What to wear for Fall Family Photos?

Everyone wants family photos during fall! It’s easy to guess why, the soft warm light, the golden fields, the comfort of sweaters and layers. When it comes to styling your family session, think cozy (textures & layers), coordinated (not matchy), and effortless (don’t overthink it!).

Below are some more tips that will help you feel prepared for your next family photo session.

1. Let the settings inspire you

Golden fields and warm autumn light naturally create a soft, romantic backdrop, so let your wardrobe harmonize with it.

Earthy tones blend beautifully into the landscape and bring a timeless feel to your photos.

When your outfits reflect the environment around you, everything feels cohesive and organic, allowing your family’s connection to take center stage.

2. Choose a natural palette

Autumn is full of soft neutrals and earthy warmth. Cream, beige, caramel, rust, olive, and dusty colors photograph beautifully against the golden tones of the season.

Think in layers of tone, not matching outfits, your family should look coordinated, not identical.

3. Layers

Knits, wool, and corduroy add warmth and depth to your photos, especially in the soft light of fall.

Layers bring beautiful dimension to your images and help everyone stay comfortable outdoors.

Think cozy sweaters paired with dresses, or textured scarves, hats, & shawls that add interest without stealing the focus.

The key is balance, choose layers that feel natural and complement each other, so your family looks effortlessly put together, not overly styled.

4. Keep comfort in mind

If you have little ones, make sure they can move freely and play.

Comfortable layers help everyone relax, and relaxed families make the most beautiful portraits.

5. Coordinate, don’t match

Coordinating your family’s outfits is about creating visual harmony, not identical looks.

Choose a color palette of two to three main tones and one or two soft accents, then let each person’s outfit reflect those shades in their own way. You can also add in different hues of the same color.

For example, if you’re working with cream, olive, and rust, mom might wear a cream dress with olive earrings, dad — a rust sweater with cream pants,  and the kid — olive pants with a cream shirt and rust suspenders.

This approach keeps the overall look cohesive while allowing everyone’s individual style to shine.

6. Avoid neon tones

They can compete with the soft fall palette and draw focus away from faces.

They take away from the timeless look you want for your family portraits.

While we are talking about what to avoid, keep away from shirts with logos or cartoon characters. And don’t forget the shoes and socks matter too!

7. Add patterns

When it comes to patterns, less is often more.

Choose one standout pattern, such as a soft plaid, floral, or subtle stripe, and let it guide the color story for the rest of the family’s outfits.

Pull a few shades from that pattern and use them as your palette for coordinating solids and textures.

8. Dress like yourself

The most beautiful photos happen when you feel like yourself.

Choose clothing that reflects your personal style and feels comfortable, it always shows in the final images.

Avoid anything overly formal, restrictive, or unlike what you’d normally wear. When you feel good, you move with ease and connect more naturally with your family.

A simple tip that often helps is to start with mom’s outfit first, then build the rest of the family’s looks around it for a cohesive and effortless result.

9. Don’t forget details

Don’t overlook details such as socks, shoes and accessories.

Neutral leather shoes or boots look great in fall.
Scarves, or a cozy blanket can pull your look together.
Wide brim hats, headbands and necklaces add finishing touches to outfits.


I hope these tips will help you feel prepared for your next family session. 
If you’d like to get in touch with me about getting timeless portraits of your family this year, click below.

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