How to Use Pinterest to Style Your Family Photo Session

Pinterest is one of my favorite tools for planning outfits! It can feel overwhelming at first, but if you use it intentionally, it’s an amazing way to narrow down your vision and create a look that elevates the entire feel of the session.

These steps can be used in ANY order. It all depends on what is the priority to you.

1. Start with a Piece You Already Love

Instead of starting from scratch, begin with one item you know you want to wear. Maybe it’s a dress you have or saw, and think would be great for this!

For example, if you have an orange dress you love, try searching:

• Color palette with orange
• Beach portraits with long orange dress
• Orange beach family outfits

Using one favorite piece as your starting point makes styling the rest of the family so much easier. If your piece is multi-colored, well there is your palette for the rest of the family!

2. Find a Color Palette

Search Pinterest for phrases like “beachy color palettes” or “earth tone family outfits.” Once you find a palette you love, use those colors as your guide when choosing everyone’s outfits.

As a general rule:

• Small families (3–6 people): Choose 3–5 coordinating colors.
• Larger families (7+ people): Choose 6–9 coordinating colors to give everyone enough variety while still looking cohesive.

If you’re having trouble deciding, narrow it down to your top 2–3 palettes and send them to me! I’m always happy to help you choose the one that will photograph best.

Pinterest is full of beautiful examples that make it much easier to visualize how different colors work together. Don’t feel like any color palette is “too much”. If you love a certain set of colors, we can always incorporate more neutrals to calm the palette a bit.

3. Search by Vibe

One of the best ways to find inspiration is to search for the feeling you want your photos to have, not just specific colors.

Try searches like:

• Romantic beach portraits
• Playful beach family photos
• Quirky beach portraits
• Cozy sunset family session

If you’re drawn to a more themed look, get even more specific:

• Retro beach portraits
• Beach portraits with surfboards
• Coastal cottage family photos
• European summer beach portraits

The more descriptive your search, the more personalized your inspiration will become. There are SO many ideas out there, and I know that I myself can get very overwhelmed with making decisions. The key is really commitment. Knowing that there are 100+ correct choices, it’s just matter of deciding.

And remember—you don’t have to figure it all out on your own! Feel free to send me 2–3 Pinterest ideas that you’re loving, and we can talk through them together to create a final look that fits your DREAM.

Check out my Pinterest Boards