Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year to photograph families. I love the little traditions, the festive atmosphere, and seeing families come together for their Christmas portraits.


This year, I'm welcoming families into my photography studio in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, with a new Christmas setting inspired by deep, rich colors, vintage details, and touches of antique gold.


Choosing what to wear is often one of the trickiest parts of planning a family photo session. So I've put together some ideas to make it a little easier. From classic Christmas colors to soft romantic shades and elegant holiday outfits, this guide will help you find combinations that work beautifully with this year's setting while still feeling like you.

Christmas 2026 at My Studio


This year's Christmas setting is inspired by rich, earthy colors and vintage details. Deep olive-green walls, a snow-frosted Christmas tree, antique gold ornaments, and soft, textured fabrics create a warm and elegant holiday atmosphere. I wanted the setting to feel like a cozy, beautifully decorated room at Christmas, rather than a traditional holiday backdrop.


The darker colors and warm accents also work beautifully with a wide range of clothing, from classic Christmas outfits to soft neutrals and romantic vintage-inspired looks.


My private photography studio is located in Mountlake Terrace, WA, in a quiet area with convenient parking.

Two gold moose figurines with large antlers, one standing and one lying down, beside a glowing frosted glass candle holder.

Christmas 2026 Color Palette: What to Wear


This year's Christmas decor brings together several of my favorite colors: deep olive green, antique gold, bronze, chocolate brown, and warm ivory.


You can go with classic Christmas colors like burgundy and forest green, choose softer combinations of cream, warm brown, and dusty rose, or add a festive touch with bronze and antique gold.


The important thing isn't to match the decor exactly. In fact, a little contrast often makes the photographs more interesting.

I particularly love combinations that include different textures, subtle patterns, and a balance of lighter and darker pieces.

Two gold moose figurines, one standing and one lying down, on a wooden shelf beside a frosted candle holder and festive greenery.

What to Wear for Christmas Family Photos: A Few Simple Tips


Coordinate, but don't match.

Choose a few colors that work beautifully together rather than dressing everyone alike. Three or four complementary shades are usually enough to create a coordinated family look without making it feel too planned.


Start with one outfit you love.

Often, the easiest approach is to choose Mom's dress or another favorite piece first, then build the rest of the family's outfits around it. You don't need to find matching sets for everyone.


Mix colors, patterns, and textures.

Velvet, wool, soft knitwear, satin, lace, and tweed can all add beautiful texture to your portraits. Combining different fabrics creates visual interest even when everyone wears similar colors.

For patterns, a little goes a long way. A plaid skirt, floral dress, or patterned Christmas sweater can be a lovely starting point, but I recommend keeping the remaining outfits relatively simple.


Balance light and dark tones.

Because this year's studio features deeper colors, adding some lighter pieces can help create contrast within your family's outfits.

Cream, ivory, champagne, and soft beige pair beautifully with darker burgundy, chocolate brown, or forest green.


Avoid overly bright or neon colors.

Very saturated shades can compete with the rich, muted tones of the studio. Burgundy, deep greens, and warm neutrals will generally work better with this year's decor.


Think about comfort and fit.

Beautiful clothes are wonderful, but not if your little one spends the entire session trying to take them off!

Choose outfits that allow everyone to move, sit, and cuddle comfortably. Make sure clothes fit properly, and remember to try on the complete outfits ahead of time.


Don't forget shoes and accessories.

Shoes, socks, tights, hair bows, and other small details can make a surprising difference. Choose accessories that complement the outfit without drawing too much attention.


And don't feel you need to purchase an entirely new wardrobe! You may already have everything you need to put together a beautiful Christmas look.

1. Rich Classic Christmas

Burgundy, forest green, chocolate brown, and ivory


Let's start with a classic Christmas color combination.

Deep burgundy and forest green pair beautifully with warm browns and soft ivory. These rich colors feel festive without being overly bright, making them a lovely choice for this year's Christmas setting.

For family outfits, consider combining burgundy dresses, forest-green sweaters, tailored trousers, or classic shirts in warm ivory. Chocolate brown, camel, and softer beige tones can help balance the stronger colors without taking away from the festive feel.

Velvet, wool, tweed, and soft knitwear work especially well with this palette. You can also introduce a subtle plaid or a small touch of gold through accessories.

There's no need for everyone to wear red and green. Even one or two pieces in these classic Christmas shades can bring the whole family look together.

Rich classic Christmas family outfit set with green blazer, burgundy velvet skirt, green pinafore dress, cream cardigan and color palette.

2. Cozy & Classic

Cream, oatmeal, warm beige, chocolate brown, and dusty rose


If you love the idea of a cozy family Christmas, soft knits and warm neutral colors are a wonderful choice.

Cream cable-knit dresses, chocolate brown sweaters, textured cardigans, and soft beige trousers create a relaxed look that still feels beautifully put together.

You can also mix in corduroy, wool skirts, cotton shirts, or simple knit dresses. Different textures work especially well together in this palette, adding interest without the need for bold colors or patterns.

For a subtle accent, consider dusty rose, muted olive green, or a little warm caramel. These shades bring variety to the softer neutrals without changing the cozy feel.

This is a particularly lovely choice for families who prefer natural, comfortable clothing over formal holiday outfits.

Cozy and classic family outfit set with brown cable-knit sweater, cream knit dress, pink dress, green cardigan and a neutral color palette.

3. Christmas Traditions

Classic red, forest green, tartan plaid, warm brown, and cream


For families who love traditional holiday clothing, tartan plaid and classic Christmas knits are always a lovely choice.

Fair Isle sweaters, plaid dresses and skirts, velvet, and traditional holiday knitwear bring a nostalgic feeling to family portraits.

You can mix a festive sweater with simple trousers, pair a tartan skirt with a cream blouse, or introduce plaid through a dress, vest, or even a small accessory. Warm browns and soft creams help balance the brighter reds and greens.

One important tip: try not to dress everyone in bold Christmas patterns. If one or two family members are wearing Fair Isle sweaters or tartan plaid, keep the remaining outfits simpler.

This way, you can enjoy traditional Christmas colors and patterns without making the whole family look too busy.

Coordinated family Christmas outfit flat lay with Fair Isle sweaters, plaid skirt, velvet dress, and shoes in burgundy, green, and cream.

4. Vintage Romance

Dusty rose, mauve, taupe, ivory, and soft brown


Christmas doesn't have to mean red and green.

For a softer, more romantic interpretation, consider dusty rose, muted mauve, warm taupe, ivory, and gentle brown tones.

Flowing dresses, lace details, subtle floral patterns, and vintage-inspired silhouettes work particularly well with this color palette. Velvet, soft wool, and blouses with delicate details are lovely alternatives if you prefer something a little less formal.

For men, a classic tweed jacket, brown trousers, or an ivory sweater can complement the softer colors without looking overly coordinated.

For children, think of delicate dresses, knit cardigans, vintage-style shirts, or simple classic shoes.

I would avoid overly bright pinks here. Muted, slightly earthy shades feel much more natural alongside the warm, vintage-inspired Christmas setting.

Vintage Romance family outfit guide with tweed suit, mauve dress, floral girl dress, cream cardigan set, shoes and a muted color palette.

5. Bronze & Antique Gold

Chocolate brown, bronze, antique gold, deep green, and ivory


This is one of the color combinations I'm particularly excited about this year.

Warm bronze and antique gold feel festive without being overly traditional, and they pair naturally with the olive-green walls and vintage details of my Christmas studio.

There are many ways to bring these colors into family outfits. Think bronze or chocolate velvet, ivory blouses, warm brown jackets, deep green dresses, or simple knitwear with subtle gold details. Brocade, jacquard, and delicate embroidery can also add a festive touch without relying on traditional Christmas patterns.

You don't need metallic clothing to create this look. A mix of chocolate brown, ivory, and deep green can be just as effective, with bronze or antique gold appearing only in small accessories.

I would keep brighter gold to smaller accents and choose softer, muted metallic tones for larger clothing pieces.

Family outfit guide in bronze and antique gold with brown cardigan, velvet skirt, green velvet dress, vest and a matching color palette.

6. Festive & Glamorous

Champagne gold, black, ivory, warm brown, and deep green


If you love an excuse to dress up, Christmas portraits are a wonderful opportunity!

A champagne satin dress, a velvet skirt, or a beautifully tailored suit can all work with this palette. For a slightly less formal approach, try an elegant blouse with classic trousers or a simple dress with a few festive accessories.

Black can look particularly striking alongside champagne, ivory, and warm gold. Mixing it with lighter pieces or rich textures helps keep the overall look from becoming too dark against the deep olive-green background.

I particularly love combining smooth satin with velvet, wool, or other matte fabrics. You can also introduce a little sparkle through jewelry, hair accessories, or subtle metallic details.

Choose softer champagne gold rather than very bright yellow gold, and try to avoid dressing the entire family in shiny fabrics.

Festive family outfit set with a black velvet tuxedo, gold satin dress, floral girl's dress, and boy's vest look with a coordinating color p

Christmas Family Photography in Mountlake Terrace, WA


I hope this guide gives you some ideas for putting together your family's Christmas outfits. There's no need to follow any of these combinations exactly. Use them as inspiration and choose what feels right for your family.

My Christmas family sessions take place at my photography studio in Mountlake Terrace, WA.

And please don't worry about having perfectly behaved children! A little silliness, spontaneous hugs, and unexpected smiles are all part of family photography.

If you're planning Christmas portraits this year, I'd love to see you in the studio.

Explore Christmas Family Sessions & Booking Details

The outfit boards are provided for styling inspiration only. Clothing shown in the illustrations is not included with the sessions.