5 tips to get you ready for fall family photos

Decide your budget

There are a few factors that come in to play when thinking about family portraits. sooo many questions.

But here are the main 2 to consider:

Do you imagine posed photos or lifestyle photos?

Do you want a quick, mini-session or lots of pictures to choose from?

Things like this can impact the cost of your family photo session. From my experience, photographers run specials for mini-sessions starting at $100 for a quick 30 minutes or upwards of $500-600 for lifestyle in-home family photo sessions that can take much longer.

Find a photographer that can fit the needs of your budget, and your vision.

Prepare coordinating outfits

*The best thing i'd recommend is dressing you and the fam very comfy and familiar. Now, i'm not saying DON'T put in some work, but comfort is key!

Here are some tips to keep in mind as preparation.

Tip #1: Wear Something That You Like

We all tend to want to look our best when getting our photos taken, especially when we want to represent our family aesthetic, but what i find is that most of us tend to go for thing we'd otherwise never wear.

Sometimes that can be the "cute, but uncomfortable dress" we have in the closet for such occasion, but If we're constantly adjusting and trying to get it to look good, that'll show up in the photos, trust me.

comfort goes such a long way!

Tip #2: Pick the Outfit for the Hardest Person to Dress FIRST

A photographer friend of mine gave me this advice and it has been a huge help when it comes to choosing colors and outfits for family pictures. She mentioned that, in her family, her son is usually the hardest to dress. 

So she'd always go to his closet first and see what he has that would be nice enough for pictures THEN she'd look at everyone else’s closet. It's typical to have to buy at least 1 article of clothing or accessory for someone in the family, but starting with the hardest person to dress always helps to narrow things down.

Tip #3: Add a Pattern and/or Texture

When choosing clothes for family pictures, don’t be afraid to add a little bit of pattern or texture into the mix.

Here are some examples of patterns:

• Floral
• Plaid
• Stripes
• Animal print, such as leopard

Here are some examples of texture:

• Crochet or knit
• Corduroy
• Denim

With these tips in mind, let’s talk about great color combinations for fall. Inspiration for color combinations can be found everywhere. Find a picture with colors that speak to you and start there. 

Fall Family Photo Color Schemes

Below I’m sharing some color combos that would look really nice together in fall family pictures.

What will your photos be used for?

It’s important to know this ahead of time just in case you want to use these photos for something specific. It may provide guidance for poses, props to grab, etc.

Are we printing holiday cards? Let's be sure to have a lot with the complete family.

Do you want wall prints? What kind of variety do i want for them?

Will these be turned into presents for the grandparents? If so, make sure you request photos of just the kids.

Plan out the end result so you can let your photographer know what you plan on using the photos for. This will help them plan as well.

Find a Photographer You Trust

This is probably one of the most important factors that will guarantee great photos every single time.

Over the years, your photographer becomes your friend, and as we complete photo sessions together, over time we become family!

Being a photographer, i've gotten to watch so many kiddos grow up right before my eyes and with that time, i've learned their likes, comforts, and how to keep their attention during our sessions.

When i say trust, as a stepmom, i think of the children!

So my top tip is finding someone who meshes well with the kiddies first.

I find that getting the boys laughing, talking about video games, and the occasional promise of treats after our photos, they cooperate so well for me.

Finding a photographer that the entire family can trust is a crucial point as well.

Someone who can listen to all members of the family about their ideas can go along way!

Especially when trying to capture each members individuality, while making things cohesive for the family aesthetic.

Trust the photographer you choose.

So you've done your research, you've figured out what you want to spend, and what you need your images for.

You have picked the photographer that fits those needs.

The best thing to do at that point is to trust them and their vision!

If you have taken a good look at their site and portfolio, then you know what they can deliver.

Allow the artist to work, but never hesitate to give feedback and suggestions for what you want, i can promise that any worthwhile photographer will always be open to your requests and concerns.

The important thing is, we trust the expert and in turn, the expert feels comfortable doing what they do best. All around, no one is stressed, it’s a fun time and magic happens.

Think about props

A lot of times, during fall photo sessions families and photographers have the idea of props on the brain!

We all love a good seasonal pumpkin or cozy blanket! So choose what props mean the most to you, and your family. Anything you'd like to incorporate to show off the fam's enthusiasm and excitement for the new season!

Here are some things to ask yourself:

Do you want to include a special prop in the family photo session for sentimental purposes?

Do you need to capture specific details on an outfit that your photographer needs to know about?

Make sure to let your photographer know of any must-haves during the family photo session.

It always helps to be on the same page!