Fall Family Photos: Tips, Color Schemes, and Outfit Ideas

Fall family photos are one of my favorite ways to capture memories with my kids. We’ve had half a dozen fall family photoshoots, so I’ve learned plenty through experience! From choosing locations to coordinating outfits, I’ve discovered what makes family pictures truly special.

Beautiful fall photos take more planning than simply finding a tree with colorful leaves. The weather, lighting, location, and clothing choices can all make a huge difference. I’m sharing my favorite tips to help your family get gorgeous photos you’ll treasure forever.

Timing is Everything

Fall weather can be unpredictable, especially when scheduling family photos weeks in advance. One afternoon might feel like summer, while the next brings chilly winds.

Check the forecast several days before your session, then again the morning of your photoshoot. Pay attention to temperatures, wind speeds, and precipitation rather than just the chance of sunshine.

An overcast sky isn’t necessarily bad news! Clouds create soft, even lighting that can actually flatter everyone in your pictures.

For sunny days, the best lighting usually happens during the golden hour. This magical period occurs shortly after sunrise or before sunset. The sun sits lower in the sky, creating warm, flattering light and beautiful backgrounds. Harsh midday sunlight can produce unflattering shadows and cause everyone to squint.

Family of four posing for fall photos during golden hour, surrounded by glowing yellow and orange autumn trees.

If golden hour doesn’t work for your family, look for locations with plenty of open shade. Your photographer can help select flattering lighting throughout the day.

Don’t forget to consider your children’s schedules! Even perfect lighting won’t help much if everyone is exhausted, hungry, or cranky. Plan around naps and mealtimes whenever possible, especially with babies and toddlers. Comfortable, happy kids make capturing natural smiles much easier.

Location is Also Everything

The right location can make your fall family photos look absolutely magical. Fortunately, you don’t need an elaborate backdrop to capture beautiful autumn memories.

Family of four posing together for fall family photos outdoors in coordinated burgundy, black, red, and gray outfits.

Start by considering the scenery you love and the overall feeling you want. Think about whether you prefer rustic, playful, elegant, or natural family pictures.

Here are some of the best locations for fall family photography:

Local parks and bridges: Look for colorful trees, walking paths, wooden bridges, and beautiful natural scenery.
Wooded trails: Surround your family with autumn leaves, towering trees, and warm seasonal colors.
Apple orchards: Create a charming country atmosphere with rows of trees and seasonal scenery.
Pumpkin patches: Perfect for playful, festive pictures, especially with younger children.
Open fields: Tall grasses and wide landscapes create dreamy backdrops without distracting from your family. We’ve also used a cornfield!
Farms and barns: Rustic buildings, wooden fences, and country landscapes add plenty of fall charm.
Lakes and ponds: Capture beautiful reflections, colorful foliage, and peaceful waterfront scenery.
Your own backyard: Familiar surroundings can help children relax while keeping everything convenient.

Before choosing your location, consider how easily everyone can get there. Long walks and complicated terrain aren’t ideal when you’re juggling kids and coordinating outfits.

Check whether professional photography is allowed and whether permits or admission fees apply. You’ll also want to consider parking, restroom access, and potential crowds.

Finally, remember that peak fall foliage doesn’t last forever! Research your area’s typical color-changing season before scheduling your session.

Brother and sister laughing together in a red wooden wagon during a fall photoshoot with golden autumn leaves.

Choosing a Color Scheme and Style

Choosing what everyone should wear is often the most stressful part of planning fall family photos. You want outfits that look coordinated without making everyone appear identical.

The secret is choosing a cohesive color palette and balancing your family’s clothing choices. Think about how everything will look together rather than selecting each person’s outfit independently.

Parents holding their toddler daughter's hands while walking along a tree-lined path during a fall family photoshoot.

Consider your photoshoot location when deciding which colors and patterns will photograph best. Your clothing should complement the surroundings without completely blending into the background.

Mixing patterns and solid colors can create visual interest without overwhelming the picture. Pay attention to the scale and placement of patterns so the overall look stays balanced.

Mother hugging her two children during fall family photos in a park, wearing coordinated red, gray, black, and plaid outfits.

Comfort is just as important as appearance, particularly when photographing young children. Choose clothing that fits properly and allows everyone to move, sit, and play comfortably.

Avoid distracting logos, graphics, and anything requiring constant adjustments throughout the session. Also, consider how your clothing will look in both standing and seated poses.

Most importantly, choose outfits that reflect your family’s personality and make everyone feel confident! You don’t need to sacrifice personal style to achieve beautiful, coordinated pictures.

Mother hugging her two children during fall family photos in coordinated navy blue and yellow clothing.

Use the visual guide below to explore different color palettes and pattern combinations for your photoshoot. I am a rebel who LOVES a pop of bright color, whether it matches the season or not. Don’t be afraid to branch out from these standard color schemes!

Fall family photo color schemes featuring 12 coordinating outfit palettes with rust, olive, burgundy, navy, and neutrals.

What to Wear for Fall Family Photos

Deciding what colors you like is the easy part. If you need help visualizing how they might come together for a cohesive family look, check out these ideas!

Fall family photo outfits in dusty blue, ivory, taupe, and brown for mom, dad, daughter, and son.

Fall family picture outfit ideas in burgundy, oatmeal, dusty rose, and charcoal with coordinating accessories.

Don’t Forget the Details

There’s more to the look than your clothes and shoes! You should also plan your jewelry, accessories, hair, and makeup ahead of your photoshoot. 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.

Autumnal makeup is best for outdoor fall 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, so I just keep a hairbrush handy during the photoshoot!

Getting the Best Fall Family Photos

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 tips I’ve learned throughout the years!

Try to Make Golden Hour Work

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. 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, they will whine for food. Apple sauce pouches and dry cereal are usually the least messy choices.

Try on the Outfits Ahead of Time

Well before the day of the photo session, try on EVERYTHING you’ll be wearing at the shoot – and take a walk. 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 good distance to get to your location. Know these things before you go!

Send Pics of Your Outfits to Your Photographer

Do this well in advance for some feedback! This tactic has helped me decide between two different shirts for my husband and taught me that small stripes don’t interpret well through a camera lens. Our photographer 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, you should bring one. The photographer 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.

Scout Nearby Restrooms

Before you head to your photo spot, make a mental note of where the nearest bathrooms are. One of your children will need to use one.

Watch the Forecast

Keep tabs on the weather from the day before your shoot up until the hour before. Some photographers require 24 hours’ notice or more to reschedule without a fee. Some also 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 Emergency Essentials

Take 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!

Check the Small Details Before Starting

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 re-check longer hair occasionally throughout (including yourself!).

Free Fall Family Photos 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.