What to Wear for Photos (PA Edition):

A Simple Color Guide Based on Your Season


Before you think about the time of year or the location, the most important question is:

What colors look best on you?

Once you know that, choosing outfits for photos becomes easier — and your images feel more natural and balanced.



1. Warm or Cool?

  • Gold jewelry looks better → Warm
  • Silver jewelry looks better → Cool

2. Light or Deep?

  • Light hair + light eyes → Lighter season
  • Dark hair + dark eyes → Deeper season

3. Soft or Bold?

  • Muted colors feel best → Soft
  • Rich, saturated colors feel best → Bold

Quick Match:

  • Spring: Warm + Light
  • Summer: Cool + Soft
  • Autumn: Warm + Earthy
  • Winter: Cool + Bold

Once you know this, everything else builds from here.


Step 2: Start With Colors That Work on You

Here are the core colors that tend to photograph best for each season.

Spring

Peach, coral, camel, warm blue, soft ivory

Summer

Dusty blue, mauve, lavender, soft gray, rose

Autumn

Olive, rust, mustard, warm brown, deep teal

Winter

Emerald, true red, charcoal, black, crisp white

These are your anchor colors — the shades that should be closest to your face.


Step 3: Match Your Colors to the Time of Year (Without Forcing It)

Instead of changing who you are to match the month, adjust depth and texture within your season.

Spring Sessions

  • Spring + Spring → peach, light camel, warm blue
  • Autumn wearing Spring → lighter olive, warm tan

Summer Sessions

  • Summer → dusty blues, sage, soft lavender
  • Winter wearing Summer → navy instead of black

Fall Sessions

  • Autumn → rust, forest green, warm burgundy
  • Spring wearing Fall → camel, soft rust

Winter Sessions

  • Winter → emerald, wine, charcoal
  • Summer wearing Winter → cool gray, soft navy

Same season, slightly deeper or lighter — not a whole new palette.


Step 4: Mixing a Family (Dark Hair + Blonde, Warm + Cool)

This is where most people get stuck — and it’s simpler than it seems.

Start With One Anchor Person

Usually:

  • the person booking the session
  • or the person whose coloring dominates the group

Build around their season.


Example: Deep Autumn Parent + Blonde Child

Parent (Deep Autumn):

Forest green, rust, warm burgundy

Blonde Child:

Cream, warm taupe, soft olive

Same warmth. Different depth. No clash.


Example: Winter Parent + Summer Partner

Winter:

Charcoal, emerald, black accents

Summer:

Soft navy, dusty blue, cool gray

Same temperature. Softer contrast.


Key Rule:

  • Match undertone first (warm vs cool)
  • Then vary depth (light vs dark)
  • Use neutrals to bridge the gap


Step 5: What to Avoid (Almost Always)

  • Everyone in the exact same color
  • Neon or high-saturation brights
  • Stark white near faces (especially outdoors)
  • Logos, heavy patterns, graphics

Simple, intentional, layered works best.


Final Thoughts


You don’t need to dress for the calendar.

You need to dress for the people in the photos.

When outfits align with your natural coloring and are adjusted gently for the time of year, photos feel cohesive, flattering, and timeless — without looking styled or forced.


If you’re ever unsure, I’m happy to help you choose colors that feel like you, not a Pinterest checklist.


One Last Thing (Because These Are Guidelines, Not Rules)

All of this guidance exists for one reason:

to help you feel confident choosing outfits that photograph beautifully if that matters to you.

But if it doesn’t?


That’s okay too.

If you want:

  • all white shirts at the beach
  • matching buffalo plaid in the fall
  • jeans and band tees
  • something totally sentimental that breaks every “rule”


You absolutely can!

The most meaningful photos come from people being themselves — not from perfectly followed styling advice.

My job isn’t to force you into a look.


It’s to document you, as you are, in a way that feels honest.