Thinking of getting some fall family photos done? You’re making a great choice! I’ve been getting photos of my family done every fall for six years now, and fall family pictures are without a doubt the prettiest ones you can have. With all of the experience I have (especially with small children), I’ve got lots of fall family photo ideas to share!
There are a lot of reasons a fall family photoshoot is the best kind:
- the weather is cooling off, so you won’t sweat to death
- there’s beautiful fall scenery (depending on where you live)
- you’re taking pics before all the holiday eating begins (haha!)
- the golden hour (sunset) happens earlier in the evening (so small children don’t have to stay up late)
- pumpkins, leaves, boots, gorgeous color palettes… the list goes on!
I’m going to go over every aspect of getting fall family portraits done, including secrets I’ve learned from all the different photographers we’ve used over the years and things I figured out through experience.
What to Do with Fall Family Portraits
Getting pictures of your family done is all well and good, but… what are you going to do with them once you have them? It’s important not to overlook this part because while pictures are never a waste of time or effort, it can be frustrating to realize you have no plan for showing them off.
In the past, I’ve used our autumn family photos for ordering custom Christmas cards, giving framed prints to other family members as Christmas presents, and decorating my kids’ rooms as well as hanging a large portrait in our family room. If you want to display your family photo prominently, make sure you carve out a spot on a visible wall ahead of time.
Timing is Everything
In Kentucky, “fall” isn’t exactly a season as it is just a time of year. Sure, the leaves turn and fall, and pumpkin spice is everywhere, but the weather? It does whatever the heck it wants.
Fall starts on September 22nd and goes through December 22nd. In Kentucky, that covers daily temperature highs of anywhere from 90 degrees to 35 degrees. (And it’s not always at a steady decline).
Think of how the weather usually feels to you at different times of the fall where you leave, but ALSO check the historical weather records. Just because you “remember” most Octobers as cool and balmy doesn’t mean they haven’t actually been closer to 75-degree days all month.
(I learned this the hard way when I scheduled our first family photoshoot in late September and it was over 90 degrees. Fall isn’t automatically cool.)
Another very important timing consideration: Good photographers often book eight weeks or more out from the actual session date. So if you want to book your top choice of a family photographer in the fall, I strongly recommend you try to book it by the beginning of August.
Finding a Photographer
In the last six years, I have hired four different photographers. I like that each year, our family photos have a different “vibe.” Each photographer has had different ideas for locations and poses, and we have a wide variety of photos from all of our sessions.
The truth is, you do get what you pay for most of the time. A seasoned photographer who knows what they’re doing is not going to charge you $50 for a two-hour session. I pay at least $200 per annual session, and it’s usually for one to two hours of photography. If I could afford it, I’d pay even more!
To find a great family photographer, your first stop should be friends and family who have had portraits done. Ask them who they recommend – and who they don’t! You can also just Google “family photographer in [your city, state]” and a long list will pop up for you. That’s how I found two of our four photographers! The other two I found through Facebook.
Before booking, though, make sure you FIRST check their prices (often labeled “Investment” on their website) to see if you can afford it. You don’t want to fall in love with their style then have to talk yourself into going well outside of your budget. If they don’t have prices listed upfront, I pass – because it means they are likely WAY too expensive.
You should also make sure your photography session doesn’t require you to purchase a minimum amount in prints, and that it DOES include you getting at least 15 full-resolution images on a disc or digital download with a print release. This ensures you can make your own prints and products over and over forever.
Once you know a photographer is in your price range, check out their portfolio, and specifically look at their family portraits. Even if you know nothing about photography, your gut will tell you whether or not their pictures are good – and more importantly, whether or not YOU like their style.
Location is Also Everything
Outdoor fall family photos are preferred for taking advantage of the beautiful natural scenery. Save the indoor shoots for summer and winter when it’s not so fun to be outside, or when you just need some amazing photos of your baby! Besides, natural outdoor lighting is always better than artificial photo lamps, and always will be.
You and your family are going to look the same (meaning, gorgeous) in the pictures no matter where they’re taken – so make a point to choose a beautiful backdrop for the images! In the fall, the possibilities are vast for choosing a photoshoot location. We’ve taken our portraits in many different places, like:
- a barn
- the park
- a forest
- by the lake
- on a bridge
- on a rocky path
- by a cornfield
The location options don’t end there! While you may have to work around other people in the background of some locations, other great fall photoshoot locations include:
- an orchard
- a vineyard
- a pumpkin patch
- under a giant tree with autumn leaves
- outside your own home
If you can’t think of anything nearby that appeals to you, ask your photographer (once you’ve chosen one) – they are guaranteed to have some favorite spots in the area for taking family photos for each season.
Contribute Your Ideas
The worst mistake you can make is relying on your photographer to magically take all of the shots that you want, because they don’t know you! Only you know your family well enough to figure out what shots you should get during your session.
A good place to start, especially if you get pictures done every year, is to think of things happening in your lives right now.
- Have any of your children recently acquired a new skill?
- Is there an inside joke in your family that can be visually expressed?
- What about your favorite fall traditions to do as a family?
Use these ideas as springboards for a possible shot list, and pass on your ideas to your photographer. Include any specific poses or family member combinations you want (like father and son or just siblings together).
Once you’ve given your wishlist to your family photographer, forget about the shots. The day of your family photo session, free your mind of specific expectations! Going with the flow has always produced much, much better photos for me to cherish than anything I tried to artificially construct with my family as meat puppets.
What I really mean is, don’t pose for every picture. Even though the large framed print in my living room is almost always one of the “posed” photos where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling, my favorite pictures – and all of the smaller prints I have made – are almost entirely the candid shots where we’re laughing at each other, falling down, doubled over, or playing together.
Set a Color Palette for Fall Family Photos
I’ll admit, I’m not much of a fashionista about 362 days of the year. But when I know we’re all getting our pictures taken, I go into designer mode! There is never a day of the year when my entire family is color-coordinated besides the day we get our fall photos done, but putting that extra effort in makes the pictures much more polished and nice to look at.
Many people choose traditional fall color schemes to go with fall family photos. I am not opposed to this concept at all, but year after year, it can get a little boring – and I love bright colors! I also think choosing your location before you choose your color palette is the smartest thing to do, so you know if you’ll have orange and yellow leaves all around or if you’ll have more muted, cool tones on a bridge or by an old barn.
Here are some color schemes to consider for your fall family pictures:
Plaid is also super popular for autumn pictures, and personally, I don’t think it will ever go out of style! Buffalo plaid (red plaid) can be a bit harsh through the lens of a camera, though, so you might want to go for more natural colors in plaid patterns like burnt orange, mustard, and blue.
If you’re still struggling with visualizing clothes for your family, browse some fall family photos on Pinterest – it’s my go-to for picture ideas!
Consider the Style of Your Home
Choosing the colors of your outfits is more important than you think. It’s nice to use traditional fall colors in your clothing and accessories, but I’d wager it’s even more important to consider the color scheme of your own home!
When ordering smaller prints, photo colors are less of a concern. But if you intend to hang a large family portrait or canvas somewhere in your home, you’ll want to at least make sure the colors of your clothes in the pictures don’t clash horribly with your wall paint and room decor.
That being said, a carefully chosen picture frame for your photo display can help blend the photo and the room together. My living room has a lot of white, black, and gray, and I usually like us to wear brighter colors in our family portraits. So I hang a 16×20 print in a gray wooden frame I got from just like this one at Amazon (I just removed the mat):
- Rustic styling; gray barnwood appearance (NOT ACTUAL BARNWOOD); smooth…
- Frame includes: white matting, clear acrylic facing, rigid cardboard…
- Matted frame is designed to display a 11 x 14 inch photo/print/poster…
- Frame moulding is 1.25 inches wide; solid MDF construction
- Frame is designed for WALL HANGING only (hanging hardware allows for…
It really helps the picture pop while tying it to the rest of the room!
Layer Fall Outfits
Once you’ve chosen a color scheme, it’s time to put your outfits together! Here in Kentucky, early fall (late September) is usually still pretty hot. We’ve found the sweet spot weather-wise to be the second week of October. Leaves are falling and it’s usually anywhere from 65 to 80 degrees outside – a range I find tolerable, especially at sunset.
If you live farther north, you’ll probably want to stick to warmer layers like sweaters and jackets with leggings or tights. If you live where it’s warmer year-round, you might have to forgo dress coats and boots in favor of sandals and light cardigans!
In a Kentucky October, we usually end up wearing short sleeves, dresses, and sandals. But the weather can truly be unpredictable, so I make sure I have vests, sweaters, jackets, or coats as well as boots we can swap for if the weather turns cool early. The later in the fall you take your pictures, the more layers you’ll be able to incorporate in your photoshoot.
Whatever you do, don’t wear oversized, baggy sweaters. Are they comfy? 100%! Are they flattering? Not really. Frumpy clothing doesn’t hide your perceived imperfections as much as they make you look like you forgot it was picture day. As a plus-size mom, I’ve found that flowy dresses in darker colors look the best in our family pictures. If I’m super-concerned about my arms showing, I’ll add a cropped cardigan.
A great idea when shopping for new clothes for the whole family is to go to a store that carries something for everyone instead of making lots of different trips. Stores I recommend for shopping for coordinating outfits are:
Don’t Forget the Details
There’s more to the look than your clothes! You should also plan your shoes, jewelry, accessories, hair, and makeup ahead of your photoshoot.
Boots are a fall family photo staple for footwear, but it’s often just too hot for that where I live, so we stick with nice sandals or even sneakers.
Statement jewelry like bangles, pendant necklaces, or dangling earrings can accentuate the color scheme!
Use accessories like hats, scarves, and gloves sparingly. They can hide your face and add unnecessary bulk to your look. (I know it’s extremely tempting to incorporate a GORGEOUS new scarf into your family photos, but unless it’s draped across all your shoulders in a cute tied-together photo, skip it.)
Even if your clothing includes brighter colors, I think using autumnal makeup is best for outdoor fall family portraits. Go easy on the eyeshadow and eyeliner, and stick to fall lipstick colors like natural browns, plums, pale pinks, cranberry red, and even subtle oranges.
Fall is often a windy season, so consider putting your hair up in a bun or French braiding to the side or back. I like having my hair down (and my daughter usually does too), so I just keep a hairbrush handy during the photoshoot! I’ve tried curling it in the past, but with the humidity in Kentucky, it’s usually a waste of time and I just go with my natural waves or try to blow-dry it straight(er).
Prop Ideas for Fall Photos
While props are not a must, they can lend a lot to a seasonal photo – especially when young children are involved. Some fall family photo ideas for props include:
- a wooden children’s table with small haybales for seats
- leaves that have recently fallen
- pumpkins (of course) – or even lit jack-o-lanterns
- apple barrels or crates
- a small old-fashioned wagon for children
- a plaid blanket
- an umbrella
Your photographer may even have a stash of props they plan to bring, so ask before hauling something with you that will already be there!
Fall Family Photo Tips (From a Mom with Experience)
I’ve gone over a lot of the “big picture” stuff when it comes to planning for fall family photos, but there’s a lot of little things that can be overlooked (and we’ve learned them the hard way). Here are some more secret tips I’ve learned throughout the years!
- Professional photographers will often tell you that the hour before sunset is the best time to take pictures – and they’re right! In the fall, the sun starts setting earlier, but it can still be late for very young children, so keep that in mind. It could also fall during your family’s normal dinner time – and there’s nothing worse than putting hungry children through a photoshoot, so plan your meal accordingly, too.
- Take snacks. Even if you feed small children beforehand (or you don’t normally eat until after the photoshoot’s time anyway), they will whine for food. Apple sauce pouches and dry cereal are usually the least messy choices.
- Have everyone try on their whole outfits well before the day of the photo session – and take a walk. First of all, seeing everyone fully dressed can sometimes trigger you to realize that some clothing pieces are clashing.
You may also find out something doesn’t fit quite right, or makes you uncomfortably hot once you’ve been lightly active (and you will be more than lightly active during your session). Sometimes shoes can hurt, even on a very brief walk, and you might have to walk a distance to get to your location.
Know these things before you go! - Send well-lit pictures of each of your planned outfits to your photographer well in advance for some feedback! This tactic has helped me decide between two different shirts for my husband, taught me that small stripes don’t interpret well through a camera lens, and made sure I didn’t “ruin” our family pictures with my sometimes-poor fashion choices.
- Take a second outfit for each of you (or at least each kid), even if your photographer doesn’t “allow” a costume change. They may decide upon arrival that one of your outfits won’t look good on camera…
Or one of your children may drip on, sweat on, stain, or otherwise soil their clothes by the time you get there. - Find out where all the nearby restrooms are before you head to your photo spot. One of your children will need to use one.
- Keep tabs on the weather the day before up until the hour before. Some photographers require 24 hours’ notice or more to reschedule without a fee, and some won’t cancel for a “light drizzle” (though you will definitely want to).
You’ll also want to be prepared for unnaturally hot or cold weather – and the required change of wardrobe! - Pack a hairbrush, bobby pins, safety pins, and face powder for touch-ups and unexpected wardrobe adjustments.
Also, pack comfy shoes to change into when your portrait session is over! - Photographers won’t always be close enough to see flyaway hairs, or notice things like hair bands and Fitbits that are still on your wrists… Double-check everyone at the beginning of the session, and check on those with longer hair occasionally throughout (including yourself!).
Examples of Fall Family Photos
Reading ideas about clothes, props, and styles is all well and good, but if you’re like me, you’re a very visual person and need actual examples to be able to express what you want. So I’m way ahead of you! Here are some fall family photos of various family units to inspire you in preparing for your photoshoot – including several of my own family!
Free Fall Family Photo Checklist
Whether this is your first fall family photo experience or your tenth, you know there’s a lot more to it than just putting on some nice clothes and showing up. Make sure you’ve got everything covered with my handy little cheat sheet! This to-do list will help you prepare for your fall photos so you don’t forget anything.
I hope you’ve found my experience with fall family photos helpful, and you’re excited to get yours done! Is there any advice you think is missing from this article? What time of year to you prefer to take your family photos? Let me know in the comments!
BONUS: Are you going to be super-pregnant for your fall family photos this year? You might like my ultimate guide to planning a “Little Pumpkin”-themed baby shower!
These are great tips thanks for sharing
This is a great guide. I really love that you didn’t talk about everyone wearing the same outfit but instead focused on everyone’s outfit working with a color palette. This is perfect for me and my family.
Thanks for sharing! ?