What to Wear for Maui Family Photos : Outfit Ideas & Tips
What to Wear for Maui Family Photos: A Photographer’s Guide to Beach Outfit Ideas
Planning family photos during your Maui vacation? One of the biggest questions I get from families before their session is what everyone should wear.
And while coordinating outfits for the whole family might feel a little overwhelming, I promise it doesn’t have to be!
After years of photographing families here on Maui, I’ve learned that some of my favorite sessions are the ones where everyone shows up feeling comfortable, confident, and like themselves.
Whether you’re planning sunrise family photos in Wailea, a beach session in Kapalua, or simply looking for outfit inspiration for your upcoming Hawaii vacation, here are a few of my favorite tips for putting everything together.
What Colors Look Best for Maui Family Photos?
My answer? Pretty much every color
Seriously.
One of my favorite things about photographing families in Hawaii is just how beautifully color comes through in photographs.
Between the turquoise ocean, golden sand, lush greenery, and vibrant tropical surroundings, Maui already has such an incredible natural color palette. Adding a little more color through your outfits only makes everything pop that much more.
Don’t feel like you need to stick with traditional beach photography colors like white, cream, or beige.
Blues, greens, pinks, yellows, oranges, earthy tones, and even deeper, richer colors can all photograph beautifully here.
Whether you love softer tones or something a little more colorful, there’s plenty of room to make your outfits your own.
The biggest thing I recommend is choosing colors you genuinely enjoy wearing rather than trying to follow a particular trend.
Should You Wear White for Family Beach Photos?
White is probably one of the most popular outfit choices for family beach photography, but surprisingly, it’s not usually my first recommendation.
And there’s a reason for that :
The Hawaiian sunshine is incredibly intense, even during early morning sessions. Depending on the fabric, white clothing can become surprisingly see-through when the sunlight hits it.
This is especially important to consider with lightweight dresses, linen pants, and white shirts.
If you love white and really want to incorporate it into your family’s outfits, absolutely go for it! I generally recommend having just one family member wear white rather than dressing everyone in the same color.
One of my biggest tips is to do a quick light test before packing your outfits.
Hold the fabric up against a strong light source and check how much light passes through it. It’s also helpful to try the outfit on in bright natural sunlight to make sure everything provides the coverage you’re comfortable with.
A little preparation can save you from an unexpected surprise once you’re standing on the beach!
Coordinating Family Outfits Without Everyone Matching
Here’s something I always tell my clients: Your family doesn’t need to match to look beautiful together.
In fact, I personally love when everyone wears something a little different.
Mixing colors, textures, and styles can create a really beautiful, natural look in your photographs.
But if you prefer having everyone in a similar color palette, that’s completely fine too!
My biggest suggestion is to play around with different shades rather than dressing everyone in the exact same color.
For example, if you’re leaning toward blue, you could have one family member wear navy, another in a softer blue, and someone else in teal.
You’re still creating a coordinated look without everyone blending together.
The same idea works with greens, pinks, earthy tones, or whatever colors your family gravitates toward.
And don’t be afraid to mix things up a little!
What Should Moms Wear for Maui Family Photos?
Let’s talk about dresses -
Flowy dresses can photograph beautifully on Maui’s beaches, especially when there’s a little ocean breeze adding movement to the fabric.
They’re a popular option for a reason, and I absolutely love photographing them.
But here’s the thing: You do not need to wear a dress for your family photos.
If dresses aren’t your thing, don’t feel pressured to wear one just because you’re having professional photographs taken.
Shorts, pants, a comfortable blouse, or an outfit you already love can look just as beautiful.
What matters most is that you feel comfortable moving around, sitting in the sand, walking along the shoreline, and interacting with your family.
Because during our sessions, we’re not just standing in one spot smiling at the camera.
We’re moving, laughing, playing, and letting those natural moments happen.
And I want you to be able to enjoy every bit of that without worrying about your outfit.
What Should Dads and Boys Wear for Beach Photos?
For dads and boys, I love keeping things simple and comfortable.
And here’s a little tip that surprises some families: Board shorts are completely fine for beach photography!
You don’t need to wear dress shorts or something overly formal unless that’s the look you’re going for.
A comfortable pair of board shorts with a casual button-up or a simple shirt can work beautifully.
This is especially helpful if you’re planning to get your feet wet or spend some time playing along the shoreline.
The same goes for little boys.
Choose something they can comfortably move around in, because chances are they’ll want to explore the beach rather than stand perfectly still for an entire session.
And honestly, I love that!
What Should Little Girls Wear for Maui Family Photos?
For little girls, dresses are always a beautiful option, especially when they have a little movement to them.
But just like with moms, dresses are absolutely not a requirement.
Comfortable shorts, lightweight pants, and cute tops can photograph just as beautifully.
The most important thing is choosing something your little one can comfortably play and move around in.
If your daughter loves dresses, wonderful!
If she’d rather wear shorts and run straight toward the ocean, that’s wonderful too.
The goal is to capture your family as they are, not make everyone uncomfortable for the sake of an outfit.
The Best Fabrics for Family Photos in Hawaii
If you’ve visited Maui before, you already know that Hawaii can be pretty warm and humid!
And if this is your first trip, consider this your friendly heads-up.
Linen is one of my favorite fabrics to recommend for beach photography.
It’s lightweight, breathable, and works beautifully in our tropical climate.
Other lightweight, breathable fabrics can also be great choices, especially for families with young children.
I generally recommend avoiding anything too heavy, stiff, or uncomfortable.
Remember, even early morning sessions can feel warm, and you’ll likely be walking around and moving quite a bit.
You’ll want clothing that allows you to enjoy the experience rather than counting down the minutes until you can change.
What Should You Avoid Wearing for Maui Family Photos?
While I love color and encourage families to have fun with their outfits, there are a few things I generally recommend avoiding.
Neon Colors
There’s a big difference between vibrant colors and neon colors.
I absolutely love vibrant outfits, but extremely bright, highlighter-style colors can be a little overwhelming in photographs.
Think neon orange, fluorescent yellow, or super-bright highlighter green.
These colors naturally draw the eye, which means the person wearing them can become the main focus of an image, even when that’s not the intention.
For my particular photography style, I generally recommend skipping neon shades and choosing other vibrant colors instead.
You can still have plenty of color without going full highlighter!
Large Logos and Graphics
Another thing I recommend avoiding is clothing with large logos, graphics, or oversized prints.
These can sometimes distract from the people in the photograph.
Smaller patterns, interesting textures, and subtle prints can be beautiful, but I generally suggest staying away from anything that becomes the main focus of the outfit.
Clothing You Don’t Feel Comfortable In
This is probably my biggest recommendation of all.
If you’re constantly adjusting your dress, worrying about your shirt, or uncomfortable in what you’re wearing, it’s going to make it harder to relax and enjoy your session.
Choose clothing that feels good on you.
Seriously, it makes such a difference!
Planning to Get in the Water? Dress for It!
One of my favorite things about photographing families on Maui is letting everyone enjoy the beach.
And sometimes that means getting a little wet!
If you’re hoping for photographs playing in the shoreline, splashing with your kids, or simply walking through the water together, I recommend choosing outfits you don’t mind getting wet.
Board shorts are a great option, and lightweight clothing can work well too.
You certainly don’t have to get in the ocean during your session, but if that’s something you’d enjoy, it’s worth keeping in mind while planning your outfits.
Some of my favorite family photographs happen when everyone stops worrying about staying perfectly clean and just enjoys being together.
My Biggest Piece of Advice? Wear What Feels Like You.
At the end of the day, there’s no perfect formula for what everyone should wear for their Maui family photos.
You don’t need matching white outfits.
You don’t need to follow the latest trends.
And you definitely don’t need to wear something you wouldn’t normally feel comfortable in.
Hawaii is already filled with so much beautiful color, and I love when families embrace that in their own way.
Whether your outfits are bright and playful, soft and simple, or a mix of everything, the most important thing is that you feel like yourselves.
Because years from now, when you’re looking back at your family photographs, I want you to remember how much fun you had together, not how uncomfortable your clothes were.
Planning Family Photos During Your Maui Vacation?
If you’re visiting Maui and thinking about booking family photos, I’d love to help you capture a little piece of your time here.
My sessions are relaxed, colorful, and centered around the genuine moments that make your family yours.
I photograph families throughout Maui, including Wailea, South Maui, and Kapalua, with a mix of digital and film photography.
You can explore my family photography packages and find more information about planning your session here.