Complement, don’t match, unless you are sisters.

The day of all white shirts and khaki pants are from the past when the look was a little more formal. Your colors should generally complement each other: so for example, soft colors (light blue, gray, blush) or warm colors (brown, orange, burgundy),  or, if you love the bright, vivid colors like red, yellow, and bright blue-wear those!

Start with two colors.

Choose two complimentary colors that can be used for everyone. For example, jean color-for all, then blue and yellow. If you are a family of three with a three month old daughter, mom and dad can wear jeans; mom is in a yellow shirt with a blue scarf, and dad is in a blue shirt, while your daughter wears a dress with a small pattern of both yellow and blue.

In keeping with your two colors, do your best to find complimentary colors for skin tones, hair color, and what season you will be photographing in. If you are outside during spring or summer, sticking to brighter, cooler colors works well, or in the fall, choosing the rich, warm tones, or often blues and greens works very well.

Pop of Color.

Once you have your two colors, choose one additional one for just a "pop". For example, you are being photographed in the fall and chose two blue colors that compliment your family-navy blue and light blue. (you like blues!). Your pop of color could be red in the form of a scarf, hat, or jacket.

Layers work great.

Once you have chosen your colors and pop of color, choose a "layer". That could be in the form of a jean jacket, "blazer", vest, hat, scarf, or jewelry. For example, you are wearing a royal blue short sleeve shirt with jeans and a scarf for a few images, then you remove your scarf and put on a jean jacket. Voila! You have a new outfit and it did not require you changing clothing in your car.

Avoid large patterns and logos, unless you want people to know you love a certain brand.

Usually when you wear a shirt that has a logo on it, such as an athletic brand, that is the first thing people will look at. As with large patterns that are busy. If you wear a shirt or dress that has large patterns in it, then it can be distracting and overwhelm you. The main reason for having a portrait session is to showcase YOU,  not a logo, brand or pattern.

But, if you are going for that look, then by all means-large patterns and logos can be worn.

Don't forget the shoes.

You are all decked out for your portrait session looking very awesome, but then your shoes look like you ran 60 miles a week in them for years. In other words, wearing appropriate shoes without logos or branding on them is key, too. If you are dressed in a beautiful dress, or suit and you show up in shoes with holes in them, it does not necessarily fit.

On the other hand, wearing converse or something unique can also compliment clothing. It just depends on what style and look you are going for.