The 4th of July means that summer is officially in full swing! I am looking forward to spending some time on Cape Cod later this month, where I can't wait to get together with so many families for their family portrait sessions! But of course, there is always that one popular question...

What should we wear for our photoshoot on the beach?

Since our Spring Wardrobe blog post was such a hit, I've decided to share some wardrobe inspiration for your beach session this summer! Enjoy lots of visual inspiration, plus a couple of simple tips to make choosing outfits for your family session a breeze!

Nicole Starr Photography | Saratoga Springs Family Photographer | Boston Family Photographer | Upstate NY Family Photographer | Family Photographer | Fatherhood Photographer

Keep it simple.

Choose 2 colors plus a neutral and weave those into everyone's outfits. Above you'll see that light blue, navy, and white pull all of the outfits together!

You can't go wrong with stripes.

I am a huge fan of stripes for our Salt Air sessions on the beach, and I love how classic and New England-y (we're just going to pretend that's a word!) they look. When choosing stripes, choose ones that have only 2 colors so that the pattern isn't too busy and distracting -- white & blue are so classic!

Enjoy a little pop of color!

Teal & coral go really well together, and they are such eye-catching summer colors that are perfect for a photo session in the warmer months. Tie the outfits together even more with matching accessories -- a coral bowtie on the baby, or a hat with a teal band on dad.

Leave the jeans at home.

At the beach, you want to lighten up and relax. Heavy and dark jeans just don't make sense in such a relaxed and airy setting. Choose lightweight fabrics (khaki, linen, cotton) rather than heavier ones. Shorts are great, too!

Glam it up!

If you really want to make it a special experience, check out Rainey's Closet for your daughter (we have an entire post about this incredible rental service for little girls' dresses). For your own dress, Rent the Runway has fabulous options, and you can also purchase beautiful dresses on Lulu's and even Amazon -- yay for 2-day shipping! I have a growing collection of gowns in the studio as well -- ask me about it, and I'm happy to bring a dress or two for you to borrow!

Choose colors that complement your home decor.

These portraits are going to be proudly displayed on the walls of your home. Make sure you keep your colors in mind as you plan your wardrobe so that they flow seamlessly into your decorating, enhancing the space rather than looking out of place!