Preparing for the end of the year is such a special and bittersweet chapter. The beautiful warm colors and endless fall clothing options make family photos during the fall even more special. My goal for all photo sessions is to create something timeless and true to your family that will last a lifetime, even during special seasons such as the fall. Here are my best tips to help you prepare your family for your Fall Photo Session.

1. Choosing the Perfect Setting

• Scenic Backdrops: My absolute favorite location for timeless family photos has a beautiful mountain landscape, perfect for creating stunning wall art in your home with your images.
• Consider Lighting: The sun sets at the perfect time during the fall for golden hour, especially for littles. Around 4-5pm depending on the location is ideal depending on the time change. In comparison to summer golden hour – this time is much easier with babies and toddler bedtime.

2. Coordinate Your Outfits

• Color Palette: Fall colors in your family wardrobe can be timeless too. Opt for creams, browns and even grey’s to compliment the warm tones in the background of your images. Don’t be afraid to mix in some patterns and different textures always photograph beautifully. Avoid matching kiddos in the same outfit, this may look adorable however it’s not a timeless look that will last a lifetime. I’ll create a style board with links to clothing items and a curated color palette to make it as easy as possible for you.
• Comfort and Style: Choosing clothing that allows you to move easily is key, even for Dad’s and kiddos. We want you to be able to interact with your family easily without external stressors like uncomfortable clothing. Depending on the location you may need to pack a change of shoes to walk in.
• Layers and Accessories: Layering light sweaters or scarves can add dimension in your wardrobe. One of my favorite looks is a chunky sweater over a flowy dress and fall boots paired with a maxi skirt.

3. Family Engagement and Comfort

• Preparing Kids for Family Photos: I always encourage families to talk about their upcoming photo session in a positive, fun way so the kids get excited too and know it will be a fun experience for them. They will get a chance to adventure, see new surroundings and interact with siblings and parents in a connecting way. Make it extra special for them by bringing fun treats for after the session or go somewhere exciting to have ice cream or dinner afterwards. The experience of the session itself is creating a memory for your family!

4. Timing and Weather Considerations

• Book Ahead of Time: Plan to book your session at least a month in advance before you plan to send out holiday cards. This is the busiest time of year for the photography world and it may take up to 4-6 weeks to receive your images and products, especially if you plan to order albums or wall art for holiday gifts.
• Optimal Timing: There is no doubt, golden hour is the most magical time for photo sessions. It offers that dreamy warm light that adds dimension and interest to your images. The images you see in the gallery below was photographed at golden hour and is the perfect depiction of why it’s an ideal time for creating beautiful images of your family.
• Weather Planning: Weather during the fall is usually pretty good but in the off chance it’s gloomy or raining we will need to choose a back up date. I keep a close eye on the weather when this is the case and we will be in communication leading up to the session.

5. Final Prep and Communication

• Pre-Session Checklist: You will receive a detailed session guide including a the day of the shoot checklist to help ease your mind. A few things on the list will be: mess free snacks for kiddos, wipes to have on hand and possibly a change of shoes depending on the location.
• Photographer Coordination: You will also receive a reminder via email a few days prior to our session date and we will continue to be in communication via text to confirm our location and dates/time for the session so there isn’t any confusion.
• Mental Preparation: As hard as it can be, my biggest piece of advice for any session is to stay calm and stress free, especially if kiddos are involved. If parents are stressed the kiddos often times feel it and get upset more easily. Having realistic expectations and preparing in advance helps to create a stress-free experience for everyone.

Conclusion

• Takeaways: Book in advance, outfit coordination & choose a color palette, prepare outfits well ahead of time, make it fun and exciting for kiddos, relax and have fun!

Family Photographer near Auburn, Loomis, Roseville, Grass Valley, California