7 Tips for choosing outfits for your fall session

This is the number one question I receive as a photographer, with my family’s planning their yearly fall portrait; What do we wear for our session?

I love the fall here in Connecticut; the cooler weather, the leaves changing color. It really is a wonderful time to get an updated family portrait.

I want to say that outfits don’t really matter, that I don’t put a lot of emphasis on them because a huge part of my style of photography is focused on emotions and feelings, but choosing the right outfit does have an impact on the overall portrait. Color, hue, texture, patterns; it all needs to WORK.

I compiled a list of things to keep in mind when choosing outfits for your fall portrait session, as well as some links to local shops within our community.

1.) Color choices matter!

There are definitely colors that I recommend to clients, and colors I tell them to stay far away from. Personally, the colors I think work really well for fall sessions are; white, ivory, grey, copper, mustard, maroon, blue, red, dark green.

Since it IS fall, keep that in mind when thinking colors! With the leaves changing, colors like deep maroon, mustard, and deep copper colors work really well.

Colors to stay away from are bright, fluorescent colors! Bright pinks, reds, yellows, greens. You don’t want the focus to be on your bright clothes; you want the focus to be on your family, with the color of your clothing adding an extra touch.

When in doubt, use neutral colors! You can’t go wrong with neutral colors.

Don’t dress everyone in the same color hue. If you are in a white dress, dress the kids in maroon and grey. You can even use different shades of grey. Use colors to enhance your portraits; not to take over.

2.) Find one outfit you love, and build from that

It can be a struggle to find outfits for the entire family. Sometimes we don’t even know where to start! What I recommend to clients is find one outfit (a dress for you, or an outfit of your child’s that you adore them in) and build your family’s wardrobe from that.

If the outfit has a pattern (such as a floral pattern), take inspiration from the colors within that pattern for your other outfits.

3.) Solid colors are great, but don’t be afraid of patterns!

While you can’t really go wrong dressing everyone in solid colors, don’t be afraid to introduce a pattern or two into your collection. Maybe a floral dress for yourself, or a cute striped shirt for your son. I would limit to only one, maybe two (if you are a family of four) patterned outfits, and the rest solid colors.

AVOID LOGOS, AND BIG DECALS ON SHIRTS. I’m talking things like a big monster truck on the front of a shirt. Or a character on the front of a dress. It creates distraction within your portraits, and takes away from the true meaning of your session.

4.) Don’t be afraid of texture!

Something I personally love as a photographer, is texture from clothes within images. There is something about the way light and shadow falls upon clothes with texture that makes for a really interesting detail in portraits and takes it to the next level.

Things like, chunky sweaters. Or crocheted pullovers. Kimonos with crocheted sleeves. Subtle ruffles or gathering on a dress.

Find this at Ooh La La Boutique in West Hartford, CT

5.) Lay all the outfits out together, in natural sunlight

To really see if certain outfits work together, lay them side by side together on a bed or on the floor. Do this during the day, near natural sunlight (to get the most real colors).

6.) Make sure the clothes for the kids fit snugly and aren’t too big

I know we all want the cutest outfits for our kids, and sometimes we buy the size larger so they can wear it for longer. Sometimes though, the larger size can make the baby or child look like they are swimming in that outfit! This tends to happen a lot with very young babies (0-5 months old). My advice is to try the outfit on prior to the session, and make sure it fits without being too big! If it’s a little snug on them; that’s ok!

7.) Accessories

Feel free to add little embellishments to outfits, but be careful not to overdue it. Adding things like hats and headbands are super cute, but sometimes are difficult for babies and toddlers to keep on. Keep headbands and hats simple most of all, so it doesn’t take away from the portraits.