There is just something special about the Fall. It is the season for cozy sweaters, pumpkin lattes and fun filled family activities. There are so many traditions associated with Fall ranging from pumpkin picking, apple picking, hayrides, making pies or simply just jumping into a pile of leaves. It is also the time of year that most people schedule their annual photoshoot as a family. Whichever activities you choose to participate in, you no doubt want to create living memories, and what better way to do that than to have a nice picture hanging on your living or bedroom wall?

There is a reason why Fall is the perfect season to take family photos. As we welcome the season, you should not miss out on the opportunity to take your family out for a memorable photo session. Here are reasons why Fall is the ideal season for taking the best photos:

family dressed in olive grey brown in fall leaves on brown fur blanket embraced with fall foliage in background

Vibrant Fall colors

The vibrant colors of the leaves during the Autumn has to be the most impressive thing about this season. Depending on the date you choose, the colors will range from an array of yellows, reds, and oranges. If you are anything like me and love vibrant colors, this will serve as the perfect backdrop for your photos.

siblings in olive and grey seated in leaves with vibrant fall leaves around them and the golden sunset seated on brown fur blanket

Earlier sunsets

The best time for family photo sessions is 1-1.5 hours before sunset. During the Fall, the sun sets earlier, so your session can start much earlier than the Summer or spring months. Many families with young children require the earlier sunset time. In the Summer, sunset will conflict with bedtimes for little ones. Even better, after your session, you will still have time ot go out to dinner as a family. Afterall, you are all dressed up and ready to go. A family dinner afterwards will make the session even more special.

family seated on fur blanket on pile of leaves with sunset through trees and fall colors of foliage around them embraced dad hugging daughter

There are so many wardrobe options

Your wardobe is a key component in the overall look of your images, so choosing the right colors, textures and garments is essential. For many clients, choosing the wardrobe is the hardest part of the session. I provide complete styling guidance for my clients and will help you to choose the perfect outfits. I even have a client closet with womens’ dresses available on loan. This particular client’s wardrobe was styled and curated by me. If you are planning your own wardrobe, I find Fall to be the easiest time of year to coordinate for. Earth tones and neutrals always work best.

siblings in olive and grey playing in a pile of leaves with leaves all over the ground and laughing

Who doesn’t like to play in the leaves?

Jumping into a pile of leaves is a core memory for children. Having this awesome natural prop on hand is a great way to loosen up shy children and elicit natural smiles. We will let the kids be silly and run in the leaves or have a leaf throwing fight. If the parents want to join in too, even better. This is such a special moemtn of childhood and it wudl be awesome to have it professionaly documented and preservedn for years to come.

portraits of children on a dirt path with leaves on the ground wearing olive and grey bright Fall colors

Mild Temperatures

The Fall temperature is often mild and comfortable. Some people prefer this climate to the warm and humid temperatures of Summer. It al depends on what season you prefer best. Both times of year are amazing for different reasons. You can read about why I love Summer sessions here.

dad kneeling in leaves with son and daughter who are kissing him

Jazz it up with accessories

For Summer sessions, there is not much you can do with accessories. Many times people schedule their sessions at the beach, which limits the amount of accessories you need. For some, this is ideal. However, in the Fall you can choose from a variety of clothes and jewelry, which in turn allows you to show your own style and personality. Hats, jackets, beanies, scarves, and boots are all items you can add to your wardrobe to give your images personality and visual interest.

family seated closely knit together on tree stump and embraced in olive brown and grey

Perfect timing for planning holiday gift cards

Many people prefer to have their photos taken in the Fall because it coincides with the holiday season. the Fall is a great time of year for photos because not only will you have a wide array of pictures to choose from for your cards, but you can also hang them on your walls. Prints and albums are also great gifts to give to family members, especially grandparents.

family standing by a lake kids skipping rocks orange leaves on tree parets embraced

Location, location, location

I always prefer outdoor family session to indoor ones. When outdoors, most people fell at ease and children have the freedom to explore. There are so many perfect locations at which we can schedule your Fall photos. You can schedule your session at a park, preserve, farm, arboretum or any location that has ample natural light. Some places are better than others and I always suggest locations to my clients that are aligned with their goals and vision for the session.

children running though a balnket that mom and dad are parachuting and laughing golden sunset through tress orange leaves on ground

That gorgeous Fall light

I love a good sunset, but there is just something about the soft orange glow of sunsets in the Fall. This light paired with the colors of the foliage makes for speatuclar and magical images.

family leaning on a tree with sunset shining through back trees fall colors on ground and leaves embraced

Some last minute things to consider when booking a Fall photo session

Many clients are looking for foliage in the Fall. It is important to note that there is no way to predict when the foliage will be at its peak. Heavy rains or winds can suddenly blow all of the leaves off of the tree and the leaves change at various times each year. Additionally, the weather in the Fall is unpredictable, so this means you will need to have layering garments on hand to wear in case of cold temperatures. For example, this location was completely green just two weeks prior to this session. The year prior, it was past peak at this time of year. It all varies year to year. Regardless of the foliage present, you will have beautiful images that capture your family’s love for one another.