As a Charlottesville family photographer, I know that preparation is one of the keys for an amazing family photo session. If planning your photo session sounds stressful, don’t worry, it’s really not that bad! In fact, just follow these 3 outdoor fall portrait tips for a great experience!
1. Book Your Session Early
Fall is the most popular time to get family portraits, which means your photographer’s schedule is going to book up fast! Pick out a couple of possible dates and contact your photographer in early August for the best chance of getting a date and session time that work well for you.
2. Decide Ahead of Time What to Wear
Deciding on outfits can be one of the most daunting decisions as you get ready for family portraits, so here are some tips for making it easier.
- Aim for coordination rather than matching. Going really matchy-matchy looks like you’re trying too hard and can actually distract from the beautiful photos you’re trying to create. Instead, choose different outfits for each family member, but make sure they each complement each other. (Dressing Mom first and then choosing coordinating outfits for each family member can help if you need a place to begin.)
- Think about your backdrop and how it will look with your outfit color choices. For example, pastels are great at the beach while jewel tones work well for pictures in the park.
- Dress for the weather! Especially in the fall, the weather can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on the forecast for your session date and dress accordingly. Incorporating layers can be helpful if it looks like temperatures might fluctuate. You just want to be nice and comfortable so you can enjoy your experience!
3. Be Present
Finally, one of the best outdoor fall portrait tips I can give you is to relax and have fun during your session! Once you’re there, don’t worry about the dishes you left in the sink, don’t question your outfit choice, and don’t stress about whether your kids will give good smiles. Just focus on giving your family your full attention for that 45 minutes and enjoy making memories together!
Outdoor Photos Tips for Fall Portraits
Hi there and thank you for stopping by! I’m Melissa, owner of Melissa Arlena Photography, a family and maternity photographer specializing in young and growing families in Charlottesville Virginia. I hope you found my “Outdoor Fall Portrait Tips” feature I shared today to be helpful. If you are interested in talking with me more about booking a family session, let’s connect! Not quite ready, but know you want to keep me in your back pocket? No problem! Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Melissa Arlena is an award winning Richmond & Charlottesville Virginia Master newborn & maternity photographer. She offers maternity, lifestyle newborn, and family photography in her relaxed, natural, and joyful style. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. She is happy to design custom wall art galleries to show off your favorite photos! Be sure to check out the Nov 21 issue of Inspired magazine to see a feature on Melissa and her work!
Melissa serves Charlottesville, Richmond, Staunton, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Culpeper, Gordonsville and beyond.
Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2023.
