Wondering what to wear for Family Photo this fall?  Fall is one of my favorite times of year for family photography in Richmond, Virginia.  The light is beautiful, the trees are beginning to change, and there is something about this season that makes you want to slow down and hold onto the moment just a little longer.  But if you’ve ever started planning family photos, you may have also found yourself standing in front of your closet thinking:

“What in the world are we all going to wear?”

I promise, it doesn’t have to be complicated.  When I’m photographing families, I’m not looking for perfectly coordinated outfits or everyone wearing the same color. I’m looking for connection, personality, movement, that photographs and feels like your family.

If you’re planning fall family photos in Richmond, here are some of my favorite tips for choosing what everyone should wear.

 

 

Coordinate Instead of Matching

 

One of the biggest mistakes I see families make is trying to make everyone match.

Everyone doesn’t need to wear the same color shirt. In fact, I usually recommend that you don’t.

Instead, think about coordinating.

Choose a few colors that work well together and allow each person’s outfit to be a little different.

For example, you might choose a combination of:

• Cream
• Warm brown
• Soft olive
• Rust
• Muted blue
• Denim

One person might wear a cream sweater, another a soft olive dress, and someone else might wear denim with a warm brown layer.

The colors feel connected without making everyone look like they’re wearing a uniform.

And that’s exactly what we want.

Your family should look like your family, not a catalog.

 

Start With One Outfit You Love

If you’re completely overwhelmed by where to begin, don’t start by planning everyone’s outfit.

Start with one.

Choose the outfit for the person who is hardest to dress—or simply the outfit you absolutely love.

Then build everyone else’s clothing choices around it.

Maybe it’s your daughter’s floral dress.

Maybe it’s your favorite rust-colored sweater.

Maybe it’s your husband’s worn-in denim shirt.

Once you have one piece you love, pulling together the rest of the family’s wardrobe becomes much easier.

 

Choose Colors That Feel Like Fall—Without Going Overboard

Fall doesn’t mean everyone needs to wear orange, mustard, and brown.

While those colors can be beautiful, too much of one strong color can become distracting in photographs, especially when you’re surrounded by Richmond’s beautiful fall foliage.

Instead, I love soft, earthy, slightly muted colors.

Think:

• Cream
• Oatmeal
• Beige
• Taupe
• Soft brown
• Olive
• Dusty blue
• Muted rust
• Terracotta
• Warm gray
• Denim

You can absolutely incorporate richer fall colors, but I recommend using them as accents rather than dressing everyone in the same deep autumn shade.

The goal is for your family to be the focus, not your clothing.

 

 

Add Texture

This is one of my favorite ways to make family photographs feel warm and interesting.

Think about adding different textures rather than relying on lots of different colors.

Knits.

Linen.

Corduroy.

Denim.

Wool.

Cotton.

Soft gauze.

Layers.

A textured sweater next to a linen dress next to denim creates visual interest without making the photograph feel busy.

Texture is especially beautiful during fall family photography because it adds to that cozy, nostalgic feeling we’re naturally drawn to this time of year.

A chunky sweater, soft blanket, boots, and layers can photograph beautifully outdoors while still feeling comfortable and natural.

 

 

Avoid Large Logos and Distracting Graphics

This one is simple:

When possible, skip the giant logos.

A small logo isn’t going to ruin your photographs, but large graphics, characters, neon lettering, or prominent branding tend to pull your eye away from the people in the photograph.

And years from now, you want to remember your child, not the cartoon character that happened to be on their shirt.

Simple doesn’t have to mean boring.

Textures, layers, beautiful fabrics, subtle patterns, and thoughtfully chosen colors can create plenty of visual interest without competing with the people you love.

Dress Your Children for Comfort

This might be my most important wardrobe advice:

Your child needs to be comfortable.

Especially if we’re photographing outdoors.

If your toddler hates the itchy sweater you picked out, that’s probably not going to be the outfit that makes for a happy session.

If your child is constantly pulling at a dress, complaining about their shoes, or refusing to wear a jacket, we’re going to spend more time dealing with the clothing than enjoying the session.

Choose clothing that allows your children to:

• Move
• Run
• Sit
• Play
• Cuddle
• Explore

And please don’t worry if your child gets a little dirty.

We’re documenting childhood.

A little grass on the knees or leaves on the shoes is not going to ruin the photographs.

In fact, those little signs of real life often make the photographs better.

 

What Photographs Well Outdoors?

When I’m photographing families outdoors around Richmond, I’m thinking about more than just what looks pretty on a hanger.

I’m thinking about how the clothing moves and photographs while your family is actually interacting.

Soft fabrics and layers tend to photograph beautifully because they move naturally.

Flowy dresses can catch the breeze.

Sweaters add warmth and texture.

Denim creates a timeless, casual element.

Neutral and earthy colors work beautifully against natural surroundings.

And clothing with a little movement gives children freedom to run, twirl, explore, and play.

That’s important because I don’t want your session to be a series of photographs where everyone is standing perfectly still.

I want to photograph the way your family actually interacts.

The running.

The cuddling.

The laughter.

The little hands reaching for yours.

Those are the photographs you’ll remember.

What About Patterns?

You don’t have to avoid patterns completely.

Small, subtle patterns can be beautiful.

Florals, delicate stripes, soft plaids, and other understated patterns can add personality without overwhelming the photograph.

The key is balance.

If one person is wearing a noticeable pattern, let the other outfits be a little quieter.

You don’t want every person wearing a different bold pattern.

Instead, think:

one statement piece + complementary basics.

This creates a more cohesive final gallery.

What Do We Do About Richmond’s Unpredictable Fall Weather?

If you’ve lived in Richmond for any amount of time, you already know that fall weather doesn’t always follow the plan.

One day can feel like summer.

The next can have you reaching for a sweater.

And sometimes the forecast seems to change every few hours.

Don’t let that stress you out.

When planning your family’s fall photography session, layers are your best friend.

A cardigan, sweater, jacket, scarf, or other layer can give you flexibility without completely changing everyone’s outfit.

I also recommend bringing a few backup items—especially for young children.

A spare pair of socks, an extra layer, and a backup shirt can be lifesavers.

And if the forecast looks questionable, we’ll talk about it.

I’m much more interested in creating a comfortable, enjoyable experience than forcing a session to happen in weather that isn’t going to cooperate.

Sometimes the weather changes our plans.

Sometimes it gives us something completely unexpected and beautiful.

That’s part of photographing families in real life.

What If Our Outfits Aren’t Perfect?

They don’t have to be.

Really.

Your family photographs don’t need to look like they came from a clothing catalog.

Your children don’t need perfectly styled hair.

Everyone doesn’t need to smile at exactly the same time.

And your outfits don’t have to be perfect.

What matters most is that you feel comfortable and that what you’re wearing feels like you.

Because when you’re comfortable, you can stop thinking about your clothes and start focusing on each other.

And that’s when the photographs become meaningful.

My Favorite Fall Family Photography Wardrobe Formula

If you want a simple starting point, try this:

Choose 3–5 complementary colors.

Then mix:

One or two textures + a subtle pattern + layers + neutral basics.

For example:

Mom: flowy cream dress with textured cardigan
Dad: dark denim + oatmeal sweater
Child: muted rust dress
Toddler: olive pants + cream knit sweater

Nothing matches perfectly.

Everything coordinates.

And most importantly, everyone can move comfortably.

Your Family Doesn’t Need to Look Perfect

When you look back at these photographs years from now, you’re probably not going to remember whether everyone wore the exact right shade of beige.

You’re going to remember how little they were.

The way your son wouldn’t stop running.

The way your daughter held your hand.

The laugh you couldn’t get her to stop making.

The way your children looked at each other.

The way your family felt during this particular season of life.

That’s what I’m looking for when I photograph families.

Not perfection.

Connection.

Not everyone sitting perfectly still.

Personality.

Not a perfectly styled family.

Your family.

Planning Fall Family Photos in Richmond, VA?

If you’re looking for a Richmond VA family photographer for your fall family photos, I’d love to help you create photographs that feel genuine, relaxed, and timeless.

My family sessions are focused on connection and storytelling rather than forcing your family into a collection of stiff poses. I’ll guide you through the session while leaving plenty of room for your children to be themselves.

[Visit Richmond Family Photography]

And if you’re still wondering what everyone should wear, don’t worry.

We’ll figure it out together.

Because the most important thing you’ll bring to your session isn’t the perfect outfit.

It’s your family.