What to Wear for Beach Family Photos on 30A (A Documentary Photographer's Guide)
How Should You Think About Getting Dressed?
One of the questions I get asked most often is, "What should we wear?"
My answer is probably a little different from what you'll hear from most photographers.
I don't spend an hour posing people and asking everyone to smile at the camera. We usually spend about 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning or end of the session getting a few traditional portraits while the light is beautiful. The rest of the time is spent doing what families naturally do.
You may be exploring the beach, playing games, carrying toddlers, throwing a football, digging in the sand, chasing waves, hugging your kids and maybe even getting your feet wet.
Because of that, the best outfits aren't the trendiest ones. They're the ones that let you move, play, and simply enjoy being together.
What you wear matters, but not as much as how you approach the session. The right mindset will have a much bigger impact on your photographs than the perfect outfit ever will.
Plan for the Wind
If you've spent much time on 30A, you already know the beach is often breezy.
Loose collars and oversized ruffles can spend more time blowing across your face than staying where they're supposed to. If your hair blowing around is something that will bother you, throw a ponytail holder or clip in your beach bag just in case.
The less you have to think about your clothes during the session, the more you'll enjoy it.
After photographing hundreds of families on 30A, I've learned that the wind is almost always part of the session. Planning for it instead of fighting it makes everyone much more relaxed.
Looking Good Together Doesn't Mean Dressing Alike
I don't think everyone needs to wear matching white shirts and khakis. In fact, please don’t!
Instead, think about whether everyone looks like they belong together without looking identical.
Soft, muted colors work beautifully at the beach. Cotton and linen are always favorites because they fit the relaxed feel of the coast and move naturally in the breeze.
Try to keep everyone in a similar range of light or medium tones. If everyone else is wearing soft neutrals and one person is in a very dark outfit, your eye naturally goes there first in a group photo.
Most importantly, wear clothes you feel comfortable in. If you're constantly adjusting your outfit, you'll spend the session thinking about your clothes instead of your family.
Shoes... Who Needs Them?
Bare feet almost always look best on the beach.
I recently photographed a family where a couple of people wore black athletic shoes. Against the bright white sand, the shoes immediately drew your eye away from everyone's faces.
If you do wear shoes, choose something that fits the relaxed beach setting. Otherwise, leave them behind and enjoy the sand between your toes.
Think Beyond Today's Trends
Fashion trends come and go. Photography trends do too.
When you look back at these photographs in 10 or 20 years, I want you to notice your family's expressions, your relationships and the memories, not wonder why everyone was dressed according to whatever happened to be popular that year.
Choose clothing that feels timeless and feels like you.
These photographs aren't just for today. They become part of your family's history.
Years from now, your children—and maybe even your grandchildren—may look through them to remember what life was like, how you spent time together, and what your relationships looked like during this season of life. That's far more important than whether your outfit was the latest trend.
A Few Things I Recommend Avoiding
Over the years, I've noticed a few things that tend to stand out more than people expect.
Cell phones, keys and wallets in pockets
Sunglasses on heads or hanging from shirts
Large logos
Neon colors
Busy or competing patterns
Apple Watches or fitness watches, unless you wear them all the time and want them to be part of your story
Bra straps showing
Hair ties on your wrist
Skirts that constantly need to be held down in the wind
Anything uncomfortable
Anything that makes you feel self-conscious
Simple is almost always the best choice.
Dress for What Your Kids Will Actually Do
Your kids will probably get sandy.
They may get wet.
They'll likely sit in the sand, collect shells, dig holes, chase waves or play games.
That's exactly what I hope they do.
Dress them for playing instead of worrying about keeping them perfectly clean.
The same goes for the adults.
You're much more likely to enjoy the experience if you arrive expecting a little sand, a little water and a lot of fun.
Come Ready for an Adventure
One of the best things you can do has nothing to do with clothing.
Come rested.
Come fed.
Leave plenty of time so no one feels rushed.
Then let go of expectations.
Your toddler may decide to hide behind your leg.
Your preschooler might spend ten minutes collecting shells.
Someone may pout.
Someone may laugh so hard they fall in the sand.
The weather may surprise us.
That's family life.
The families who have the most fun usually love their photos the most.
We're not trying to create a perfect version of your family. We're preserving the real one.
What I Wish Every Family Knew Before Their Session
Everyone does not have to be perfectly clean and polished.
In fact, they probably won't be.
You don't have to tell your kids to smile.
You don't have to apologize if they're shy.
You don't have to worry if they get wet or sandy.
I've been a teacher for many years, and I'm both a mom and a grandmother. Kids don't need to impress me.
Some of my favorite photographs of my own son are the ones where he's hiding his face with his hand because that's exactly who he was at that age.
I've never looked at a photograph and thought, "I wish their pants weren't wet."
I've never thought, "I wish their hair had stayed perfect."
I've certainly never wished there was less sand.
Those things are part of the story.
The Photos That Matter Most
Some of my favorite photographs aren't the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.
They're the sandy feet.
The hugs.
The child hiding behind Mom's leg.
The laughter with Grandpa.
The football game.
The splash in the waves.
Those are the moments that tell your family's story.
They're the photographs that remind you not just what everyone looked like, but what it felt like to spend time together.
In the End...
Wear clothes that feel like you.
Choose comfort over perfection.
Dress for playing instead of posing.
Most importantly, come ready to enjoy your family.
Everything else—including the photographs—will take care of itself.
My hope is that years from now, your children, and maybe even your grandchildren, will look through these photographs and learn something about your family. They'll see how you laughed together, how you played together, how you comforted one another and how much fun you had at the beach. Those are the things worth preserving. The clothes simply help tell that story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need matching outfits?
No. I recommend coordinating colors instead of matching exactly. The goal is for your family to look like they belong together while still looking like themselves.
Should we wear shoes for beach family photos?
Bare feet usually look the most natural on the beach. If you do wear shoes, choose something that fits the relaxed setting and won't draw attention away from your faces.
What if my kids get sandy or wet?
Perfect! My sessions are built around real family interactions. Some of my favorite photographs happen when kids are simply enjoying the beach.
What if my child doesn't smile?
That's completely okay. I don't expect children to perform for the camera. The most meaningful photographs happen when kids are simply being themselves.