What to Wear for an Autumn Family Photoshoot

What to wear to an Autumn Family Photoshoot?

With Autumn is on its way and my Farnham mini shoot VIP waiting list filling up quickly, you’ll want to get on the waiting list quickly then start planning what everyone will wear!

Sessions take place in and around Farnham, on the border of Surrey and Hampshire, on set days of the week. You can find more details and sign up to the VIP list and book <HERE>

What do we wear for an Autumn photoshoot in Farnham?

Often the thought of planning outfits for the whole family can be a daunting task if you’re considering a family photoshoot. But that’s why I’m here to help you! Read on for some tried and tested guidance to help you put together a set of outfits that will result in harmonious and happy family portraits for your family this Autumn.

WHERE TO BEGIN, WHEN PLANNING WHAT TO WEAR FOR AN AUTUMN PHOTOSHOOT IN FARNHAM

Fear not!

What to wear for an Autumn family photoshoot in Farnham is the most frequently asked questions when clients book in for their Autumn photoshoot. In fact, it’s the most commonly asked question when mums book in for any of my <outdoor family photoshoots.>

I can understand why too.

Everyone wants to look good in their family photos and you want everyone to feel comfortable too. There’s a lot to consider.

Furthermore, the clothes you choose really do impact on the overall finished look of your family portraits so it’s worthwhile considering how you can dress in harmony with your surroundings.

There are a few key factors to consider and I have listed them here in this article as 5 main tips. Once you have read my tips, a logical plan for your family outfits will begin to fall into place. I’m sure of it!  Before reading these tips I’ve made a few separate notes about your family style and the colours and scenery that are specific to our area in Farnham.

Autumn time in Farnham.

First, let’s think about what the Autumn colours and scenery are like around Farnham, because it’s different to other parts of the country.

Farnham is an area made up of a mixture of Heathland and Forest areas. It’s tall ascending Pine trees are a big feature of the area and they remain the same colour all year ‘round, however the undergrowth (usually bracken, ferns, Heather, and Birch trees) will change dramatically in the Autumn time.

The Ferns and Bracken go from brilliant greens to russet oranges and then to a burnt umber and burnt sienna. They are dark in tone.  

The Heather bloom dies away in the late Summer leaving russet tips and then the whole plant will turn to a purple/brown.

The Birch tree’s delicate leaves turn a brilliant yellow and along with it’s silver bark they begin to sparkle in the Autumn light, especially when set against darker Pine tree’s and Bracken.

Throughout both Heathland and forest areas you will find Oak tree’s dotted around some pathways. These tree’s make for a wonderful canopy for our family photographs. Not only are their leaves pretty shapes and colours but when the sun is low in the sky and shines through them, they reflect a golden glow all around them, which will light up your family beneath them too!

Colours that remain consistent all year-round in Farnham’s heathland and forest areas are grey, silver and dark green. The Soft sandy pathways will most often be a soft grey tone, as will the pretty Birch bark remain silvery in tone.

Links to some of my Farnham Locations:

If you’d like to read more about locations in and around Farnham you can find two separate blogs here:

Farnham Locations Part 1: https://sarahangelphotography.co.uk/farnham-family-photoshoot-locations/

Farnham Locations Part 2: https://sarahangelphotography.co.uk/farnham_family_photo_shoot_locations/

A NOTE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

Try not to reinvent your family style just for a photoshoot. Everyone will be much happier dressed as the smartest version of their usual selves. You want to really enjoy your time in our outdoor location whilst having these photographs taken. Remember, we want your family photographs to capture your family in a genuine and authentic way and for you to have genuine happy memories when you look at these images after the event.

Your family’s unique personal dress style is so important for you to maintain in your family photographs. It’s for this very reason that I don’t like to give out ‘uniform’ or ‘prescribed’ advice about what to wear for a family photoshoot; for Autumn or for any other type of outdoor family photoshoot! Instead, I hope, my advice accommodates a wide range of families that come to me for family portraits and you will see this in the family photography examples here in my family gallery and across my website.

TOP 5 TIPS – WHAT TO WEAR FOR AN AUTUMN FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT.

1. THE BEST COLOURS TO WEAR FOR A FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT IN THE AUTUMN TIME.

Autumn colours are strong, deep and warm. Avoid adding to many additional strong warm bright colours into the mix that will try to compete for attention in your photographs and make your families skin tones look washed out. Hot pink is a good example of a colour that creates a clash with the russet orange and brown tones of Autumn, as they will fight for your eye’s attention in the final images.

Instead, aim for colours that will work in harmony, such as: Neutral tones including creams and whites (Mid-toned and light neutral tones all work well); Soft pastel tones work beautifully, including light or dusky-pinks and even soft pastel yellows; light blues and any shade/tone of blue denim also look great.

If you do prefer darker colours err towards navy or richer neutrals (burgundy/browns/forest greens /steel grey) but do avoid black, as your main outfit colour, as it has a tendency to absorb light and as a result your final portraits can appear flat and lifeless.

2. HOW TO COORDINATE EVERYONE’S OUTFITS WITHOUT BEING TOO MATCHY-MATCHY

You want to look relaxed and natural in your family photos but also cohesive as a family group, without looking like you are too uniform in appearance. You can achieve this in a number of different ways:

• Once you have decided roughly on your pallet of colours, mix them up a bit. Not everyone has to have the same colour in their outfit.
• Aim for no more than 2-3 different colours and instead of adding in extra colours to avoid the matchy-matchy look, add in different shades of the same colour, to add variety.
• Aim for each family member to have their own colour and have each outfit work in harmony with everyone else’s. An alternative to this advice would be to pop young children in the same colour or matching outfits – creating further unity to group outfits and making for easy planning for you too! ; )
• Have mum or the littlest member of the family wear a patterned outfit (ditsy prints work well) and then pick out the colours in the pattern and distribute them unevenly amongst the other family members outfits.
• Select a wide range of neutrals and distribute them unevenly.

3. PLAN FOR COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY

Feeling comfortable at your photoshoot is really important and this is especially the case for children. Consider clothing and fabrics that have a little bit of stretch and allow you to sit down on a blanket on the ground and get back up again easily. Children want to be able to run and move easily too.

And, if your asking children to wear something new, remove any scratchy labels, wash items to help soften them and have your child wear it a few times prior to the day of the shoot to ensure they’ll be happy and comfortable in it on the day of their session.

4. PRACTICAL VS GORGEOUS FOOTWEAR

Autumn is an unpredictable season and we don’t know how quickly our forest floors are going to go from dry to a mud bath! I recommend wearing practical footwear for your entire session, whether your choosing a casual or dressy look.

Mum, if you were hoping to wear heals for a little bit of height (I completely get this!), perhaps consider a leather boot with a wedge heal.

If you are going for a more casual family style, consider walking boots or wellies.

Brown or tan leather shoes and boots show up less mud too.

5. PLAN FOR ALL WEATHERS

Autumn temperatures are unpredictable so if you are planning your family outfits in advance of your Autumn photoshoot then prepare some layers too.

Coats can work well for an Autumn session, so long as they don’t completely swamp your shape.  Puffer coats on children seem to have a life of their own and do not move with your child’s body. Instead you will end up with collars sticking up over faces that won’t push down, especially when you pick the child up.

As a general rule I always recommend softer, lighter layer. Consider singlets or fine woven thermal layers underneath outfits. Coordinate long line cardigans, coatigans, jumpers and fine woven scarves. And stick with the colour recommendations I’ve addressed in Tip number 1.   

You can also bring coats for the short walk to our location spot and remove them for the photos.

Mums, I highly recommend those fine woven ‘Nana’ style thermal camisoles for a little bit of hidden warmth and of course we will reschedule if it rains. : )

SOME MORE GENERAL TIPS ON WHAT TO WEAR FOR AN OUTDOOR FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT

Here are some extra tips which are general pieces of advice which I give to all of my family clients, who are booked in for an outdoor family photoshoot with me in the Autumn time or Spring, Summer and even Winter.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT TEXTURES!

Woollen knitwear, pleated skirts, scarves, denim, all add variety, texture and personality to your family portraits and it’s especially a good way to add some variety and interest if you are choosing to dress in a simple colour pallet.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR FOR AN AUTUMN FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT.

Whilst ‘what to wear for our family photoshoot’ might be the top questions I am asked, ‘What not to wear’, is definitely the second most common question I am asked. : )

I recommend avoiding items of clothing that have pictures, logo’s, writing, faces, caricatures and cartoons on them as they are distracting in the final images and they detract from your lovely faces.

As I’ve mentioned briefly already, for Bluebell photoshoots in particular, avoid too many dark colours, as Bluebell portraits work best with lighter and softer tones.  And, more generally, avoid black as it absorbs light.

A HELPFUL WORD ABOUT MY FIVE STAR SERVICE.

If you have found me via google, you will know I have 100% five star google reviews.

And, if you are booked in for a photoshoot with me, you’ll know that I send out a detailed guide with advice on what to wear for an Autumn family photoshoot and what to consider first when you start pulling those clothes out of everyone’s wardrobes!

And, if you have worked with me in the past, you’ll also know that I am always very happy to receive a little WhatsApp message from you, with clothing options laid out, if you need to call on me for a second pair of eyes. : )

And you can head to my google ratings page here, to read more 5 star reviews, from mums and dads who have enjoyed their experiences of working with me.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUTUMN FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT THIS YEAR?

This year’s Autumn Photoshoots are taking place from October in the Farnham area, on the Surrey / Hampshire border and for my Harrow families (taking place on the Middlesex/Bucks border.

Sign up to my waiting list here>.

MISSED OUT THIS YEAR?

If you have found this article at a different time of the year and it’s got you excited about the prospect of an Autumn photoshoot, these shoots happen from late September through to Early November and I recommend you get in touch with me now so you can be added to my mailing list, ensuring you’re the first to hear about my next Autumn sessions. Get in touch with me here>

I look forward to photographing you soon!

ABOUT SARAH ANGEL