Outfit planning is one of my client’s top asked questions or problem areas. Fall is the most popular season in the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area to have family photos done, so I thought I would share some advice on what to wear for fall family photos. Here’s some simple tips to help you plan outfits for your family photos against the beautiful backdrop that fall offers.
What to Wear for Fall Family Photos
Lean into earthy tones, but still keep it neutral.
Fall calls for different colors. I know I love to add some brown, orange, maroon or forest green to my wardrobe in fall. Having some more earthy toned colors is a great idea, but remember to not go too dark – aim to keep it a bit muted and neutral.
Many fall locations can have those same colors – bright orange leaves, darker green as the bright summer green has faded, deep browns, etc. You still want your clothing colors to have some light to them, if that makes sense.
Stick to a cohesive color pallet.
While everyone in the family picking their favorite color to wear sounds cute, a mish-mash of too many different colors is a visual disaster and distracts from the subject in the photos. You don’t want people to notice your clothing. You want them to notice you and the way your family is interacting. Your clothing is simply there to enhance what’s already there.
I recommend no more than two prints per family. You can mix prints, but I recommend complimenting prints – not matching. So think a floral print in orange/pink and a plaid in tan/orange together. Everyone dressing in the same two color family works pretty well. You can add a hat or scarf in a third color if you want a pop of something interesting.
Here’s some beautiful color pallets I recommend for fall.
Try using some deeper colors, but keep some neutrals to balance it out and add variety to the colors you wear.
Don’t forget to coordinate shoes.
One thing people miss when planning what to wear for fall family photos is forgetting about shoes. I get that it can be annoying to buy shoes just for a photo session. Try to buy something a little more elevated looking for kids – a leather tennis shoe, cute booties, plain colored shoes over Paw Patrol light up ones. Even just a new pair of shoes can make a world of difference for kids, so they don’t look worn and out of place with nicer clothing.
As a woman, I always recommend wearing shoes you can actually walk in or chase your toddler after in. Flats or mules are perfectly fine. Save heels for a time without the kids, unless you’re a pro at walking in them.
Always keep it comfortable.
I know as a mom who wants her kids to look cute (and herself!) it’s easy to buy something that looks adorable but then realize it doesn’t fit your child or yourself well. No matter how cute it is, it isn’t going to make it fit better. Well-fitting clothing is the number one thing you should wear to a photo session. Kids in too-small or too large of clothes makes the clothing distracting. Something falling down or pants too short create for disruptions. And you’re probably already worried about your kids behavior for the session anyway. Don’t add to the chaos.
Make sure everything fits everyone well. To do this, if ordering items online, consider ordering more than one size and keeping the size that fits. If something technically fits, but a strap is falling down or something is a bit too wide, consider using a safety pin to keep it in place. I also suggest always planning outfits a few weeks prior to your session so you’re not winging it and hoping and praying something from Amazon ends up working out. Give yourself the time and space to actually get outfits together and try them on to ensure a proper fit.
I hope these simple tips help you in figuring out what to wear for fall family photos. Outfits don’t have to be complicated. Just a few simple tips to keep everyone coordinated is all it usually takes. And when you book a session with me, women get access to my client closet, and I’m always happy to get involved in helping you style your family.
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