Hey there! You’re probably here because you’re figuring out what to wear for your fall photos. For this season, I love rich, cozy tones like maroon, navy, chestnut, and warm browns — with pops of deep purple or red. These colors look amazing against fall foliage and really glow during golden hour.
Something you should know about me — when it comes to picking outfits for photos, I’m that person who waits until the very last second, rushes to pull something together, and ends up stressing way more than I should. But somehow, it always works out! Over time, I’ve figured out a few simple steps that help me create cohesive, complementary family outfits without the chaos — and I want to help you do the same.
Step One: Start by choosing one person’s outfit first. It could be whoever’s outfit feels easiest to decide on — maybe mom’s dress, dad’s sweater, or your little one’s outfit. Once you have that anchor piece, everything else can build from there.
Step Two: With that main outfit picked, look for complementary colors that tie the rest of the looks together. You want everyone to coordinate without matching exactly.
For example — if Mom wears a chunky green sweater with jeans, Dad could wear khakis with a brown quarter-zip. From there, maybe one kid wears a beige or off-white dress, and another wears a light green polo with jeans.
For my booked clients — feel free to text me the anchor outfit you’ve chosen! If you need help brainstorming the rest of the looks, I’m more than happy to help you one-on-one. You definitely don’t have to figure it all out alone — we just need a solid starting point to build from.
Step Three: Don’t be afraid to mix textures and fabrics! Combining knits, denim, corduroy, and cotton adds depth and makes the overall look feel natural and layered — perfect for cozy fall photos.
Step Four: For larger groups, try picking one main color per “unit” — for example, one duo could wear green or have subtle pops of it, while another leans into warm tones like yellow, red, or maroon. When everyone comes together, the mix looks beautifully balanced, especially with simple supporting textures like denim, khaki, corduroy, or linen.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you wear colors and pieces that make you feel happy and confident. And remember — relaxed, comfortable outfits always photograph best for family sessions.
Helpful Tip: Below are some go-to fall outfit color palettes for inspiration. You can also browse Pinterest for ideas — it’s a great place to visualize different combinations. Once you find a palette you love, share it with your family and have everyone choose one main color (or a shade of that color) to build their outfit around. This helps keep the overall look balanced and ensures the color palette feels evenly spread across everyone in the photos.
3 Main Tips for Choosing Your Outfits
- Skip big logos, bold labels, or busy designs — the focus should always be on you and the connection you share, not the writing on your clothes.
- Be mindful with darker colors like black or navy — they can sometimes feel too heavy or make it harder to see detail and separation between people.
- Aim to coordinate rather than match. Choose colors and textures that complement each other, without looking too uniform. (I’ll go into color palettes and outfit coordination a bit more below.)
Little Things That Make a Big Difference
- Empty your pockets. Phones, wallets, and keys can show through fabric, so it’s best to leave them behind (I’m happy to hold onto your keys if needed!).
- Check your wrists. Remove hair ties, smartwatches, or anything that doesn’t fit the vibe of your outfit.
- Hands matter! They often make their way into photos, so clean, simple nails always photograph beautifully.
