What to Wear to a Beach Family Session on the Monterey Coast

A beach session is a little different than photos in a field or a studio — and your outfits get to be a little different too. You’ve got wind, open sky, that cool ocean light, and a whole lot of sand. Instead of fighting any of it, the goal is to dress in a way that works with the coast. When you do, everything softens: the colors, the movement, the whole feel of your gallery.

I photograph families all along this coastline — Marina, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove — and I’ve learned that beach styling comes down to a handful of coast-specific things. Here’s how I’d think about it.

Borrow Your Palette From the Shoreline

The easiest way to look effortless on the coast is to dress in the colors that are already there. Look at a Monterey beach at golden hour: warm sand, pale blue-gray water, hazy sky, and that honey-colored light right before sunset. Cream, oatmeal, taupe, soft clay, dusty rose, muted olive, warm gray — anything from that world settles right into the scene.

The colors that tend to struggle here are the loud ones: neons, pure bright white, and heavy black in full sun. They pull the eye away from the softness of the coast instead of blending into it. Think “poured from the same sunset,” and you’ll be in great shape.

Let the Wind Do the Work

There’s almost always a breeze on our coast, and it’s honestly one of my favorite things to photograph. Fabrics that move — flowy dresses, long skirts, linen, gauze, soft knits — catch the wind and give you that dreamy, romantic movement in every frame. Stiff, structured pieces just sit still; drapey ones come alive.

For the grown-ups, a long dress with some flow is a can’t-miss. For everyone else, reach for softer, relaxed fabrics over anything crisp or boxy.

A Simple Formula for the Whole Family

Coordinating a group sounds harder than it is. Here’s the formula I give every family:

1. Start with one person’s outfit you love — usually a dress for mom. That’s your anchor.
2. Pull two or three colors from it and build everyone else around those — different pieces, different tones, never identical.
3. Vary the textures so it has depth up close: a chunky knit next to linen next to a soft tee.
4. Do the bed test — lay it all out together the night before. If nothing clashes and no single outfit shouts, you’re done.

That’s it. Coordinated, not matchy — that’s always the goal.

Dress for the Coast, Not Just the Camera

This is the part people forget: our coast runs cool, especially during the golden hour before sunset when most beach sessions happen. Fog can roll in, the wind picks up near the water, and little ones get cold faster than you’d think.

Lean into it. Long sleeves and longer hemlines photograph beautifully and keep everyone comfortable. Layers — an open button-down, a cozy knit, a light sweater — add texture and give you options if it cools off. And go barefoot; shoes come off in the sand anyway, and bare feet always look natural here.

For the Littlest Beach-Goers

Comfortable kids make the best photos, full stop. Soft, relaxed clothes they can run, dig, and chase waves in will beat a “cute” outfit they keep fussing with every time. Keep them in the same soft palette as everyone else, add a warm layer for the evening chill, and let them play. Those unposed, giggly, running-toward-the-water moments are usually everyone’s favorites anyway.

What to Toss in Your Bag

A few small things make a beach session so much smoother:

• An extra layer for each person (that coastal chill is real)
• A blanket — great for sitting in the sand and for warming up between shots
• A little basket or tote for shoes, snacks, and layers
• Water and a snack for the kids
• A hair tie and a brush (wind happens)
• Baby wipes for sandy hands and feet

The One Rule That Matters

If you take nothing else from this: wear what feels like you, in coastal colors and fabrics that move, and then let the rest go. The magic of a beach session isn’t the outfit — it’s the twirling, the snuggling, the walking toward the water together. Your clothes just set the stage.

Ready to book your Monterey beach session — or already booked and want a second set of eyes on your outfits? Get in touch here — planning this part is one of my favorite things to help with.