NEW YORK CITY PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURING LIGHT, BRIGHt, and authentic family MOMENTS.

What to Wear for Spring Family Photos in New York City

A mom and dad with their baby as an example of what to wear for spring family photos in New York City. Mom wears a long blue floral dress, dad wears khakis and a white button down, and baby wears pink knitted overalls with a subtly striped sweater.

As spring fast approaches (even though it may not feel that way!), I tend to get a lot of questions about what to wear for spring family photos in New York City. Here are my top tips!

Start with Mom

As always when planning outfits for family photos, I suggest starting with Mom’s outfit and working from there! For moms, a dress is always a great option, and a floral dress is of course perfect for spring. My favorite places to find dresses for Mom are Hill House, Doen, Nothing Fits But, and The Worth Collective.

A mom wears a floral patterned dress and holds her baby, also in a floral pattern dress, in front of cherry blossoms, as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

Best Colors and Patterns for Spring Family Photos

I suggest soft colors so they don’t compete with the blossoms and the grass. Soft blues, pinks, beiges and creams are always beautiful options. Subtle patterns like florals are great, as are pretty textures like eyelet. You can’t go wrong with a classic flowy white dress, and Hill House has several beautiful options!

A mom holds her baby in front of cherry blossoms, wearing a softly patterned floral dress with flowy sleeves. Her baby girl wears a light pink eyelet set and a white sweater as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

Patterns and Sleeves

This floral pattern dress is perfect for a spring family session. It’s also great that it has sleeves, because the weather can be very volatile in April in New York (unfortunately) – but it’s worth it for those cherry blossoms! Sweet baby Ella is wearing a pink eyelet outfit here along with a white cardigan for extra warmth. The eyelet adds a perfect touch of interest to her cute little outfit! Mom’s dress can be found here from Nothing Fits But, one of my favorite sources for dresses.

A dad and mom walk with their baby in front of cherry blossoms. Mom wears a long floral patterned dress, dad wears a white button down with khakis, and baby wears a pink set with white sweater as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

Midi Length

Here’s a wider view of Mom’s dress, which brings me to my next tip – I recommend full length or midi length dresses. These are my favorite for spring sessions. They’re universally flattering, they add extra warmth, and they just have a classic, timeless look that I love.

A mom and dad smile at their baby in Central Park, wearing shades of white, khaki, and blue, as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

What Should Dad Wear for Spring Family Photos?

Once you’ve chosen your own outfit, you can then start building out the outfits for your husband and kids to coordinate with that. For men, I recommend light colored khakis in spring. They’re just perfect for the season and a good balance between casual and dressed up. On top, you really can’t go wrong with a white button down. Other great options are a henley (for a more casual look), or a polo or other shirt in a slightly more elevated fabric than basic cotton (a linen can be nice, or a light knit type of material).

A mom holds her baby son and holds her toddler son's hand as he stands next to her. She is wearing shades of beige and white and the boys are dressed in soft colors of khaki, blue, and gray as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

What Should Boys Wear for Spring Family Photos?

For toddlers and babies, a great option for spring can be a little matching sweater set (as you can see above). Spring sessions usually take place in the morning, and since it can be very chilly at that point in the day, keeping babies as warm as possible is a must. A sweater set in a light color still looks springy but has that added warmth.

For toddlers and older boys, you can dress them like mini versions of their dads (not in matching outfits to dad though – just vary the colors). They can wear khakis or another light colored chino pant, along with a light sweater in a soft color like light blue or cream. They can also wear a little button down or you can even layer a sweater over a button down. A henley can also be a cute option.

A family of dad, mom, and two young daughters wear shades of white and blue as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

What Should Girls Wear for Spring Family Photos?

Baby girls can also wear a sweater set as mentioned above, or a little onesie/bloomer set. This one is super cute from Nothing Fits But, and I’d layer leggings/tights under it, and add a cardigan depending on the weather. Here’s a super cute little sweater set that would be great for a chilly spring day.

For toddlers, older girls, and babies too, a dress is a super cute option! For any kids or babies wearing dresses, it’s essential to add bloomers, a diaper cover, leggings, or tights underneath. This dress is perfect for a spring family session, and this cardigan is a perfect layering piece.

A close up of a pregnant mom's belly with her husband snuggled close. You cannot see their heads, just their torsos, and mom is wearing a softly patterned blue dress as an example of what to wear for spring family photos.

Be sure to get in touch here if you’d like to book your spring family photos in New York City!

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