As a East Bay Area Family Photographer, and someone who hates having to decide what to wear for my own photo sessions, I have created this guide to help you with the best summer color palettes for your family photos. Choosing the right color palette for your family’s summer photo session can make a significant difference in the overall aesthetic of your photos, and help you have a more relaxed family photo experience. These three carefully curated color palettes avoid bright or neon colors, and ensure your photos are timeless and visually appealing.
Simplify Outfit Planning with Summer Color Palettes
These palettes make it easy to coordinate the whole family’s outfits without the stress of finding matching colors. Use this guide along with the links to my favorite shops below for a stress free experience.
- Versatile and Relaxing: Soft, muted tones are gentle on the eyes and create a calming atmosphere for your photo session.
- Complement Natural Settings: Each palette is designed to enhance the natural beauty of outdoor summer settings, whether at the beach, garden, open fields or wooded areas.
- Effortless Coordination: Mix and match pieces from these palettes for a cohesive and polished look with minimal effort.
- Flattering Colors: These color choices are selected to look great on everyone, making you and your family look beautiful and photogenic.
- Focus on Fun: With easy-to-follow palettes, you can focus more on enjoying the moment with your toddlers and less on worrying about outfit details.
Color Palette 1: Coastal Calm
Palette: Soft Blue, Sand, Cream, Light Gray
- Soft Blue: Evokes a sense of tranquility and pairs beautifully with natural backgrounds like the sky and sea.
- Sand: A warm, neutral tone that adds a natural, earthy feel to the palette.
- Cream: A versatile, soft color that complements both cool and warm tones, adding lightness and elegance.
- Light Gray: Provides a subtle contrast and grounds the softer colors without overwhelming the palette.
This palette is perfect for beach settings, or the hills of the East Bay offering a serene and cohesive look that complements the natural environment.
Color Palette 2: Garden Delight
Palette: Sage Green, Dusty Rose, Ivory, Taupe
- Sage Green: A muted, earthy green that blends beautifully with outdoor, garden, and park settings.
- Dusty Rose: Adds a soft, romantic touch to the palette, ideal for highlighting family warmth and affection.
- Ivory: A classic neutral that lightens the palette and pairs well with other colors.
- Taupe: A sophisticated neutral that adds depth and complements the other soft hues.
This palette is ideal for lush garden or park settings, providing a harmonious and elegant look.
Color Palette 3: Rustic Charm
Palette: Olive Green, Terracotta, Cream, Mustard
- Olive Green: A deep, natural green that adds richness and works well with rustic, outdoor settings.
- Terracotta: A warm, earthy tone that adds vibrancy without being too bright.
- Cream: Softens the palette and complements the warmer tones, adding a touch of lightness.
- Mustard: Adds a pop of color that is warm and inviting, perfect for summer.
This palette is great for all settings, open fields or wooded areas, offering a warm, inviting, and timeless look.
Choosing a summer color palette that complements your photo session setting will help ensure your photos are timeless and visually appealing. Whether we choose a location by the coast, in a garden, or in a rustic setting, these summer color palettes provide a cohesive and stylish look for your family photos.
Where To Shop
Pieces featured in the moodboards above can be found at the following shops:
Rylee + Cru – Girls Dresses/Jumpers & Women’s Dresses
Joyfolie – Girls Dresses & Women’s Dresses
The best summer colors!