Formal Fall Family Photos

Have you been thinking about family photos recently? Are you the one in the family who loves pictures but gets grief from everyone else when you ask to take them? Are you afraid you’re not going to get the pictures you desire? I’m going to be honest here – YOU’RE NOT ALONE! Taking family photos isn’t easy! We are not talking about simply walking out your back door, standing in the yard, and snapping a photo. We’re talking about a moment. A moment where your family is together. A moment where a photographer captures magic! A moment that, each time you look at that picture, you feel something. You may feel love, you may feel happy, you may feel proud, or you may just laugh out loud because that one moment your photographer caught was hilarious! That is how I see photos… moments captured forever that make you feel something.

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Over the past two years you have seen us take A LOT of family photos. While leading up to the shoots can sometimes be stressful, the aftermath of capturing moments of our life milestones and documenting Kade’s growth is priceless! It’s crazy how fast he is growing and sometimes I don’t realize it until I look back at the photos from the past year and a half. During Kade’s first year we took family photos every month (you can check them out here 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Then after Kade turned one, we pulled back a bit. But we still have managed to capture some really fun family times!

Our latest family photo sesh was actually a collaboration with a handful of local business to create unique and timeless formal fall photos. When you think of Fall Family photos, you are most likely envisioning rustic or farm chic backdrops full of pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bails. In our session we broke the mold and opted for a non traditional take on fall! Everything from the Victorian furniture from Emerald Event Design to Desiree Ortman Photography’s glam color palette of burgundy, blush, navy and a hint of mint are not what you would typically expect! And that’s what makes it so fun!!!

We can’t stop swooning over these photos! I’m sitting here trying to find an empty wall in the house to adorn with these gorgeous moments.

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Here are my TOP THREE tips to consider when

planning your own family photos!

Hire a professional! There are so many options out there, so make sure you find the right fit for you! Take into consideration your budget, the photographers editing style, as well as their packages.
Really think about how you are going to use your family photos. Sitting on a hard drive or in a file on your computer is not cool. Will you use some for Home Decor, maybe a family coffee table book, possibly a holiday card, coasters for your living room, maybe a custom cell phone cover? Once you have an idea of how you will use them, then you can start to hone in on your family’s style!
Have a plan for what you are going to wear! Beyond the smiles, poses and candid moments, it’s your outfit that makes the photos come to life! If you or your family don’t like or feel comfortable in what they are wearing, then you probably won’t have those real smiles and feel-good moments. You want to feel good in your clothes which will lead to confidence and happy faces. Consider tip #2 if you are going to display some of your photos as home decor you will want to make sure the outfits you choose don’t clash with the colors of the room. Choose of few colors and create looks for each family member that compliments the other within your chosen color scheme.

Most importantly, just have fun! Don’t take things too seriously or get caught up in the poses. The more relaxed everyone is, the more smiles the camera will capture! And that’s really what this is all about. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me feel when I look back on our family photos. And that’s the feeling I want for you too!

Are you planning a seasonal photo session for your family? What is your theme? Tell me about it in the comments and let me know if I can help in any way!

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