You've booked your fall family photos, you're excited to finally update those frames on the wall...and then comes the question almost every mom asks:
“Okay...but what are we all going to wear?”
I get it. 🤍
Choosing outfits for your entire family can quickly turn into one more thing on an already-full to-do list. But I promise, it doesn't have to be complicated.
The goal isn't to create a perfectly matched family or buy an entirely new wardrobe.
It's to choose pieces that feel like you, work beautifully together, and let the focus of your photographs stay exactly where it belongs — on your family.
Here are a few of my favorite tips for putting together outfits for fall family photos here in Wisconsin.
1. Start with Mom 🤎
Yes, really.
If you're usually the person coordinating everyone else's outfits, start with your own this time.
Choose something you feel beautiful and comfortable wearing first. Maybe that's a flowy dress, a cozy sweater with jeans, or something you already own and know you love.
Then build everyone else's outfits around yours.
It is SO much easier to coordinate a handful of outfits around one starting piece than it is to stare at everyone's closets and try to make everything work at once.
And one little reminder from me: if you're constantly adjusting, tugging or worrying about what you're wearing, it's harder to relax in front of the camera.
Choose something that makes you feel like yourself.
2. Coordinate — Don't Match
Gone are the days when everyone needs to show up in matching white shirts and jeans.
Instead, think about creating a color palette for your family.
Choose two or three main colors and then bring in different shades, neutrals and textures that work well with them.
For fall sessions, I especially love combinations like:
Cream + camel + rust + denim
Olive + cream + warm brown
Burgundy + tan + soft neutrals
Muted blue + cream + caramel
The goal is for everyone to look like they belong together without looking like everyone is wearing the same outfit.
3. Add Texture and Layers 🍂
Fall is probably my favorite season for styling family photos because there are so many opportunities to add texture.
Think:
Chunky knits, cardigans, denim, corduroy, boots, subtle patterns, jackets and soft layered fabrics.
Those little differences add dimension to your photographs without making the outfits feel busy.
Layers are also incredibly practical for Wisconsin fall because we all know a “beautiful fall evening” can turn into “why is it suddenly 48 degrees?” pretty quickly.
4. Keep Patterns Simple
Patterns can absolutely work in family photos — the trick is not having everyone wearing one.
If Mom has a floral dress, for example, pull colors from her dress for everyone else's solid pieces.
Or maybe one child wears a subtle plaid while the rest of the family wears complementary solids and textures.
This gives your photos visual interest without everyone competing for attention.
As a general rule, I'd rather see one or two subtle patterns mixed with solids and texture than several bold patterns together.
5. Think About Your Location
Your outfits don't have to match your surroundings, but they should work with them.
Fall in Wisconsin already gives us a gorgeous palette — golden grasses, changing leaves, evergreens and warm evening light.
Warm neutrals, earthy colors and muted tones tend to photograph beautifully against those backgrounds.
And because I photograph families throughout Sheboygan County, Plymouth, Sheboygan and the surrounding area, I'll also help you choose a location that works beautifully with the overall look and feel you're hoping for.
6. Keep the Kids Comfortable
This one matters more than people realize.
If your little one hates stiff jeans, family photo night probably isn't the time to introduce them.
Choose clothing they can comfortably move, sit, snuggle and play in.
The same goes for shoes.
You want them to be able to move naturally because we're going to do more than simply stand in one spot and smile at the camera.
Comfortable kids can focus on being themselves — and that's what I want to photograph.
7. Don't Forget the Little Details
Before you leave the house, take one quick look at the things that are easy to overlook:
Shoes that work with the outfit, socks that won't unexpectedly steal the show, hair ties on wrists, watches or accessories you don't normally wear, and pockets stuffed with phones or keys.
None of these things will ruin your photographs — promise. 🤍
But taking thirty seconds to check them before your session means we don't have to think about them later.
Most Importantly: Wear Something That Feels Like YOU
If there's one thing I want you to remember, it's this:
Your family photos aren't supposed to look like somebody else's family.
You don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe or suddenly dress everyone in a style you'd never normally wear.
Use these tips as a guide, but let your family's personality come through.
Because when you feel comfortable and confident, you can stop thinking about your clothes and simply be together.
And that's when we get to capture the good stuff.
The way they reach for you.
Their little personalities.
The laughter.
The relationships.
Your family. Your season. Your story — exactly as it is right now. 🤍
Planning Fall Family Photos in Sheboygan County?
If you've been thinking about updating your family photos this fall, I'd love to help make the entire process feel easy — including figuring out what everyone should wear.
I photograph families throughout Sheboygan County, Plymouth, Sheboygan and the surrounding Wisconsin area, with both full family sessions and limited seasonal sessions available throughout the year.
