You’re traveling to Hawaii with your loved ones. You’ve booked a Beach Photo Session with Pacific Dream Photography. But, wait, what should we wear for the photo shoot?
Don’t panic. Here’s a guide of what will look the best:
Style
Think casual. You’re at the beach. Anything too formal will look out of place. It’s important to pick something you are comfortable with and go for light fabrics.
Women: Dresses are great, especially if they’re breezy, flowy and light. (Suggestion: Maybe a maxi-dress?)
Men: We suggest solid-colored pants or shorts and a button-down. Leave a few buttons open and roll up those sleeves, guys.

Flowy dresses in bright colors for women and khaki pants and light fabrics for men
Matchy-Matchy?
You want to coordinate with your family members, but you don’t want to be matchy-matchy.
Have everyone wear neutral bottoms and play around with the tops, for example. You could also pick a couple different colors or do different hues of one single color.

Mom and Daughter wearing colors playing off of each other’s dress.
Colors
You have to think of what will look best with the background, which is the blues from the sky and water and the sand (during most of the day). For sunset, keep in mind the sky will have orange/red tones.
Picture what color palette will make more sense for your family. Some sweet, loving families and those with small children can opt for pastels. Are you really wanting to capture your fun Hawaiian vacation? Think tropical, bright colors! For an effortless, cool, relaxed look… white.
It’s up to you, but it is usually a good idea to stay away from black and darker hues. Solid colors usually work best. If you are going to go with Aloha Shirts, maybe coordinate with everyone so they are the same or very similar prints. Another idea is to have the guys in Hawaiian print shirts of a single color and the women in attire of solid colors that match the men.

Mom stands out in a bright, solid magenta dress while the guys wear shades of blue.
Footwear
What are the most comfortable pair of shoes you own? Wear those. Once you’re at the location, you can go barefoot if the area isn’t rocky. Also, you might want to get your feet wet!
We recommend nice, delicate sandals for women.

Go barefoot and give it a fresh, relaxed, vibe.
Accessories
Keep accessories to a minimum. If you’re newly engaged, the only accessory you should be rocking is… your new rock!
If you want to bring sunglasses, do it. Shades are a great prop for some images. Hats aren’t recommended, as they will create shadows on your face.
Leis are encouraged. Not for the whole photo shoot, but they are definitely fun and a staple of the Hawaiian culture.
Another awesome Hawaiian touch for women? Flowers in your hair!

The Hibiscus, Hawaii’s State Flower is a great hair accessory, isn’t it?
Definite Don’ts
- No clothing with logos or text
- No busy prints
- No running shoes
Whatever you go with, make sure it represents you. If you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing, it will come across in the images. Happy styling!