What to Wear for Your Fall Family Portrait Session
So your fall family portrait session is coming up and you don’t know what to wear. That’s totally normal. Let’s help you choose comfortable, camera-ready looks that feel like your family and photograph beautifully, so you’ll absolutely love how they look on your holiday cards, as wall art, and for gifts for family members. Let’s make this process easy and enjoyable.
Start with your home
Before you pick clothes, look around the room where you’ll display your portraits. Note the scale, style, and colors of your walls and furnishings. Is the space casual and cozy, or more formal and tailored? Let that guide how dressed-up or relaxed you want to be for the session. When your portraits echo the room’s palette, they’ll feel effortless on your wall.
Build a color story, don’t match everyone
Aim for complementary colors rather than everyone wearing the exact same shade. Choose one or two dominant tones and pull in 2–3 supporting hues. Neutrals + one accent work beautifully (for example: warm cream, denim, olive, and a soft cranberry). This keeps the group cohesive while allowing individual personalities to come through.
Quick palette approach:
- Pick a base neutral (cream, gray, navy).
- Add one warm or cool accent (mustard, cranberry, sage).
- Introduce texture and one small pattern for interest (plaid scarf, subtle knit).
Layers and practical planning
Fall weather can swing from warm to crisp in a day.
Plan outfits with layers you can add or remove — lightweight jackets, vests, scarves, or a cardigan that still looks polished. Bring an alternate outfit if your main choice is heavy knitwear and the day turns out warm. Comfortable, temperature-appropriate kids mean happier smiles and better photos.
Accessories make the image
Accessories are one of my favorite ways to finish a look: hats, belts, vests, hair bands, ties, and cute shoes. They show personality and help tie colors together. Keep accessories intentional — one or two pieces per person keeps the scene feeling elegant rather than busy.
Holiday cards and outfit changes
If you want a holiday-card look, you have two easy options:
- Wear your chosen session outfits and let me design a card that complements your colors.
- Bring a second outfit (holiday pajamas or a festive dress) for 2–3 quick, camera-ready frames mid-session.
Both approaches photograph beautifully. The second gives you playful, seasonal images while still keeping your main gallery timeless and frame-ready.
Final tips checklist
- Test your palette by laying outfits side-by-side on the floor or a bed.
- Avoid large logos, graphics or overly bright neon.
- Choose fabrics with texture over shiny synthetics.
- Bring simple props if they matter to your story (blanket, family heirloom).
- Pack a small emergency kit: safety pins, stain stick, hairbrush, snacks.
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