Summer
Style
Guide
Your complete guide to looking effortlessly beautiful under the golden light of a New England summer.
Summer light is something else entirely — warm, golden, and long. It wraps around you in a way that makes every image feel like a memory before you've even left the moment. Let's dress for it intentionally.
Your Summer Color Palette
Summer in New England calls for warmth without being loud. Think dunes, ocean glass, sun-bleached linen, and the soft coral of a late-evening sky. These tones are rich enough to feel intentional, yet relaxed enough to breathe in the heat. Build your family's look around 2–3 of these, mixing textures to keep things from feeling flat.
What to Wear
Summer sessions are all about ease. The heat is real, the light is golden, and the most beautiful images come from people who feel comfortable. Think breathable fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and colors that glow in warm evening light. Here's your guide by family member.
Flowy linen or cotton maxi dresses are the summer portrait dream — they move beautifully in the breeze and photograph in every direction of light. Wrap dresses, off-shoulder styles, and tiered sundresses all work wonderfully. Stick to your palette tones and lean into texture: eyelet, gauze, and lightweight linen all add depth without weight.
Linen is your best friend in summer — it breathes, it photographs beautifully, and it looks effortlessly polished. A linen or seersucker button-down in ivory, oatmeal, or sky blue with light chinos is a classic. Roll the sleeves, lose the tie, and you're exactly right. Avoid dark navy or black — they absorb heat and read heavy in warm-light portraits.
Summer is made for little girls in sundresses. Smocked cotton, eyelet, tiered ruffle styles — all gorgeous. Sandy toes and bare feet look beautiful in summer sessions; simple leather sandals or white Keds work just as well. A floral print in muted coral, dusty blue, or warm sand complements the palette without overwhelming the frame.
Linen shorts or light chinos with a soft cotton polo or button-down. Chambray shirts in sky blue or sand photograph beautifully in summer light. For toddlers, a simple linen romper is timeless and practical. Loafers, canvas sneakers, or bare feet all feel right for the season. Avoid busy patterns or sports graphics.
"Summer sessions are typically shot in that golden hour window before sunset — the light is extraordinary but it moves fast. Wear something that lets you move freely and feel like yourself. The images that take my breath away are never about the outfit. They're about the ease."
Do's & Don'ts
A few summer-specific guidelines that make a real difference in how your images turn out.
The Full Family Breakdown
Use this as your quick reference when putting everyone's looks together. The goal is cohesion — a warm, harmonious palette that reads like a family, not a matching set.
| Family Member | Recommended Colors | Styling Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mom | Coral, warm sand, ivory, seafoam, gold | Start here and build outward. A flowy maxi in coral or warm ivory will be stunning in golden light. |
| Dad | Ivory, oatmeal, sky blue, light tan | A linen button-down in ivory or sky is a perennial summer classic. Rolled sleeves always photograph better than buttoned cuffs. |
| Toddler | Warm sand, soft coral, sky, ivory | Comfort first. A linen romper or simple sundress in a tone that echoes Mom's palette keeps the group cohesive effortlessly. |
| Big Kid | Pull from the family's anchor tones | Let them pick between 2–3 pre-approved options. A kid who chose their own outfit is a kid who will actually smile. |
| Teen | Neutral — sand, ivory, sky, seafoam | Keep it simple and wearable. A linen shirt, light shorts, and simple shoes — nothing that feels forced or overly "dressed up." |
| Baby | White, ivory, soft peach, light sand | A simple white onesie, a linen romper, or a flowy baby gown. Keep it unstructured and sweet — less is always more. |
Makeup for Summer Portraits
Summer portrait makeup has one golden rule: look like yourself, elevated. The warm, bright quality of summer light is incredibly flattering, but it's also revealing — so the goal is a fresh, radiant finish that photographs beautifully without looking overdone. Here's how to approach each area of your face.
Summer calls for a lightweight, dewy finish — heavy matte foundations can look cakey in warm light and feel miserable in the heat. A skin tint, BB cream, or sheer foundation blended with your fingers gives a natural, lived-in finish that reads beautifully on camera. Set only the T-zone with a light powder to control shine without flattening. Use a damp beauty sponge for the most seamless blend in humid conditions.
Summer eyes are warm, bright, and open. A wash of a warm bronze, terracotta, or sandy neutral across the lid reads gorgeously in golden light. Line the upper lash line with a soft brown or dark brown pencil rather than harsh black — it defines without heaviness. Waterproof mascara is non-negotiable in summer heat and humidity. Keep brows groomed but natural; filled-in brows should match your hair color exactly.
A warm, peachy nude or soft coral is the quintessential sum