Jennie Slade Photography · Las Vegas, NV
What to Wear
Your complete guide to looking beautiful together
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Jennie Slade Photography · Las Vegas, NV
Your complete guide to looking beautiful together
A note from Jennie
Outfit choice is one of the biggest factors in how your images will feel, and it doesn't have to be stressful. You don't need to match perfectly. In fact, please don't. The most beautiful sessions happen when everyone is coordinated without being identical, layered in colors that feel warm and natural together.
This guide walks you through exactly how to build your look, with real examples from sessions I've photographed. Think of it as your starting point. Send me a photo of your outfit ideas any time and I'll give you honest, practical feedback before your session.
The basics
Choose your outfit first and build the family's wardrobe around it. When you love what you're wearing, your confidence shines through in every photo.
Choose 3–4 complementary colors and let each person wear them in their own way. The goal is harmony, not uniformity: everyone in their own version of the palette.
Linen, denim, knit, velvet: mixing textures adds visual depth and makes the photos feel rich and layered. One texture per person is never enough.
Desert sessions call for warm earthy tones. Park settings love sage, cream and blush. The setting should feel like it was planned together with your outfits.
One patterned outfit for every two solids. Keep patterns small and subtle: delicate florals, fine stripes, or gentle plaids work beautifully.
If you plan to display large prints, consider the color palette of the room where they'll hang. Your outfits become part of your home's design for years to come.
Color philosophy
Start with two or three colors you love: one deeper, one lighter, one neutral. Then let everyone dress within that palette in their own way. Use neutrals as the base and add one or two pops of color for warmth and harmony. The goal is a palette that feels like it belongs together, not a uniform.
Warms skin tones beautifully in any light
Lighter anchor, soft and timeless
Earthy, fresh, works in any outdoor setting
Feminine and warm without being too pink
A grounding neutral, great on everyone
Perfect for golden hour + fall sessions
Inspiration gallery
These are actual sessions I've photographed. Notice how no one is in an identical outfit, yet everything feels intentional and connected. Each family found their own version of a shared palette.
Real sessions · Real families · Real coordination
"The most beautiful sessions happen when everyone feels like themselves, just a more intentional, coordinated version."
Featured sessions
Here's a closer look at what makes each of these sessions work, and what you can borrow for your own.
Modern Neutrals
This family anchored their entire look around a cream and ivory palette, and it is stunning. Mom's wide-leg ivory trousers and fitted top set the tone. Dad matched the energy with a cream ribbed sweater and dark pants. The boys wore warm neutrals: a mauve sweatshirt and a cream-striped top.
Notice how nobody is wearing the exact same shade of white or cream. There's warmth, texture, and variation within the palette. The result feels effortlessly chic against the red rocks.
Earth Tones + Desert Light
Seven people, all in their own version of a warm, earthy palette, and it works beautifully. Mom's dark burgundy turtleneck is the anchor. Dad's gray hoodie and jeans provide a neutral base. The kids each bring their own piece: a striped top, a plaid dress, a cream sweater, a denim dress, a charcoal knit.
This is the "coordinated, not matching" principle in action. Every person is dressed in their own style, but the palette holds everything together. The golden desert light does the rest.
The Floral Anchor
Mom's floral dress is doing all the heavy lifting here, and that's exactly how it should work. Her dress contains navy, teal, rust, and cream, which means every other outfit in the family can pull one of those colors and feel connected.
Dad wears navy. One daughter wears a navy velvet pinafore. Another wears teal. A third wears cream with a rust skirt. The boy wears hunter green and tan. Every single person is in a different outfit, but they all feel like they belong together because of that one floral dress.
Elevated & Urban
Want to go more formal? This family chose navy suits, blazers, and elevated neutrals for an urban session, and the result is polished and intentional against the architectural backdrop.
The key is keeping everyone at the same "level" of dressiness. When dad and the boys are in navy suits, mom should match that energy, and she does beautifully with a cream top, suede mini skirt, and tall boots. Even the teen daughter's cream sweater and denim skirt feel elevated because of the overall tone of the group.
Styling tips
Linen, denim, knit, velvet: mixing textures adds visual depth and makes the photos feel rich and layered. A family in all cotton looks flat; a family in mixed fabrics looks editorial.
A floral dress, a great leather jacket, a bold accessory: one standout piece per person gives each image a focal point and adds personality without overwhelming the palette.
Desert sessions call for warm earthy tones. Park settings love sage, cream and blush. Urban sessions can handle deeper, more structured looks. The setting should feel planned together.
Jackets, cardigans, scarves: layers are practical AND photogenic. They add dimension, give you options during the shoot, and look great when you take them off mid-session.
If you're uncomfortable, it will show. Wear something you feel genuinely good in. Confidence photographs beautifully. This goes for shoes especially, since we move around a lot!
Pack an alternate top or scarf just in case. Sometimes the light calls for something slightly different. And always bring a backup outfit for the kids. Spills happen.
Pro Tip: The Flat-Lay Test
Before your session, lay all outfits out together on a bed and photograph them. Send that photo to me! This is the easiest way to spot anything that doesn't work, whether it's a color that's too bright, a pattern that clashes, or a shoe that doesn't fit the vibe, and make quick swaps before the big day.
What works & what doesn't
Yes, lean into these
Avoid these if you can
Pattern Guide
If someone in the family wears a pattern, whether a floral dress, a plaid shirt, or a striped top: make sure the other family members stay in solid colors that pull from the pattern's colors. This creates a connected, editorial look without feeling overly planned. Avoid mixing multiple patterns, as it can be visually overwhelming in photos.
Styled by family member
Start with mom's outfit as the anchor, then build everyone else around it. Here's what works best for each family member, with real examples from actual sessions.
The anchor
The complement
The little ones
The tiniest
For the Kids
Dress children in tones that complement the adults without being an exact copy. A little girl in a dusty floral dress that pulls from the family's palette, or a boy in a cream henley and khaki pants: simple, sweet, and cohesive. And always bring a change of clothes. Kids happen.
Ready-made palettes
Use these as starting points. Mix and match within the palette rather than everyone wearing the exact same color. Each palette is designed to work beautifully in the Las Vegas area's natural light.
Palette 01
Camel, cream, rust, and deep brown. Warm and rich, made for outdoor desert and golden hour sessions.
Seen in: DSC05797 session: olive, cream, rust, and denim in desert light
Palette 02
Sage, blush, cream, and warm taupe. Soft and organic, beautiful for park or garden settings.
Seen in: 7X5A8924 session: sage maxi, cream henley, black floral, striped tan
Palette 03
Navy, cream, stone, and sage. Clean and timeless, works in any location, any season.
Seen in: 7X5A6699 session: light blue lace, navy, cream tulle, khaki
Palette 04
Dusty rose, blush, cream, and sage. Dreamy and feminine, photographs beautifully among spring blossoms.
Seen in: 7X5A6859 session: pink floral maxi, blush, cream, and light blue
Palette 05
Burgundy, emerald, navy, and cream. Rich and dramatic, stunning for fall and winter sessions.
Seen in: 7X5A7826 session: navy, teal, hunter green, rust, and floral
Palette 06
Cream, greige, warm gray, and charcoal. Effortlessly chic, letting your family's connection take center stage.
Seen in: Milar family sessions: ivory, cream, mauve, and black
Large groups
Extended Family Sessions
For large groups, anchor your palette tightly: 2 or 3 core colors maximum. This extended family used warm neutrals, denim, plaid, and olive as their through-line across 18+ people. The result feels cohesive without looking planned-to-the-inch.
When in doubt, choose neutrals and add warmth through accessories and one or two richer accent pieces like a rust dress or olive jacket. Denim is your best friend for large groups, as it reads as a neutral and works on every body type and age.
Large Group Strategy
Send everyone a simple color card: "We're doing cream, denim, and warm neutrals. Please avoid bright colors, logos, and all-black." That's all it takes. You don't need to coordinate every single outfit. Just set the boundaries and let people work within them. The variety that results naturally is actually what makes large group photos look so beautiful.
Dress for the season
The best colors and fabrics shift with the seasons. Here's what works beautifully for each time of year in the Las Vegas area.
March to May
Embrace soft pastels and light neutrals.
June to August
Keep it light, breezy, and breathable.
September to November
Embrace the warmth of the season.
December to February
Layer up with rich, elegant tones.
Location Matters
Bright, vibrant colors work beautifully in urban settings with concrete and architecture. For natural settings like desert, fields, and forests (which is where most Las Vegas sessions happen): lean toward softer, muted tones that harmonize with the environment rather than compete with it. The Red Rock Canyon landscape is already stunning; your outfits should complement it, not fight it.
More from the archives
Every session is different · Every palette is intentional · Every family is beautiful
Before your session
I can't wait to photograph your family
You don't have to figure this out alone. Send me a photo of your outfit ideas and I'll give you honest, practical feedback. I want your session to feel easy, beautiful, and completely you.
See you at golden hour.
Jennie
Get in Touchjennie@jennieslade.com · jennieslade.com · Jennie Slade Photography · Las Vegas, NV