What to Wear for Family Photos in Kalamazoo: A Simple Wardrobe Guide

sarahrypma
2 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Choosing outfits for your family photos in Kalamazoo can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. The right colors, textures, and fits can elevate your images from “nice” to timeless.

Multi-generational family standing on a tree-lined driveway in Kalamazoo, Michigan during fall, wearing coordinating maroon, cream, and neutral tones for their family photo session.

This guide walks you through simple wardrobe tips I’ve learned after photographing hundreds of families across Michigan — so you can feel confident, coordinated, and totally yourself on session day.

Tip 1: Start with One Anchor Piece

Pick one outfit you absolutely love and then build the rest of the family’s look around it. Aim for 3–5 complementary tones rather than matching everyone exactly.

In the above picture, notice how warm neutrals and soft maroon tones complement the fall landscape without feeling too coordinated and mom's flowy dress is the anchor piece,

Mother + daughter walking on a sunlit path, wearing rust and lavender tones during a Kalamazoo family photography session

Here, mom’s patterned dress and her daughter’s simple, textured outfit create harmony through shared tones — not identical colors.

Teen girl in a soft denim dress leaning on a railing at sunset, showing simple wardrobe texture for family photos.

Simple textures like denim photograph beautifully in any season — timeless, flattering, and easy to build a color palette around

Family of five sitting on concrete wall, coordinated in neutral and warm colors during a Kalamazoo photo session.

Tip 2: The Colors That Photograph Best

Because Michigan’s scenery changes from greens to golds to snowy whites, choose tones that work with the landscape — not against it. Earthy, muted colors like rust, mustard, clay, olive, navy, and cream photograph beautifully year-round. I love this color palette designed by Salt + Ivy Photography:

Color palette graphic showing warm and muted tones — rust, mustard, clay, olive, navy, and cream — for family photos in Michigan

Overhead photo of a family cuddled together on a couch with their newborn, wearing soft neutral fabrics and textures

Family with three daughters smiling outdoors at sunset, wearing coordinating earthy tones for a Kalamazoo family photo session.

These natural tones photograph beautifully across all Michigan seasons — warm, grounded, and easy to mix for families of any size.

Tip 3: Think Texture, Layers and Movement

Soft, natural fabrics like linen, cotton, and knits always look beautiful on camera. Flowy dresses, rolled sleeves, and light layers create natural movement and depth in your photos.

Parents holding their baby outdoors, with mom’s hair blowing in the wind and natural light highlighting soft denim tones

Family sitting on steps with their dog, dressed in soft neutral fabrics showing texture and warmth

Texture and layering photograph especially well in Michigan’s breezy summers and crisp fall evenings.

Tip 4: Dress for the Season + Location

Michigan’s landscapes change dramatically with the seasons, so your wardrobe should reflect that same shift in tone and texture

Michigan family photo seasonal wardrobe guide showing winter, spring, summer, and fall outfit inspiration. Each season features example family portraits and coordinating color palettes including rich reds and greens for winter, blush and sage for spring, denim and rose for summer, and mustard and rust for fall.

Earthy color palette featuring rust, mustard, clay, olive, navy, and cream tones that photograph beautifully year-round for Michigan family photo sessions.

Let's look at this palette again from Salt + Ivy. Notice how these colors are consistent and photograph well in the seasonal Michigan pictures above. When planning outfits, consider how your colors will interact with the background of your session.

Location Considerations:

Woods or parks: Mustard, rust, or navy stand out beautifully against greens.
Beaches or dunes: Cream, sand, rose, and sky blue feel natural and soft.
Fields or meadows: Maroon, clay, and denim tones look rich and timeless.
Urban or downtown: Neutrals, black, and warm earth tones (like camel or rust) complement brick, metal, and architectural textures for a modern look

Michigan inspired wardrobe color palettes for family photo sessions, showing outfit and backdrop color pairings for woods or parks, beaches or dunes, fields or meadows, and urban or downtown locations. Each section includes complementary tones to help clients choose outfits that harmonize with the natural setting

Tip 5: Keep It Comfortable

The goal isn’t to look perfect — it’s to feel comfortable and connected. When everyone feels good, the photos show it.

Grandparents laughing with grandchildren in a pile of autumn leaves during a fall family photo session in Michigan, dressed in cozy sweaters and denim.

Father kissing daughter on the forehead during an outdoor family photo session in Kalamazoo, both wearing soft blue tones in front of green doors for a timeless, coordinated look.

Final Tip: When in Doubt, Ask

I’m always happy to help you plan outfits. You can send me photos of what you’re considering or visit my Pinterest Wardrobe Board. Whether your session is in the woods, downtown Kalamazoo, or along Lake Michigan, these simple tips will help you feel confident, comfortable, and connected in front of the camera.

Ready to Plan your Family Photos in Kalamazoo?

I’d love to help you create images that feel like you — natural, joyful, and timeless.

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