Real outfit ideas, easy color combinations, and a few tips from your local beach photographer
You're planning family beach photos during your Destin or 30A vacation. Exciting! And then comes the question that somehow takes more planning than the rest of the trip: What is everyone going to wear?
Here's the good news: you don't need a closet full of brand-new clothes, and your family definitely doesn't need to dress exactly alike. After photographing families on the beaches of Destin, Miramar Beach, and 30A, I've found that the outfits that work best are the ones that look good and let everyone relax, walk, laugh, and play.
Let's make choosing clothes the easy part.
The short answer: Choose a color palette and coordinate, don't match
For family beach photos, start with a few coordinating colors. Lighter, more muted shades are an easy place to begin. Think soft blue, dusty pink, cream, white, heather gray, warm beige, or a little muted orange. These colors look beautiful with the white sand and emerald water around Destin and 30A, and they keep the attention where it belongs: on your faces and the way you are together.
Love brighter colors? A bold dress can be a beautiful starting point, too. The key is to build the rest of the family’s outfits around it, as I’ll show below.
The goal is a color palette, not a uniform. Your outfits should look like they belong in the same photo, even if no two people are wearing the same color.
What colors look best for family beach pictures?
There isn't one magical color that looks perfect on every family. The light changes, the sky changes, and so does the overall feeling of the photos. But a few combinations work beautifully on our beaches:
White, cream, and sandy beige
This is a classic for a reason. Light neutrals feel fresh against the white sand, and they work especially well if you love a clean, timeless look. You can dress everyone in white, too! I often suggest mixing white tops or dresses with beige or light-brown pants or shorts, especially for the men.
The trick is to give the outfits a little variety through different fabrics, shades, and shapes. Everyone can coordinate without looking identical.
Soft blues, white, and light gray
Blue is a natural fit for the Emerald Coast. A mix of pale blue, dusty blue, white, and heather gray feels relaxed without being boring. You don't have to choose one exact shade of blue; different shades can look lovely together.
Dusty pink, muted orange, cream, and warm brown
If you'd like a little more warmth and color, this is one of my favorite directions. Soft pink or a muted coral-orange adds personality without overpowering the photo. Balance it with cream, beige, or a gentle brown.
A bold dress with a coordinated family palette
Your beach outfits don't have to be pastel. If you love rich, clear colors, a dramatic red or sunny yellow dress for Mom can look beautiful against the white sand and water. Start with that one statement piece, then choose the rest of the family's outfits to support it.
For example, imagine Mom in a cool-toned red dress, Dad in a simple light-blue shirt with neutral shorts, and a daughter in a blue dress with a small red hair bow. The blue connects her outfit to Dad's, while the bow picks up Mom's red. Mom's dress stays the main color statement, and the little repeated details bring everyone together.
Pay attention to the tones as well as the color names: a cool red can pair beautifully with a cool blue. If yellow is your starting point, you could build around it with blue and cream. Lay the outfits out together to see how the actual shades work side by side.
The balance comes from giving one bold color the most space and repeating it in smaller touches. Keep the other pieces simple, mostly solid, and within your chosen palette, rather than adding a new bright color for every person. You can have plenty of color and still have a family photo that feels beautifully put together.
Black can feel a little heavy against a bright, airy beach, so I usually recommend a lighter alternative.
How to coordinate outfits for the whole family
Start with one outfit you love. For many families, that's Mom's dress, but it can be anyone's outfit. Pick two or three colors from it, add a neutral, and use those shades for everyone else.
For a smaller family, three or four coordinating colors are usually plenty. If you're planning extended family beach photos in Destin with grandparents, cousins, and several households, you can use more shades from the same overall palette. That gives everyone room to wear something they like while the full group still looks cohesive.
And remember: coordinating isn't the same as matching. A cream dress, a dusty-blue shirt, beige pants, and a soft-pink outfit for a child can belong together beautifully.
What about patterns?
Solid colors are the easiest choice, especially for larger groups. But you don't need to avoid patterns completely. If someone has a floral dress or a subtle print they love, let that be the one patterned piece and pull colors from it for the rest of the family. Keeping the other outfits mostly solid helps everything feel balanced.
I'd skip large logos, big lettering, or several competing prints. Those details tend to become distractions in a photograph.
What should Mom wear for beach family photos?
I love dresses and skirts for beach sessions because they add movement to the pictures. A longer, flowy dress can catch the breeze beautifully when you're walking along the water or playing with your children. Shorter dresses can look just as lovely, especially if they feel more like you.
Choose a shape that flatters your body and makes you comfortable. If you're constantly adjusting a strap, pulling down a hem, or worrying about how something looks, it can be hard to enjoy the moment. The best dress isn't necessarily the fanciest one. It's the one you can move in and feel good wearing.
And if dresses aren't your thing, that's okay, too. Your family photos should look like your family.
Outfit ideas for dads, kids, and babies
For dads, simple usually works best: a light button-down or polo with beige, tan, or soft-brown pants or shorts. Comfortable, breathable fabrics help, especially during warmer months in Destin. There is no need to make it overly formal.
For kids, comfort matters even more. I photograph lots of running, hugs, spinning, piggyback rides, and little adventures at the water's edge. Choose clothes that let your children move freely, and avoid anything itchy or too tight.
Babies and toddlers have their own plans for photo day (as a mom, I understand this very well!). A cute outfit is great, but a comfortable, well-rested little one is even better. Keep an extra outfit nearby in case of spills or sandy surprises.
A few practical things about beach photos in Destin and 30A
Yes, there might be wind
Beach breezes are part of life here. I actually love the movement they add to dresses and hair, although I know they don't always cooperate with perfectly styled curls. Choose a hairstyle you feel comfortable adjusting, and bring a comb and a couple of clips just in case.
Florida can also be humid, so heavy makeup isn't always your best friend during an active beach session. I recommend a look that feels natural and comfortable. Minor skin imperfections aren't something you need to worry about; light retouching is part of my editing process.
We'll be barefoot for your beach session
For my beach sessions in Destin and 30A, everyone goes barefoot. Our soft, loose sand makes walking in shoes awkward, and we'll be moving, playing, and walking along the water together. Bare feet are part of the session, so there's no need to coordinate shoes for your photos! You can wear sandals to the beach access and take them off when we reach the sand.
One outfit is absolutely enough
Some families like the idea of two looks: maybe a dressier outfit and a more relaxed one. If your session length and location allow, we can talk about a change. Just remember that many beach accesses don't have a convenient place to get dressed.
Honestly, one outfit you love is better than two outfits you feel unsure about. A light layer, jacket, or scarf can sometimes add a little variety without a full change.
Plan around your kids, not just the outfits
For family beach photos in Destin, I typically recommend sunrise or sunset because the light is softer and more flattering than the harsh midday sun. If sunset falls close to your child's bedtime, sunrise may work better for your family.
Try to arrive with little ones fed and rested, and bring water or a small snack. A relaxed child is worth far more than perfectly coordinated clothing.
A simple checklist before you leave for the beach
- Outfits in coordinating colors, with no distracting logos
- Comfortable clothes the kids can run and play in
- A spare outfit for babies or toddlers, if needed
- Comb, hair clips, and a small mirror
- Tissues or napkins, water, and a small snack
- A light beige blanket if you'd rather not sit directly on the sand
That's really it. You don't need to pack the entire closet for your time at the beach.
Come as you are, and let's have some fun
I created my client style guide to take a little stress out of getting ready. Clothes matter, of course, but they won't be the first thing you remember when you look back at your family photos years from now. You'll remember how small your kids were, the way everyone laughed, and that evening you spent together by the water.
If you're planning family beach photos in Destin, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, or along 30A, you can see my family photography portfolio and packages. I'd love to help you plan a relaxed session that feels like your family.
— Kate, UsovPhoto