5 Secrets for Successful Fall Family Photos
Hint: Timing is Everything
-
Book early!
The best family photographers in your area get booked up every fall, and their existing clients are likely getting premium spots offered to them up to a year in advance! Research who you wish to use early and reach out to them with all of your questions. If you’re in NYC or Westchester County, NY, my coveted fall lifestyle sessions are now open!
-
Get your images before the holidays
Ask your photographer what their turnaround time is during peak season. Some of my colleagues have uber-fast turnaround, depending on their workflow, current client obligations and other demands. It’s way more common and reasonable to expect your gallery to take 2-4 weeks to arrive in your inbox, and sometimes longer due to the sheer volume the season brings. While your session will probably be edited in the order it was photographed, expect new sessions and their existing edit log to come into play. A surprising fact: your 1-2 hour long session takes another 9-18 hours of work behind the scenes—think gear and set prep, communications with you, planning, bookkeeping, editing and retouching. Allow an average of 6-8 weeks to receive prints, wall art and holiday cards from your session date—and more if you take a long time to make selects—no judgement! This window includes the photographer’s time to retouch and upload, for the lab to produce and ship, and for the photographer to then package and deliver your order. So plan ahead for any products you wish to receive for holiday gifts and festive social media posts!
-
Select locations around seasonal shifts
Make the most of what’s in your landscape. If you take heed of tip #1 and book super early, you may or may not have predicted peak fall foliage just right. It can be so elusive! On the other hand, you might be able to get yourself into a sunflower field, pumpkin patch, apple orchard, or rock an in-home photo sesh because it’s already burrrr outside. Do your best to get the scene you want by consulting the Farmers’ Almanac, then accept whatever happens. We can’t control seasonal shifts but we can roll with them! Your family will be hella cute no matter the backdrop and what matters most is showcasing your love.
-
Dress for the conditions
Consider the weather du jour when selecting your wardrobes. Fall can offer anything from gossamer-summer heat to apple-crisp frost. Layers are your bestie! If it might rain (or even snow), make sure you know what your plan B is. I like to build rain dates in when possible, but an in-home session works well when I’m fully booked or my client can only make that one date work. Do your outfits work in your home as well or will you make some adjustments?
-
Make your session fun
We are hardwired to pick up on each other’s emotions so use that to your advantage with a carefree attitude. What happens as you’re getting ready at home or in the car ride to the park matters more than you know. Listen—I get it. It’s a special skill to get your littles and hubby into coordinating-but-not matching outfits, while looking your own best self. Use your high expectations for your family photo session to show you at your most loving and adorable as motivating, then let it all go! Your kids might be full of awesome sauce, effortless laughter. They might not and that’s okay. They might outright refuse to wear what you want them to or fuss in front of the camera. As parents, stay centered, calm and encourage the fun anyway. Sometimes that’s as simple as letting emotions come and go, giving your toddler a snack break and keeping your own mood light. I’ve seen absolute photo magic happen after the storm of a temper tantrum clears, all fostered by tremendous patience. I’ll be sure to bring mine!
Ready to have fun? Get in on my fall sessions while they last—they sell out every year:
Shine on set,
Leila
