The Edit: What to Wear for Your Summer Family Photo Session in Connecticut

Let's talk about one of the questions I get asked most: what do we wear? It's a great question, and honestly one of the most important decisions you'll make before your session. The right outfits can make your images feel cohesive, relaxed, and timeless. The wrong ones, and I say this with love, can do the opposite.

The good news is it doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I've learned after photographing families across Connecticut, from East Rock Park to the shoreline: when in doubt, keep it simple, keep it natural, and keep it you.

Fabric matters more than you think

For summer family photo sessions, linen and cotton are your best friends. They move beautifully in a breeze, they breathe in the heat, and they have a softness that photographs like a dream. Anything synthetic tends to look a little flat and stiff in images, even if it looks fine in real life.

Coordinate, don't match

Please, I am begging you, step away from the matching white linen sets. Coordinated is so much more interesting and so much more you. Pick a palette of two or three muted tones and let everyone interpret it in their own way. A smocked dress next to a linen shirt next to a gingham romper creates visual interest without chaos. Think of it like a well-curated outfit rather than a uniform.

A few things to avoid

Bright white, because it reflects light harshly and can blow out in the sun. Busy graphics or logos, because they pull the eye away from your faces, which are the whole point. And anything brand new that's still stiff. Wear your outfits once before the session if you can. You'll thank yourself.

The summer edit

Below is my current curated selection of pieces for summer family portraits in Connecticut. Every piece works beautifully together, photographs exactly the way you want, and comes in at a range of price points.