As a New York City Family Photographer, one of the questions I hear most from families before their family session is: "What should we wear?" I totally get it! You have one chance to get everyone dressed and out the door, and the last thing you want is to look back at your photos and wish you had chosen something different, which is exactly why I created this blog post to help you figure out what to wear before you ever set foot on the beach.
After photographing families across Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Montauk, I have a clear sense of what photographs beautifully on the beach and what tends to work against you. This post covers everything I share with my own clients, so you can feel confident and at ease before we even meet on the sand. Let’s jump in…
Start With a Color Palette That Works With the Beach
Before you think about individual outfits, think about the overall palette your family will create together. The goal is not to match perfectly. It is to coordinate in a way that feels natural and cohesive without looking like everyone ordered from the same catalog. The Hamptons beaches have a natural softness. From the dunes, the light off the water, the pale sand, the tall beach grasses, it all creates a gentle, organic backdrop. Outfits that lean into that softness tend to photograph in a way that feels genuinely timeless.
Colors That Photograph Well
Light blues, soft greens, whites, and neutral tones are my go-to recommendations for beach sessions. These shades work with the environment rather than competing with it. They keep the focus on your family's faces and the connection between you, which is what these photos are really about. Light patterns work beautifully, too, as long as they are not too small or overly busy. A soft floral, a gentle stripe, or a relaxed linen texture can add visual interest without becoming a distraction.
What to Avoid
Black clothing is a hard no for beach sessions. It absorbs heat on a warm beach day, which means your family will be uncomfortable before we even get started. Beyond comfort, black can create harsh contrast against soft natural light and tends to pull the eye away from faces and expressions. It also tends to look heavy and formal in an environment that calls for something lighter. Another thing to avoid is huge logos and branded clothing. They date your photos quickly and draw attention to the clothing rather than the people wearing it. These are images you will have for decades. You want them to feel personal and timeless, not like an ad.
Color Palette Ideas for Beach Family Photoshoot Outfits
1. Coastal Blues & Whites:
A mix of blues and whites is my favorite color palette for family photos. This is a timeless classic color for beach family photos, and for good reason. A navy or chambray linen shirt on dad, a flowing ivory/white sundress on mom, and light blue tones on the kids creates that clean, coastal feel that photographs beautifully in any light. I always recommend blue gingham, blue stripes, blue floral dresses. Hill House and Marea have some of my favorite dresses at the moment.
2. Terra Cotta & Cream
If you're booking a sunset session, which, as a Hamptons Family Photographer, I almost always recommend, this palette is magic. Warm terracotta and cream tones glow in that late afternoon light, and dusty rose on the little ones ties everything together beautifully. This palette is especially stunning against a golden, hazy sky and one of my personal favorites to photograph!
3. Neutral Naturals - all day, everyday!
Colors: Ivory, oatmeal, light denim, stone. This palette is effortlessly airy and never goes out of style. Wide-leg ivory linen pants, an oatmeal sweater, and a soft chambray shirt mix textures within the same neutral family, and the result feels relaxed, intentional, and timeless. When in doubt, my go-to palette for family photos is a neutral one. You can put the men/boys in neutral tops and bottoms, such as a gauzy shirt and khaki bottoms, and the women/girls can wear a light neutral floral dress with some texture. It’s seriously stunning and so easy to do!
4. Sage & White
Colors: Sage green, crisp white, flax, seafoam. Sage is absolutely gorgeous against sand and sea. Pair it with crisp white and natural linen textures, and you've got something that feels both fresh and romantic. I also love mixing sage green with light blues and crisp whites. It’s always a pleasant palette on the beach!
Fabric Matters More Than You Might Think
Color is the first thing most families think about, but fabric choice is just as important, especially for a beach session. The beach is warm. Families are moving around. You are chasing kids through the sand, sitting together in the dunes, walking along the water's edge. The last thing anyone wants is to feel hot, stiff, or uncomfortable during their session, because that discomfort shows up in photos.
Linen and cotton are ideal for beach sessions. Cotton blends work beautifully, too. These fabrics breathe well in warm weather, they move naturally with the body, and they tend to photograph in a relaxed, genuine way rather than looking stiff or overly formal. There is something about a soft linen shirt or a flowy cotton dress that just belongs on a beach. It feels right in the environment, and that comes through in the images.
A Quick Note about Your Hair on the Beach
If it is windy (and on Hamptons beaches, it often is), think ahead about your hair. A style that cannot handle a breeze will need constant attention during the session, and that can make it harder to feel relaxed and present. Wearing your hair up, or choosing a style that works with the wind rather than against it, will save a lot of adjusting and keep you feeling comfortable from start to finish. I created a list of my favorite products here so that you can keep your flyaway hairs in check during our time together. I also recommend beach loose curls vs. a straight hair look, unless your hair is naturally straight, to which I am jealous!
Last note - Skip the Small Patterns
This is one detail that surprises a lot of families, and it is worth paying close attention to. Small check patterns, such as fine gingham or tight plaids, can create what is called a moiré effect in photos. It looks like a strange optical interference pattern across the fabric, almost as if it is vibrating or pulsing on screen. It is visually distracting, it pulls focus away from faces, and it cannot be corrected in editing after the fact. The fix is straightforward. Larger checks and bigger prints are generally fine. A bold stripe or an oversized plaid reads clearly and cleanly in photos. If a pattern is small enough that it blurs together when you stand a few feet back from a mirror, it is probably too small for photos.
Consider Me Your Personal Stylist
If you are unsure about a specific piece of clothing, send me a photo before your session. I am always happy to give you my honest opinion so there are no surprises on the day. Please consider me your personal stylist when working together. I will look at your outfit ideas prior to our session to ensure everyone is going to look great, be comfortable, and have a great time together!
The Dos and Don'ts of Beach Family Photoshoot Outfits
DO:
Choose 2–3 colors from one palette and let everyone interpret it in their own way. Dad in navy, mom in ivory, kids in a mix of both!
Mix textures. Linen, cotton, gauze, and light denim all play beautifully together and add visual interest without clashing.
Dress kids in lighter or softer shades of whatever the adults are wearing. It naturally draws the eye without overwhelming the frame.
Prioritize comfort, especially for toddlers and young kids. If they can't run in it, skip it.
Bring a light layer — a linen overshirt, a soft wrap, or a denim jacket — for that sea breeze and for variety in your shots.
Pack sandals or shoes that can easily be taken off and put back on in the sand.
DON'T:
Do NOT wear black for your beach photos.
Dress everyone in the exact same color. It reads as a uniform, not a family. Coordinated is the goal, not identical.
Reach for bright neons or bold graphic prints. These compete with the natural beauty of the setting and can make editing tricky.
Overthink it. Genuinely. A relaxed, happy family in simple neutrals will always outshine a stressed family in perfectly curated outfits.
Save the logos and branded gear for another day. Clean, simple clothing keeps the focus on your face and your connection.
Why the Hamptons Is Such a Special Backdrop
There is something genuinely special about photographing families on these beaches. The Hamptons has a quality of light, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening, that is soft and golden in a way that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Southampton, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, and Montauk each have their own character, too. Some beaches are wide and open with long views of the Atlantic. Others have a more intimate feel with grassy dunes and quieter stretches of shoreline.
Part of what I love about photographing families here is working with all of those natural elements to create images that feel specific to this place and this time in your family's life. I have a created a blog post about my favorite beaches to photograph in the Hamptons here. Click the link and see where I like to take my families for their beach family photos.
Ready to Book Your Hamptons Beach Family Session?
If you are planning a beach family session this season anywhere in the Hamptons, I would love to hear from you. Summer and fall sessions in the Hamptons book up, and reaching out early gives you the best chance of securing your preferred date and location. Please use our contact page to inquire more about your session.
