What to Wear for Family Photos: Arizona Fall & Winter Edition
Family photos are a cherished way to capture memories, and choosing the right outfits can make all the difference. While Arizona might not get the traditional "winter wonderland," our fall and winter seasons offer beautiful backdrops and unique opportunities for stunning family portraits. This guide will help both families and photographers prepare for a fantastic photoshoot!
Part 1: The Desert & Natural Vibe
These palettes are perfect for Arizona's iconic saguaro-filled landscapes, red rock formations, and golden-hour desert sessions. If you're still deciding on the perfect spot for your photos, you can explore all my favorites in my guide to the Top 5 Locations for Family Photos in the East Valley.
Earthy Neutrals
This is the most timeless and classic look for the desert. You can't go wrong with soft, organic tones like olive green, cream, tan, and brown. They harmonize perfectly with the natural landscape.
Earthy Neutrals
Embrace the famous Arizona sky! This palette pulls in the warm, rich colors of a sunset, like mustard yellow, rust, and terracotta. These colors add a beautiful pop of warmth against the cooler desert floor.
Boho Chic Desert Vibes
For a free-spirited and dreamy look, lean into "boho" styles. Think flowy dresses, floral patterns, textured knits, and accessories like a wide-brimmed hat. This style is all about movement and personality.
Cool Accents for Desert Harmony
Want to stand out? Instead of blending in, try contrasting the warm desert with a rich, sophisticated palette of cool tones like navy, deep plum, and forest green. This creates a bold, striking, and elegant look.
Superstition Mountain Adventure
This is the perfect rugged and warm style for an iconic Arizona adventure session. The mix of textures like flannel, denim, and cozy knits, combined with earthy colors like rust, olive, and mustard, looks incredible against a mountain or desert backdrop.
Part 2: Trading the desert's earthy tones for the city's modern edge?
An urban session is the perfect opportunity to showcase your family's sophisticated and contemporary style. This collection is built on rich textures, structured layers (like blazers and wool coats), and bold color palettes that stand out against brick, concrete, and cityscape backdrops. From rooftop elegance to edgy downtown looks, here are our top styles for your iconic city photoshoot.
Rooftop Cityscape
A fun, modern look with an edgy twist. This style mixes textures like denim, knits, and plaids. It’s perfect for capturing a youthful and energetic family dynamic against the city skyline.
Urban Rooftop Chic
This look is sophisticated and stylish. It's built on a base of "city neutrals" like black and charcoal, but adds a powerful pop of color (like camel or mustard) and structure (like a blazer or wool coat).
Urban Black-Out
For a truly bold, high-fashion, and dramatic statement, go monochrome. An all-black (or mostly-black) palette is incredibly chic and edgy. The key is to mix *textures*—like knits, leather, and denim—to keep it from looking flat.
Urban Black-Out
For a truly bold, high-fashion, and dramatic statement, go monochrome. An all-black (or mostly-black) palette is incredibly chic and edgy. The key is to mix *textures*—like knits, leather, and denim—to keep it from looking flat.
Part 3: Location-Specific Styles & Pro-Tips.
From lush parks to classic denim, here are guides for specific sessions and my #1 tip for dynamic photos.
Natural & Tranquil Preserve
For sessions at parks with greenery and water, this soft, organic palette is ideal. Colors like terracotta, mustard yellow, and olive green complement the lush surroundings beautifully without competing with them.
Denim Dreams
When in doubt, start with denim. It's the perfect neutral that works for *any* location—desert, city, or park. You can dress it up with boots and a blazer or keep it casual. It's comfortable, timeless, and easy to coordinate.
Texture & Layers
This is the secret to making your outfits look professional. Instead of just flat cotton, look for different textures! Adding layers (like a jacket, vest, or cardigan) not only keeps you warm but also adds visual depth and makes your photos so much more dynamic.
Part 4: Pro-Tips for Timeless Photos
You've picked your style, now let's talk about the two most important tips for making your photos look truly professional. These simple rules about what to wear (and what to avoid) are the secret to dynamic, timeless, and distraction-free portraits.
Just as important as what to wear is what *not* to wear! For timeless portraits, I recommend avoiding overly bright neons, large busy patterns, and distracting character clothing or logos. These items can pull focus away from your family's faces and beautiful connection.
Your Final Checklist for Timeless Photos
Now that you've seen what to wear (and just as importantly, what to avoid!), here is a final checklist for a perfect, stress-free session. As your photographer, my biggest tip is to focus on comfort and connection. You've done the hard work of planning. Now, your only job is to relax, trust the process, and have fun with your family. I'll take care of the rest!
Coordinate, Don't Match: Pick a palette of 3-4 complementary colors.
Think Texture & Layers: This is the #1 secret! Add knits, denim, corduroy, and accessories to create visual depth.
Prioritize Comfort: Make sure everyone (especially kids!) can move, sit, and play comfortably.
Empty Pockets: This is a big one for dads! Remove all phones, keys, and wallets from your pockets.
Be Yourselves! The best photos come from genuine smiles, cuddles, and laughter.
XOXO,
Azula Raun