Choosing a Color Palette for Your Beach Family Photos
As a Long Island family photographer who photographs primarily at the beach, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “what colors should we wear for our family beach photos?” This is an important thing to consider as you plan your upcoming shoot because it really determines the vibe and aesthetic of your images. To choose your outfit’s, you will need to consider the location, your family’s personality/style and your photographer’s editing style. I always provide my clients with a wardrobe guide after booking and I am available every step of the way to help plan their wardrobe. If you are looking for some quick tips in regard to choosing your family’s wardrobe, here are a few factors to consider:
What colors look best on you? Wear a color that is flattering with your hair and skin tone. No matter the trendy color is, you should always opt for a color that is suitable for you.
What colors match your home decor? If you plan on framing your family photos, think about which color palette will go best with your home decor. You don’t want a bright red dress in your gallery wall if the rest of your decor is neutral.
Which colors do you feel most confident in? I want you to feel your best, so wear a color that makes you feel confident! However, you should always defer to your photographer’s editing style here. For example, overly saturated colors like reds, corals and birght turquoise do not work well with my editing style.
Use an anchor piece to determine your family’s color palette I always suggest starting with moms. Is there something she wants to wear? Once you have the anchor outfit established, you will plan around it and choose other outfits that have patterns and colors that complement it.
What is the photo shoot location? The beaches at which I schedule my sessions are mostly white with very little dune grass. I will use the ocean as a backdrop the rocks of the jetty, the white sand and of course the sunset. You want to consider this when choosing your colors. If you want a monochromatic look, going for a soft neutral palette of tans and ivory is the way to go. However, if you want a pop of color, earth tones would look wonderful, as would coastal blues, pale pinks and soft greens. No matter how much you want a pop of color, I never recommend overly saturated colors. They do not align with my editing style and will color cast with the bright sun at sunset. Instead, go with pink and warm colors because they really pop against the white sand and blue water. If you prefer blue, coastal colors can work well too.
Overall, I always recommend choosing colors that complement each other. Everyone doesn’t need to wear the exact same colors (for example, white shorts with blue shirts) because that can look too matchy-matchy. You want it to be cohesive and natural looking. Below are some examples of color palettes from past clients that worked really well for beach photos in Long Beach, New York.
You simply can not go wrong with the white color palette at the beach. It will never go out of style, looks amazing on the beach and will match any home decor.
I love the warmth of this color palette. the soft pink is perfectly balanced with the cream romper. The teal romper adds the perfect pop of color along with the camel colored pants. Note that the green is a jewel tone and not an overly saturated color.
I love a neutral color palette for beach sessions. It provides a soft look to images. The rust earth tone adds a great pop of color to the image.
Classic blue and white coastal color palette is always in style. This mix of two subtle patterns works wonderfully at the beach. The look is crisp with the perfect pop of color.
This palette uses white to balance various shades of blue and pink. It looks amazing against the ocean and sunset sky. The soft pattern of the little girl’ dress is the anchor piece for this wardrobe and the colors were all pulled from that dress to pull the wardrobe together.
This blue, cream and grey color palette at the beach is classic and works well with the gorgeous August sky
I am a big fan of earth tones. They are often overlooked as an option for beach sessions, but they are a wonderful way to add dimension and color to your images.
Soft greens paired with white is a great color to go with for beach family photos. Note that these greens are soft and not overly saturated
This color palette balances neutral whites with varying shades of blue
Soft green and chambray blue are balanced with a soft sand colored dress. These colors are muted, but give a bright pop of color to the images. Note the texture of the suit, the subtle pattern of the dress and the crochet detailing on the little girl’s dress. These details add texture and dimension to the image.
Creams and ivories are softer on the eye than pure white and look amazing at sunset. They are paired with neutral tans here and it works beautifully. It is a timeless look.
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