What to Wear for Family Photos in Arizona: Three Colors, No Matching
Designed in Scottsdale, Arizona
Three colors. No logos. No matching.
Pick three colors for the whole family and wear them in different weights. That is the entire trick. Skip the matching outfits, skip the logos, and dress for the last hour before sunset, when the desert goes gold and the air cools fast.
One click kits are in the sections below, with every size listed.
01Pick three colors, then stop
Matching looks like a uniform. Coordinating looks like a family. Choose three colors that sit next to each other, then spread them around: one dominant, one support, one accent. Solid knits photograph cleaner than prints, and one print in the whole group is plenty.
02Skip what fights the desert
Tan on tan rock is a disappearing act. If the backdrop is sandstone, keep tan in a supporting role and put the deepest color on the person you want the eye to find first. Neon and logos pull attention off faces. Head to toe white in direct sun blows out, so give it to one person and pair it with a darker neighbor.
Coordinate the colors. Vary the weights. Nobody should look like they got dressed by the same person.
03Her looks
The Tori Dress has a built in shorts liner, side pockets and a built in bra, so it holds up when you are sitting on a rock with a toddler. It is a four way stretch knit and it moves when you do. Layer the Hayden Hoodie over it for the walk in and take it off for the frames.
Her kit: Tori Dress in Juniper plus Hayden Hoodie in Beige, $163. One click to checkout, pick your size.
SmallMediumLarge04His looks
Dark green and maroon are the two fall colors that read well against desert rock and a low sun. The Alec Crew is a mid weight knit with a soft cloud texture, and the James Jogger is a tapered four way stretch pant with front pockets. Together they look dressed without looking stiff.
His kit: Alec Crew in Dark Green plus James Jogger in Tan, $174. One click to checkout, pick your size.
SmallMediumLargeExtra Large05Dress for five o'clock, not noon
Desert sessions run late in the day. Phoenix sunset lands a little after 5 PM by December, and the air drops quickly once the sun is behind the ridge. Wear the layer in, take it off for the frames, and put it back on between setups. The same plan works for the lights and the table, so read our Christmas lights outfit guide and the Thanksgiving dinner guide before the calendar fills up.
If you are still deciding between a hoodie and a crew for him, we settled that in Crewneck vs Hoodie for Men. Browse everything in the women's collection and the men's collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors look best for family photos in Arizona?
Deep green, maroon, cream and a warm tan photograph well against desert rock and low light. Keep tan as the support color so nobody blends into the sandstone.
Should everyone wear the same color?
No. Pick three colors that sit together and spread them across the group in different weights. Identical outfits look like a uniform, coordinated ones look like a family.
What should we wear to family photos in the desert in winter?
Plan for a warm start and a cold finish. Wear the main outfit, bring a hoodie or crew for the walk in, and put it back on between setups. Temperatures fall quickly after sunset.
Can I wear white for family photos?
Yes, on one person. Head to toe white for the whole group in direct sun blows out and loses detail. Pair one white piece with darker neighbors.
Ready to gear up?
Free shipping over $75. Every piece above ships from Scottsdale.
Shop Women's Shop Men'sWomen's Blog Special
40% off, automatically applied at checkout, on eligible women's styles.
Shop the Women's CollectionKeep reading
What to wear to see Christmas lights in ArizonaWhat to wear to Thanksgiving dinner in ArizonaHoliday party dress code decoderHow to layer an athletic dress for fallWhat to wear in 50 degree weatherCrewneck vs hoodie for menJoggers vs sweatpants for men
