes?
That depends on the set. Some holiday scenes look best barefoot or with socks, while others are enhanced by dress shoes or boots. We'll discuss what works best before your session.
Continue Planning Your Holiday Session
You may also enjoy:
