Fall is here! Ok, so maybe if you’re like me living in the Sunshine State, fall is that short two weeks of the year when the breeze feels cool but it’s still 80 degrees outside. Nonetheless. It’s fall and I love it.
The older I get, the more I love fall. I think because Christmas is next (holy cow), I always wanted to bypass fall. Who needs pumpkin spiced lattes when the peppermint mocha ones are right around the corner.
But I’ve really started to love fall. Maybe it’s because I’m married and I get to buy all the pumpkin spiced candles I want (which, helpful hint. Target and Walmart have the best smelling ones), or maybe it’s because I get to dress Duke up as what ever I want. Last year he was Elvis. We’ve got a lot to live up to this year.
And maybe. It’s because of family sessions. I seriously love family sessions.
The fact that for an hour, it’s just a family, no distractions. Just families.
The fact that these photos usually end up on a Christmas card, (which I can’t recommend Tiny Prints and Shutterfly enough).
Or the fact that I get to hang out with some really cute kids.
I get asked a lot when it comes to family sessions about what to wear, where to have them, and all that jazz so I decided to do a blog post of some helpful tips and suggestions!
Tips For Family Fall Photos
#1. Pick outfits that coordinate, but don’t match.
Long gone are the days of white shirts and jeans for family pictures. When choosing outfits for your family, pick a color and try to weave it throughout some outfits. Maybe it’s green or red for the holidays, or maybe it’s orange and brown for fall (or if you’re a Browns fan). Whatever it is, try to keep it simple. Mom might wear a blue scarf, and dad might have on a blue shirt. Accessories are always the best way to get some color in there! Don’t go over board with colors. And when in doubt, neutrals are always a really great option.
#2. The time of day really matters.
The best time of day for family photos is 2 hours before sunset. We call it the “Magic Hour”, because generally there’s this beautiful glow happening that we get to capture in our camera. Because photographers totally understand that this is the craziest and busiest part of people’s year, if you can’t make that time frame, make sure to pick a location that’s really shaded so no one is squinting.
#3. Be prepared.
Sometimes…tiny humans are not in the mood to have their picture taken. Be prepared for that. Candy always seems to do the trick, or a reward for after the photos are taken, maybe an ice cream trip. I’ve had a family bring books for kids to read while I shoot some pictures of mom and dad, or the all powerful: iPad.
#4. Plan ahead.
Like I mentioned before, most of the family photos I do in the fall are for Christmas cards. It’s important to plan ahead on which cards you’ll be using. Tiny Prints shine at this part. The options are almost endless, but there’s also the ability to search for exactly what you’re looking for. I say plan ahead because looking up the card you’ll want to use before hand may save you some time if you’re in a holiday crunch after the session. Remember, turn around times for most photographers range from 2-6 weeks.
#5. Think outside of the box.
Bring props. Have your session at a pumpkin patch. Do something you haven’t seen done before. Beach sessions tend to be very popular with me around the holidays (maybe we’re rubbing it in that we live on the beach), so instead of just going to the beach, why not bring some balloons? Or wrapped boxes for the kids to sit on. With pinterest now, the options are endless.
Below are some examples are really great family sessions I’ve done.
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Gosh. That last one is a cute family. 😉
As a super special offer, I’m opening up a very limited number of family sessions for a very discounted price of $150.Â
If you’re interested in booking a session, please email me: meganelizabethphotos@gmail.com or fill out the contact form at the top of my website.
I hope you gained a couple helpful tips! Happy fall, friends! And book those sessions quick!
Melbourne, Florida Portrait Photographer
Orlando, Florida Portrait Photographer