What to Wear for Your Christmas Sessions
Mill Street Dunnview Studio | Cincinnati Area | Pet Friendly
This year’s Christmas set is warm, timeless, and designed to make your photos feel classic without feeling cookie-cutter.
Mill Street Dunnview Studio brings the cozy, rustic charm — brick walls, greenery, and vintage textures (and yes, dogs are welcome!). The warm, neutral setting gives you plenty of flexibility when choosing outfits, whether you love traditional Christmas colors or prefer a softer, neutral look
Start With the Color Palette
Not sure where to start? Use the color palette below as your guide. You don't need to use every color — think of it as a menu of options to help your family coordinate.
Start with 2–3 base neutrals, then add one or two accent colors throughout your outfits. Mixing colors, textures, and layers will create a cohesive look without making everyone look overly matched.
When in doubt, keep it simple: choose colors you love, stay within the palette, and focus on coordinating rather than matching.
Coordinating, Not Matching
- One of the easiest ways to create beautiful family photos is to coordinate your outfits rather than having everyone wear the exact same color.
- Start with one outfit you really love and build around it. If someone is wearing a bold burgundy dress or forest green sweater, pull softer neutrals from that outfit for everyone else.
- Mixing solids, subtle patterns, and different textures will give your photos more depth and keep the final gallery from looking too uniform.
Textures, Layers & Cozy Details
Texture and layers are perfect for creating that warm, timeless Christmas look. Think cable-knit sweaters, corduroy, wool, velvet, flannel, cardigans, scarves, and cozy jackets. You don't need everyone in a different texture — even one chunky sweater, velvet dress, or corduroy layer can add beautiful depth to the group. Small details like a knit hat, fur trim, simple hair accessory, or cozy blanket can also add a subtle festive touch.
Patterns & Festive Accessories
Patterns can work beautifully when they're subtle. Small-scale plaids, classic flannel, and understated patterns add interest without overwhelming the photos. If one person wears a pattern, balance it with coordinating solids and textures throughout the rest of the family. Avoid large graphics, prominent logos, neon colors, or overly busy prints. You also don't need to go overboard with Christmas-themed accessories — a scarf, festive sweater, gold or bronze jewelry, or a coordinating accessory for your pup is plenty. The goal is festive and timeless, not overly themed.
Don't forget the pups
Your dog is part of the family, so their accessories can be part of the color palette, too!
A bandana, collar, or leash in one of your family's accent colors can make your pup feel intentionally included in the overall look without being overly matchy-matchy.
For a timeless look, consider a simple leather or neutral-colored leash. If you're using a retractable leash or a brightly colored leash for everyday walks, you may want to bring a more neutral option for photos.
A coordinating bandana in forest green, burgundy, red, navy, or a neutral tone can also be a fun way to bring a little personality into the photos.
I will have some treats to help your pup look at the camera, but if they have a special diet or favorite treat, don't forget to bring them to help keep your pup focused during the session!
Most Importantly, Wear Something You Feel Good In
The best outfit is one you can move, sit, snuggle, and laugh in comfortably. Especially when little ones and pets are involved, your session may involve plenty of movement!
Choose clothes that feel like you, just with a little holiday polish. If you're comfortable and confident in what you're wearing, that will show in your photographs.
You don't have to perfectly match your family, follow every suggestion in this guide, or completely change your personal style. Use the palette and ideas as inspiration, choose pieces you love, and let your family's personalities come through.
After all, the goal isn't just to create beautiful Cincinnati Christmas photos — it's to create photographs that still feel like your family years from now.
