Girl in floral dress with lantern overlooking red rock canyon at dusk, southern Utah — Soft and matted blue tones against the red sandstone of Southern Utah at sunset.

One of the most common questions I get before a session is some version of "what should we wear?" It's also usually the most stressful part of preparing for a shoot — so let's make it simple.

Start with your backdrop

Southern Utah's red rock landscape is bold, warm, and a little dramatic — which means your outfit choices matter more here than in a typical outdoor session. The goal isn't to match the landscape, it's to stand out against it. Tones that sit too close to the rock itself — terracotta, rust, burnt orange, peach, and red — tend to blend right into the scenery, and you end up losing the very people the photo is supposed to be about. The best outfits create contrast, so your family is the clear focal point with that gorgeous red rock as the backdrop, not camouflage.

Young girl wearing a blue dress standing on the red sandstone of southern Utah over looking and epic view. — Soft and muted blue tones against the red rocks of Southern Utah during golden hour just before the sun sets.

You don't need to match — you need to coordinate

This is the biggest myth I hear from Families. Your family and children don't need to match — the best-looking family and child photos are the ones where everyone looks like they belong together while still feeling like themselves. A good rule of thumb: choose 2-3 complementary colors as your foundation, then let each person wear different shades and tones within that palette. Variation in tone is what makes a family look effortlessly put together instead of like they raided the same closet. If doing only one child for children’s portraits there is no need to worry about coordinating with others.

Three bothers hugging wearing shades of green durning cinematic family portraits in Southern Utah near Zion National Park — Soft green tones combined with black / gray plaid print against the Red Sandstone in Snow Canyon State Park. Also a good example of coordinating not matching.

Colors set the mood

Believe it or not, the colors you choose do more than just look nice — they set the entire mood of your session.

Darker colors bring out that deep, moody, cinematic feel I love. Cooler tones like blues and purples play beautifully against the red sandstone, adding a rich contrast that makes the whole image feel a little more dramatic.
Lighter colors open things up, giving your photos an airy, soft, breathe-it-all-in kind of feel.
Warm colors — think tan, cream, soft yellow — bring instant warmth and glow to an image.
Bright colors and jewel tones bring the boldness. Think emerald, sapphire, amethyst — these rich, saturated colors pop, grab attention, and make a statement against the landscape.
Soft, muted colors — warm or cool — bring a gentle, dreamy quality that feels effortless and soft.

And here's the fun part: mixing warm and cool tones together creates the kind of balance that makes an image feel layered and rich rather than flat. It's one of my favorite parts of styling a session — finding that sweet spot where your colors and the landscape work together to tell one beautiful, cohesive story.

Colors that pop against red rock

Sage green and olive (soft tones)
Soft denim, dusty, Teal or muted blue (royal blues look stunning against the red rock but can easily overpower a photo and are best limited to sessions with only one person.)
Tan, brown, and warm cream are great natural colors (grays works too)
Lavender and muted purple
Dusty pink (not peach or coral) Pink is soft and gentle against the red sandstone without blending in. It’s quite pretty.
These tones create just enough contrast against the warm red and orange tones of the rock that your family or child stays the clear focus of the photo, while still feeling soft and cohesive together.

Colors to leave at home

The biggest one: terracotta, rust, peach, orange, and red. As beautiful as these tones are, they sit too close to the rock itself and your family ends up blending into the background instead of standing out in it. Neon colors are also a hard no — bright shirts cast unusual color onto faces and overpower the photo, looking jarring against a natural backdrop. I'd also gently steer you away from stark pure white head to toe, which can read overly bright in contrast, and busy, large patterns that compete with the scenery. Black is okay but not too much of it as the details of the clothing can get lost. Wedding dresses and Baptism sessions are an exception to the white and black suggestion.

Candid children's portrait four girls dancing on red rock, southern Utah — Coral, blue, peach, sage green colors against red rock in Snow Canyon State park.

Practical tips that make a real difference

Start with one piece you love. Maybe it's a dress for your daughter or a jacket for dad. Build everyone else's outfit around that one piece, and the rest falls into place naturally.
Think about texture, not just color. Linen, soft knits, and flowy fabrics move beautifully in photos and add depth even within a simple palette. These also add more drama to photos. Dresses that flow and twirl well add to the cinematic and epic look we are going for and are fun to play with.
Go for simple prints. Lean more towards solid or textured solid clothing with a few subtle prints like dainty florals and thin stripes, soft plaids, and gingham. (Make sure to not over use prints! It can overpower a photo and become distracting. Over all not a look you want.)
Don't forget shoes. Bright white sneakers or anything neon will pull the eye straight to your feet. Simple boots, sandals, or neutral shoes keep the focus where it belongs. I suggest neutral tones like browns and black or matching your outfit color is good too if the tones are soft.
Layer for golden hour. Evenings in Southern Utah can cool down quickly, this is more for Autumn to Spring when days are warm but nights are cold — a light jacket, sweater or wrap in a coordinating tone adds dimension without breaking your palette.

Extended family of eight with family dog on red rock at sunset, southern Utah — Soft denim and blue tones with black, tan, and white as neutral colors against the red sandstone in Southern Utah.

Still feeling stuck?

This is exactly what styling guidance is built into several of my sessions for. You don't have to figure this out alone — send me a quick photo of what you're considering and I'll help you fine-tune it before the big day. No matter the package you choose I can offer you help in knowing what to wear.

Book your session and let's start planning your perfect look.