What to Wear for Christmas Photos (Plus My Fall Styling Guide)
Every fall, the same question lands in my inbox: "What should we wear?" I get it. You want your family to look put together, you want to feel beautiful, and you don't want to spend three evenings pulling things out of closets wondering if the colors work.
So this year I did something about it. I teamed up with Steph at Velvet Revival, a consignment boutique right here in Kewaskum, to style outfits for my fall and Christmas minis, and we filmed the whole thing. Keep an eye on my Instagram for the video, and you'll see how easy it gets when someone who knows fabric and color pulls it together for you.
Whether you're joining me for my fall field and vintage truck mini on October 18 or one of my Christmas minis on November 1 or November 14, this is the advice I give every family I photograph.
Start With Mom's Outfit
Mama, you go first. Pick the piece that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and completely yourself, then build the rest of the family around it. A dress with some movement photographs beautifully, especially when I have you walking together, twirling a little one, or snuggling in close. Midi and maxi lengths work for almost every pose.
Once your outfit is set, you pull the family's colors straight from it, and the whole look falls into place. This is exactly where Velvet Revival shines. Steph's racks are full of dresses, sweaters, boots, and jewelry for mom, in sizes up to 4X.
Choose Three or Four Colors
Matching outfits can look stiff in photos. I want your family to look like they belong together. Choose three or four colors from mom's piece and spread them across everyone: one person in a soft plaid, another in a solid knit, your littlest in cream.
Fall Colors That Glow
For fall sessions, think warm and earthy. Rust, camel, olive, mustard, cream, and soft brown all glow in golden light and look right at home in tall grasses and changing leaves. Add texture with chunky knits, corduroy, suede, or a flowy skirt. Texture gives your images depth, even when you keep the colors simple.
Christmas Colors That Feel Timeless
For Christmas photos, I love deep, rich tones: forest or emerald green, burgundy, navy, cream, and a touch of gold. Velvet, satin, and cable knit feel festive without looking like a costume. One person in a classic plaid is plenty. When the whole family wears plaid, the pattern starts competing with your faces. Rich reds and greens look beautiful against the plaid blanket and wreath on my vintage truck on November 1. For my Tall Pines mini on November 14, holiday attire works, but so does a neutral, timeless palette. Those pines are magical either way.
Dressing Your Little Ones
Comfort wins. A happy toddler in soft layers will give you better photos than an unhappy toddler in a scratchy sweater. Knit rompers, little cardigans, tights, and simple shoes are some of my favorites. Pack a backup outfit and a snack that won't stain. I'll take care of the rest.
A Note for Dad
Dads, you can skip the suit. A textured sweater, a button-down with rolled sleeves, or a quarter-zip in one of your family's colors looks polished and still feels like you.
What to Leave at Home
- Logos, words, and graphic tees
- Neon or very bright colors that cast color onto skin
- Tiny, busy patterns that can look fuzzy on camera
- Head-to-toe matching
- Brand-new shoes no one has broken in yet
Why I Love Styling With Velvet Revival
Shopping local matters to me, and Velvet Revival made this so easy. Steph is a fashion-loving mom who opened Velvet Revival Consignment Collective in Kewaskum, and every piece in her shop is hand-selected: clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and home décor, in sizes up to 4X. She knows how fabric moves and which colors flatter on camera, and she helped me pull together looks for my fall and Christmas minis in one visit. Because it's consignment, you get that boutique-find feeling without the boutique price. If you're booked with me this season, stop in and tell her you're getting ready for your session.
Visit Velvet Revival at 1523 Fond du Lac Avenue in Kewaskum (Thursdays and Fridays 10 to 4, Saturdays 9 to 2), online at velvet-revival.com, or on Instagram @velvetrevivalwi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my family match for Christmas photos?
No. Choose three or four coordinating colors and spread them across the family. Coordinated outfits look relaxed and intentional, while exact matches can look stiff.
What colors look best in Christmas photos?
Deep green, burgundy, navy, cream, and small touches of gold. Rich tones and soft textures like velvet and knit photograph beautifully and still look timeless years from now.
What should my kids wear for family photos?
Soft, comfortable layers in your family's colors. Knit rompers, cardigans, tights, and simple shoes work well. Bring a backup outfit just in case.
Can you help me plan our outfits?
Yes! This guide is the best place to start, and you can shop one-of-a-kind pieces for mom at Velvet Revival in Kewaskum, where Steph can help you find the look the rest of your family builds around.
When are your Christmas sessions?
My 2026 Christmas minis are November 1 with my vintage truck at my private outdoor studio in Kewaskum, and November 14 in the Tall Pines, a private location about 15 minutes east of Kewaskum. Each mini is $299 and includes a 20-minute session, three digital images of your choice, and 25 Christmas cards (or two more digitals instead of cards).
Save Your Spot
My Christmas minis on November 1 and November 14 are open now, and my October 18 fall field and vintage truck mini in Kewaskum is booking too. Every Christmas mini includes 25 custom Christmas cards that arrive in plenty of time to mail before Christmas. These photos become the cards you send, the prints on your walls, and the album your kids flip through years from now. To me, that's what this season is about: freezing God's blessings you never want to forget.
