Fall Family Photo Outfit Ideas
Hello! I’m Rachel, and I’m a family and newborn photographer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our little corner of the world experiences all four seasons in their full glory— sometimes all in the same month. The Fall, however, is particularly beautiful, giving a background display of deep reds, vibrant oranges and warm sunny yellows, contrasted with rich green pines and lush grasses. It’s definitely one of the best times of the year to shoot, and the dozens and dozens of families I work with during this season seem to agree.
The number one question I’m asked, and that I think befuddles so many mamas (or dads!) planning for their family photos, is…what should we wear?
Outfit Overwhelm
You know that feeling — you’re staring at your closet, and your spouse's, and your kiddos’ (which may be more horizontal than vertical) and realize that somehow the options for dressing everyone are somehow both endless and zilch.
Where do you even start? What colors go together? How can I convince my toddler he can’t wear his dinosaur halloween costume?
I can help on the first two points (but you’re on your own on that last one).
This article is meant to ease the “outfit overwhelm," and give you some practical advice for building a cohesive family look for photos.
Over the past nine years as a professional photographer, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients, and I’ve learned a thing or two about what kinds of colors and styles photograph well and work well together, and I’m excited to share some tips and outfits with you.
When my clients feel empowered to put together outfits they know look good, then it shows in the incredible images we make together!
So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a sparkling water, and settle in for some *inspiration.*
Do I have to buy something new?
Let’s get this out of the way first: NO. Seriously, you do not need to buy anything new. In fact, it’s more than likely you have an outfit that would photograph beautifully hanging in your closet. I encourage you to read this article, and then exit your browser and remember that you have a dress that looks a lot like #7 or your own chunky sweater or another outfit that looks nothing like this one photographer’s opinion but makes you feel incredible and so you’re going to wear it, goshdarnit! Thrifting or borrowing from a friend is always a great option if you have it.
Busy Moms Love Amazon
Of course, sometimes you DO need to buy something new: kids never seem to stay the same size, your closet contains more sweatshirts from college than you’d like to admit, and also it turns out your portrait session is in three days.
Sounds like you could use some two-day shipping! Enter: Amazon. So many of my clients have told me they’ve gotten their photo outfits on Amazon, and I’ve been ordering clothes from there for myself and my kiddos for the past few years and I’m almost always impressed! There are so many real gems on there, and it’s almost effortless to style a whole family’s cohesive look from just the one site. (Sometimes I like to put it all in my cart just to see what it looks like together before I hit the order button!)
That’s why this is the Busy Mom’s Guide to Fall Family Outfits. Amazon is a one-stop shop for the whole family, and if you’re anything like me, you don’t have time to be grabbing everyone’s clothes from a different site! And I love that Amazon usually has the item in many different colors, making it easy to fit everyone into your chosen color palette in the style that works best for them.
Note: I’m a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases made through my shared links.
Straight to the Chase: Shop My Amazon List
General Wardrobe Advice
Start with one “look” that you are most excited about, and use that as a starting point to build the family’s wardrobe up around it. Mama, maybe that’s a dress you look killer in and are dying to wear. Or maybe it’s the most darling little baby jumper you’ve been saving for your little one. When you’re trying to decide everyone’s oufits at the same time there can be too many variables, so take it one outfit at a time.
If it’s a bold print, try to put everyone else in solids or more subtle, delicate patterns. And since Fall is the Season of Plaid, it must be said: I generally recommend only one adult in the family wear plaid at a time since it’s such a busy print!
Textures (knits, flowy chiffon, ruffles, etc) are a great way to add visual interest to outfits without the risk of clashing like competing patterns.
Think about your season, and your background. All of my clients get access to my curated Location Guide, which details all of my favorite places to shoot in the area and makes it easy to pick a backdrop that matches your desired family vibe. Are you looking for stone architecture and immaculate gardens? A big open field? Evergreen forests? Will you be shooting in mid-October with a backdrop of orange and red and yellow leaves? All of these considerations can help inform your outfit choices, both in style and color.
If you’re unsure about how certain pieces look together or will photograph, ask your photographer! I am always happy to look over potential outfit ideas with clients.
MUST READ NOTE: Look at yourself in the mirror wearing your desired outfit. You could have picked the cutest outfit in the world (on the hanger); if you do not like the way it looks in the mirror, you will not like the way it photographs on you. This is a piece of advice that I hope comes across with genuine care and understanding— I have had the experience MANY times of looking in the mirror and realizing a piece I was so excited about simply doesn’t flatter me the way I had hoped. If this is the case for your chosen outfit, know that that is really disappointing and I am so bummed for you! But please, please do not expect your photographer to be able to fundamentally change the way it looks through the lens. I do my absolute best to make sure I’m creating flattering angles for everyone in the photos, but a dress that is way too tight or too baggy or clinches in a really weird way that makes you have to readjust yourself 47x a minute is a,) not going to photograph well, and b.) force your mind somewhere else and keep you from relaxing and actually making connections with your family.
I want you to feel comfortable and confident at your photo session, and sometimes that means wearing the cutest new thing from Amazon, and sometimes that’s pulling out a simple outfit you’ve had for years but fits like a glove.
How it feels on YOU is more important than how it looks on an AI generated model online.
