Fall Family Photos: Your Guide to a Stress-Free Session with Maryland Lifestyle Photographer
The fall is one of the most popular times of year for family portraits. I don’t blame my families for loving the rich colors – or the fact that it’s not 90+ degrees during our entire session! And while the scenery is beautiful, fantastic family photos take more than a great location to be gorgeous. That’s why I’m sharing my top 7 tips for stress-free fall family photos this year!
#1: Pick a Meaningful Location.
If there’s somewhere your family frequents in the fall, let’s do photos there! Your family photos tell your story – and the location is a key part of that. Choosing a meaningful location helps ensure that you’ll love your photos even longer and be happy to see them displayed in your home. Plus, it’s much more relaxing for everyone if your family is already pretty familiar with where they’re going!
#2: Plan an activity.
Incorporate activities that your family enjoys during fall into your family photos. Whether it’s carving pumpkins, jumping in leaf piles, or enjoying a hot apple cider picnic (bonus if there are apple cider donuts to share), these moments of joy and togetherness will make your photos more authentic and heartfelt.
#3: Keep it simple on your calendar.
On the day of the session, aim to keep things light so that everyone is rested and calm. I see this a lot in fall and spring where families have so many back to back activities in the day, and with younger children, this can prevent everyone from having more natural fun interactions during the session. If you do have a busy day and can’t cancel activities, aim for a morning session when everyone is fresh and ready for the day. Trust me, it will make a huge difference in your final images!
#4: Plan outfits and have fun incorporating accessories.
The fall is a beautiful time for warmer colors in the outfits that your family selects! These colors always look so much more natural in fall family photos. If you’re wondering what color palettes to choose from, check out my inspiration for fall family photo outfits here. The bottom line is to avoid cooler colors! And remember to avoid matching exactly for everyone. Choose complimentary outfits, and have a good time bringing in your personalities with accessories like hats and scarves!
#5: Plan for bad weather.
Fall weather can be unpredictable. Bring extra layers, blankets, and maybe even some hot cocoa to keep everyone cozy. A little preparation goes a long way in ensuring everyone stays comfortable and happy throughout the session. While I always hope it won’t be too hot, you never know with Maryland in the early fall! If you’re curious about my weather plans, read about them here! It also might be 90 degrees, especially in Maryland, so being flexible with adjustments, so that you can be comfortable.
#6: Prep the family.
One of my favorite tips for family photo sessions is to prepare your family ahead of time, especially younger children. Let them know that you are going to have fun together and someone will be there with a camera. No need to bribe them! That only puts stress on them and kids sense that and will backfire. I promise we’ll do fun activities and use prompts to have special moments together.
#7: Trust your photographer and go with the flow!
My job is to make sure you all have fun and have beautiful images to display in your home afterwards. All you have to do is show up and trust that I’m going to do just that! Family sessions ebb and flow depending on the age of your children, what’s going on, and so many other factors. I promise that I’ll keep an eye on everything – I want you to just enjoy a morning (or afternoon!) with your family.
When it comes down to it, having stress-free fall family photos is about having fun and creating meaningful moments together. Most of that happens because you show up feeling prepared and not stressed out! I promise to be beside you every step of the way so you feel ready and excited for your session.
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Christina did an amazing job with our family photos. From the first time we spoke--she was incredibly thoughtful, organized and detail oriented to ensure the session would be a success.. – Katie A.
