Styling Your Family for Fall Mini Sessions


Fall sessions are one of my favorites to photograph because the colors, textures, and overall feel of fall give us so much to work with. But I also know that deciding what everyone is going to wear can feel like a whole project in itself. The good news? Your family does not need to match. In fact, I would much rather see everyone coordinated than wearing the exact same colors or outfits.


The goal is to create a collection of outfits that work beautifully together without looking like you all went shopping for the same uniform.


First, Decide on Your Overall Style

Before choosing individual outfits, think about how you want your photos to feel.

Are You More Formal?

Maybe you love a beautiful dress, polished trousers, sweaters, boots and a more elevated look. Lean into it. Fall is the perfect time for richer fabrics and dressier pieces.

Maybe You're More Casual?

That's completely fine too. Jeans are absolutely welcome. I am very much a jeans person myself, so l understand that not everyone wants to wear a dress or dress their family in formal clothing.

Or Maybe You're Somewhere in Between?

This is probably my favorite option. Pairing a beautiful sweater with jeans, a satin skirt with a knit top, or a polished blouse with trousers gives you that elevated look without feeling overly dressed.


Regardless of your style preference, what you choose matters. The right combination will make your images feel intentional, polished and completely you.

Mom

Texture + Movement


Mom's outfit is a great place to bring in a little more personality. A beautiful satin skirt, textured sweater, flowing dress, or elevated blouse can instantly give the entire wardrobe a more polished feel. Don't be afraid to dress it up a little. You don't have to choose something you would normally wear every day. Your session is a great excuse to pull out the beautiful dress, add some jewelry, throw on your favorite boots and make the outfit feel special. And if dresses aren't your thing? Wear the jeans. Just elevate them. Think dark or medium wash denim with a beautiful knit, textured blouse, sweater, cardigan or even a statement shoe. The goal is not to make you feel like someone else. It's to make the version of your everyday style feel a little more intentional.

Dad

Layers + Neutrals


Dad's outfit doesn't need to be complicated. I generally recommend keeping men's clothing a little more neutral and letting texture and layers do the work. Think sweaters, henleys, textured button downs, plaid shirts, quarter zips, chinos, darker denim and casual leather shoes or boots.

Brown, cream, oatmeal, olive, khaki, charcoal and darker denim are all fantastic options. And please don't underestimate the power of a good sweater.

A simple sweater over a button down can look significantly more polished than a basic T-shirt, while still feeling completely comfortable and natural.

Dad doesn't need to match Mom. He just needs to coordinate with the overall color palette.

Kids + Siblings

Personality + Variety


This is where we can have a little more fun. Kids don't need to wear identical outfits. In fact, I encourage you not to. One child might wear a printed dress while another wears a solid sweater and jeans. One might wear a cable knit while another wears corduroy. Different colors, textures and patterns can work beautifully together when they share a common color palette.


The goal is coordinated, not identical.


For girls, think:

  • Printed dresses
  • Solid dresses
  • Sweaters with skirts
  • Jeans with pretty blouses
  • Peplum tops
  • Mary Janes or boots



For boys, think:

  • Cable knit sweaters
  • Henleys
  • Plaid button downs
  • Corduroy
  • Chinos
  • Jeans
  • Leather shoes or boots


Jeans Are Welcome. Just Elevate Them.


If you're reaching for jeans, pay attention to the pair you choose.

The color of your denim makes a huge difference. A medium or darker wash generally photographs more polished and pairs beautifully with fall neutrals.

Lighter denim can work too, especially when balanced with richer colors and textures.

Instead of:

  • Jeans + basic T-shirt
  • Everyone in the same denim wash
  • Athletic shoes with every outfit

Try:

  • Jeans + a beautiful knit sweater
  • Jeans + a textured blouse
  • Jeans + a cardigan or structured jacket
  • Jeans + boots or polished casual shoes
  • Different denim washes throughout the family

The idea is not to eliminate casual clothing. It's to elevate casual clothing.


Texture Is Your Best Friend

Fall styling becomes so much more interesting when we layer in texture (shoes too).

Think:

  • Cable knit
  • Ribbed sweaters
  • Corduroy
  • Velvet
  • Suede
  • Satin
  • Linen blends
  • Chunky knits
  • Woven fabrics


Texture gives photographs dimension and keeps neutral outfits from looking flat.

A family dressed entirely in different shades of cream can still look incredibly interesting when one person has a chunky knit, another has satin, another has corduroy and another has a subtle print.


You don’t have to match.


This is probably the biggest thing I want you to remember. You can absolutely choose different colors, patterns and textures for everyone. Instead of putting everyone in cream, introduce a few complementary colors. Maybe Mom wears a satin skirt, Dad wears olive or brown, one child wears a subtle floral print, and another wears cream with a rich brown sweater.They aren't matching, but they belong together. That is exactly what we're going for.


Don't Be Afraid of Color


Fall does not have to mean everyone wears brown.

Rich fall tones photograph beautifully:

  • Rust
  • Terracotta
  • Oatmeal
  • Camel
  • Chocolate brown
  • Olive
  • Deep mustard
  • Warm cream
  • Muted blue
  • Burgundy


You can bring in color without making the outfits feel overly themed or like a holiday card.


Still Not Sure What to Wear?


Yeah, I get it.

Good news: we still have a couple of weeks. Which means you have plenty of time to change your mind approximately 14 times, lay everything out on your bed, decide none of it works, and then come back to this blog at 11:47 p.m. for the fifth time. No judgment. I support the process. In the meantime, if you have questions, you're not sure if your outfits are working together, or you just want a second opinion before committing, please reach out. Send me a photo of what you're considering, and I am more than excited to help you pull everything together. You don't have to have it all figured out before you walk into your session. That's what I'm here for. Now go back through those inspo boards one more time, grab yourself a coffee, and let's make those outfits happen.

A little note: All images on this page were Al generated for inspiration purposes. If you have your eye on a specific dress, shirt, pair of pants, shoes, or any other piece you see, please reach out. I'd be more than happy to do my best to track down a similar option for you!