With the welcomed cooler temperatures and beautiful changing leaves in and around Washington DC, fall is the most popular time to capture annual family photos. When planning what to wear for fall family photos in DC, it’s important to not only consider the location, but also what you and your family will wear. Your outfit choices really make a difference in how your photos will look and feel. My light and airy photography style loves neutral colors and soft patterns. I don’t mind a pop of color here and there, but generally I like to let your family’s genuine interactions shine and not be distracted by bright, loud colors and patterns.
I know that piecing together what to wear and how to coordinate your family can often be the most stressful part of the photography experience. That’s where I come in, as your DC family photographer I will walk you through every detail and style your family from head to toe! If you are hiring me as your photographer, it’s because you love my work, in order to achieve my signature style your clothing choices are important! Making the right choices will enhance the overall aesthetic of your family photos. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through some helpful tips and inspiring ideas on what to wear for fall family photos in DC.
How to Dress Mom and Dad
Dresses for Mom:
Sage Piper Dress, Adeline Smocked Maxi Dress, Sadiya Sweetheart Midi Dress, Rebecca Floral Maxi Dress, Mathilda Button Maxi Dress, Brown Gingham Kiko Dress, Black Pleated T-Shirt Dress, Rhodes Dress, Olive Barker Dress, Valerie Buttoned Midi Dress
My top tip and the first thing I tell all my clients when planning for family photos is dress mom first. You pick a dress/outfit that you love, something that makes you feel beautiful and confident and then style your family around that. If your dress has a pattern, pull colors from it to find outfits for your kids that coordinate. If it’s a solid color, find outfits for your kids that have a soft pattern that compliments that color.
Outfits for Dad:
Shirts: Warm Khaki Oxford, Warm Oatmeal Linen-Blend, Gray Linen-Blend, Coffee Waffle Henley, White Henley Knit Sweater
Pants: Cream Straight Chinos, Smoke Straight Chinos, Stone Wall Chinos
Maybe not so when it comes to taking the actual photos, but when it comes to styling, dads are the easiest. They generally don’t have much of an opinion on what they are going to wear, so my tip for dads is to keep it neutral. A neutral, light colored khaki pant paired with a coordinating, light colored, long-sleeve henley or button down is always a safe choice and generally easy to pull together!
Fall Photoshoot Outfits for Children
Unless your children are very picky about their clothing they should be fairly simple to style as well. There are so many adorable options for kids outfits that photography well. Some of my favorite places to shop for kids are H&M, Zara, Old Navy, Gap, Jamie Kay, Nora Lee and Little Planet by Carter’s.
Still stick with neutrals as much as possible, you can still incorporate some fun patterns, lace, frills, etc… just don’t go crazy with the color choice. For girls, if they are wearing a dress, it is important to put them in a matching bloomer since my photoshoots are pretty active and they will likely be thrown in the air or spun upside down and we don’t want their underwear or diaper showing! Another big thing with kids clothing is that you need to make sure it fits properly or even a tiny bit snug. Clothing that is too big will be falling off and generally just looks sloppy in photos.
Little Girl Outfits:
Flounced Poplin Dress, Twill Collared Dress, Ivory Sofia Dress, Iris Daphne Dress, Contrast Crochet & Embroidery Dress, Mirabelle Dress, Textured Polka Dot Bow Dress, Flounced Chiffon Dress
Little Boy Outfits:
Clay Thermal-Knit Henley, Gray Pull-On Khakis, Striped Shorts Set, Taupe Weston Tee, Rustic Plaid Ryder Pant, Jordie Overalls, Oatmeal Marle Sweater, Spiced Cord Pant, Harvest Stripe Moss Sweater, Ethan Pant, Green Oxford Shirt, Chino Pant
Baby Outfits:
Quilted Floral Jumpsuit, Cotton Knit Set, Acacia Henley Top Shorts Set, Cream Sweater Knit Set, Camel Thermal-Knit Henley One-Piece, Dusty Blue Romper, Ditsy Nellie Set, Grey Waffle Knit Jumpsuit
Overall Tips for Styling your Family
Coordinate, Don’t Match – Matching outfits are super distracting to your eye and will be the main thing you notice in your photos. By paying close attention to outfit choice we can focus the attention on the love and connection between your family!
Dress for the Weather – There is nothing worse than an uncomfortable child at a photoshoot. Fall temperatures can be unpredictable around here, so have a backup option in case it is warmer or colder than you were planning for.
Don’t Forget About Shoes – Shoes can often be an afterthought, but your kid’s rainbow crocks will stick out like a sore thumb in photos if you forget. If the weather and the location allows, I’m all for them going barefoot, but it’s best to have a neutral shoe option – old navy usually has some great, afforable options for kids! Dads can wear dress or boat shoes. I usually recommend mom wears a comfortable wedge, flats or stylish boots. As I’ve mentioned, you will be moving around a lot during your session, so comfortable shoes you can move in are a must.
If you are on my calendar for this fall I can’t wait to see you and capture memories with your family! If you are interested in learning more about working together, get in touch here! I’d love to chat about your vision for your family session and how we can work together to make it come to life! All of my clients have access to my PLSP Client Closet full of dresses for moms and outfits for children 4 and under!
