Fall Family Photos: Ideas with Fall Color Schemes and Outfits

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 many years now, and a fall family photoshoot is one of the prettiest ones you can have. With all of the experience I have (especially with small children), I’ve got lots of autumn family photoshoot ideas to share!

There are a lot of reasons a fall family pics are 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.

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 it wants. Technically, 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 live, 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.

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.

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.

Fall Family Photos Color Scheme

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 family 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 autumn 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 is a fall color palette for family pictures to inspire you:

Plaid is also super popular for fall photos, 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 yellow, and navy blue.

If you’re still struggling with visualizing clothes for your family, browse some fall family photoshoot ideas on Pinterest – it’s my go-to for inspiration!

Fall Family Photo 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:

• Target
• Old Navy
• Walmart
• Kohl’s
• JCPenney

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.)

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).

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 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!).

Casual Fall Family Pictures

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 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.