What to wear for a fall photoshoot

It’s that time of the year again…fall photoshoot time!

I’m refreshing this blog post per popular demand–it seems like Fall is the #1 time to schedule any kind of professional photo session, from engagement photos to family photos, and choosing what to wear can feel really stressful! I hope this makes it easier!

Truth be told, I have never really been one for “pumpkin patch” photos, but as they say, “once you have a baby”… suddenly you feel a distinct pull to dress her up in fall garb and surround her with pumpkins!? We haven’t yet made it to the pumpkin patch this year, but I hope you enjoy last year’s photos of tiny Junebug! 😭

Read on for some photos I snapped when we visited Jack’s Pumpkin Patch last year, along with what we wore, and of course, most requested: outfit ideas with links as well as helpful tips for putting together your own outfits for fall photos!

What to wear for fall photos

Pumpkin Patch Baby Photos

What to wear to pumpkin patch

Tips for planning fall photo shoot outfits:

Before we get into what we’re wearing here, some overall tips on planning your fall photo shoot outfits (and any photo shoot outfits in general!)

Pick the “star of the show” outfit first and plan everything else around that:

I would say YOUR outfit or kids/baby outfit is the best to start out with. Whatever you’re most excited about OR the hardest thing for you to shop for. (For what it’s worth, this applies to any kind of photo shoot–I would say the same for engagement photos too–pick your outfit first, then choose his outfit, etc!)

So in this instance, I started with June’s outfit, because that’s what I was most excited about (and also she had the most limited options because every piece of fall/winter clothing I had purchased for her is still too big!) then I picked my outfit, and I told Neal to put on something that didn’t clash.

That leads us to the next point…

Wear complimentary colors, but you don’t have to match!

You all know I’m big on color schemes when it comes to packing for a trip. The same applies to photo shoots!

I think it’s helpful to pick a color scheme for a photo shoot–I don’t think it’s necessary to all “match.” Whatever you’re wearing should compliment each other, but it doesn’t necessarily all have to be the same colors!

If you notice, Neal isn’t wearing the same colors as June and me, but we still all go together. He’s wearing navy and white. We’re wearing orangey-browns and white. White is the common thread! Neal and I are also both wearing white sneakers that helps the cohesiveness–both from a color and from a style standpoint.

In the fall, I tend to gravitate toward neutrals, which makes it easy to mix and match. I love browns, burnt orange, black, dark navy, white, cream, etc! (They’re a lot easier to coordinate than bright colors!)

What about patterns?

I know the age-old “photo clothing” rule says to stay away from patterns, but I disagree! Just as discussed above, I think if you want to wear patterns, they should compliment one another, and not clash.

For example, I think if your whole family wanted to wear plaid–that would be VERY overwhelming. But if one person wore, say, a buffalo plaid, another wore thin black and white stripes, and another wore subtle polka dots, I think that’s totally fine and makes for an interesting outfit mix that feels very organic and not too “staged.”

Tip for pattern mixing: Vary the scale of your patterns. You’ll notice that my stripes are the largest pattern but the coloring makes them subtle. (If they were SUPER bold, thick black and white stripes, that would be too much and too out of balance–know what I mean?) Neal’s shirt is a very small, busier pattern, and June’s bow has a very small, but very subtle gingham pattern. The reason these all work together is that the scale and colors are varied and there isn’t ONE pattern that is super loud and dominant.

Don’t forget about the details!

I think often what makes an outfit are the details. In this case, it’s the scarf in my hair, and June’s knee socks! Don’t forget about the details 😉

Consider your background/setting:

Where will you be taking photos? If we’re talking about pumpkin patch photos, you’ll want to choose things that go well with pumpkins! (AKA–not bright orange.) Earth tones, muted hues, and darker colors like black and navy will be a great bet. If you’re taking photos in say, a corn maze, try and wear tones that are darker (not beige, for example) so you don’t blend in.

Don’t feel like you have to buy anything new!

I know it’s fun to shop for an occasion like a photoshoot, but don’t feel like you have to buy anything new! In fact, I love wearing things I already own and love (and wear often) because then I can look back and say, “OH I remember I loved that skirt!” and it’s a true representation of our lives at that point in time!

What June’s wearing:

babies in pumpkin cart

Above: June and her bestie Henry!

On June: Similar jumper here, similar ruffled onesie here, Amazon bows, similar knee socks // On Henry: OshKosh overalls (Baby Gap also makes super cute ones!), Similar hat, Similar tee

What I’m wearing:

baby fall outfit ideas | Pumpkin Patch Photos

Skirt: old but similar here from J.Crew factory (and on sale!) Also love this adorable corduroy jumper from Amazon (I got it in black but they have tons of colors) It would also be so cute for fall photos! Tee: old but more options here. Would also be cute with different colored stripes! In my case, I’d probably do navy and white stripes here to go nicely with Neal’s navy. Shoes: My tried and true Freda Salvador sneakers. Reviewed here along with my other favorite white sneaks! Hair scarf: Old scarf–most of mine are either thrifted or bought at markets on my trips (I love scarves as souvenirs!) Highly recommend checking your local vintage shop! See this post on how to tie a hair scarf.

What Neal’s wearing:

men's fall outfit ideas

Short sleeve button down: Old from Bonobos (current versions here!) Shorts: Bird dogs. Super comfortable with built-in underwear! They feel like gym shorts but are constructed to look like everyday shorts. (He also loves the shorter length!) Bonobos short s are another favorite of his if you’re looking for something a little more polished. He also loves their chinos and travel jeans (both great photoshoot options and both come in great colors!) Sneakers: Converse! Classics that never go out of style. He also has owned and loved Jack Purcells as well which are a similar look!

Family fall outfits

More Family Photo Outfit Ideas:

My tip: Start with YOUR outfit first. Whether you’re a flow dress kinda girl or you prefer jeans and sweaters, see some favorite thought-starters below, then move on to outfits for him, and outfits for kids (if applicable 😉)–building their outfits to compliment yours. So, for example, say you choose a bold floral print, then you’d want to go with something more subdued for your partner (like a solid button down or sweater) and/or kids (maybe a chambray or solid or more subdued pattern). Make sense?

But if you choose, say, a solid colored sweater and jeans for yourself, feel free to play up the patterns with everyone else’s outfits–just ensuring they compliment each other and aren’t too busy. (See tips above!)