Your Fall Family Photo Checklist
This Fall family photo checklist and tips can make getting everyone ready for photos feel a whole lot easier. If you’re wondering what to wear, what to bring, or how to prepare your kids for family photos, you’re in the right place. I’m Cynthia Dawson, a Toledo family photographer who believes your session should feel relaxed, connected, and fun for everyone. I’ll walk you through the little things you can do ahead of time so that when photo day arrives, you can put the planning aside, love on your family, and enjoy your time together. I photograph families throughout Toledo, Perrysburg, Sylvania, and the surrounding Northwest Ohio communities.
Everything to Do Before Your Session
A few years ago, I was so excited about an upcoming photo session I had planned for my own family that I thought it would be fun to share a little behind the scenes of how a professional photographer prepares for family photos.
Then I actually sat down and started writing out everything I wanted to share.
And it was… a lot. 😂
The last thing I wanted to do was make getting ready for family photos feel even more overwhelming, so I’m pretty sure I scrapped the whole idea and shared that we ate an early dinner of mac and cheese before our session instead.
But it got me thinking. I’ve photographed so many families over the years that a lot of the things I do to prepare for photos feel automatic to me now. You might be heading into your fall family photos wondering what everyone should wear, what you need to bring, when the kids should eat, or what you can do ahead of time to make the whole evening feel a little easier.
So I’m finally sharing that behind the scenes knowledge, just in a much less overwhelming way. Here’s my fall family photo checklist with everything I would think about before your session.
It’s month away…First Things First…What Is Everyone Wearing?
This is a big one, and definitely something you don’t want to leave until the last minute! I know, I know…planning outfits for the whole family can be harder than it looks. If your photographer offers help with styling (like I do!) be sure to take advantage of their expertise. It can make this part so much easier.
If you’re diving in yourself, start with your color palette. Think about your location and whether you want your outfits to stand out against the surroundings or blend in a little more or keep everything on the neutral side. From there, I usually recommend starting with Mom’s outfit and building everyone else’s around it.
Don’t be afraid to mix in texture with knits, ribbing, corduroy, or other cozy fabrics. A few prints sprinkled throughout can add interest without making everything feel too busy. Fall is also such a fun time to bring in accessories like tights, scarves, hats, and additional layers for warmth.
I love creating a college of all the items I’m thinking of in one place to see how everything will look together and then doing that again in persona as I’m gathering all the clothing items. The visual really helps to be sure it all will flow together on photo day!
If you want to go a little deeper into planning everyone’s outfits, my blog on what to wear for fall family photos has tons of tips to help you pull everything together.
Fresh, but no too fresh
This is a great time to check in with your favorite stylist if you need a color touch up or a fresh cut for anyone in the family. I’ve found that about a week before your session is the sweet spot for haircuts. Everything still looks fresh, but not too fresh, if that makes sense!
And while you have the calendar out, think about whether you want to schedule professional hair, makeup, and/or a manicure for yourself too. It can be such a nice way to feel a little pampered before your photos and gives you one less thing to worry about while you’re getting everyone else ready.
One Week to Go!
Photo day is getting so close! And all that prep you’ve already done means you can focus on the little details that will make getting everyone out the door a little easier.
Take some time to have everyone try on their full outfit one more time and make sure you have everything you need to make it work. This is when you realize you need nude underwear for that dress or that one kid somehow outgrew their shoes overnight.
While you have all the clothes out, give anything that needs it a good steam or iron. Then put everything together, including shoes and accessories, in one place so there’s no searching for a missing shoe five minutes before you need to leave.
This is also a good time to peek at the weather app, but don’t put too much stock in that forecast just yet but it’s good to be on the radar. 😉
Start thinking about the kids’ schedules too. Do you need to move nap time a little? Have an earlier dinner? Making a few small adjustments can help make sure no one arrives tired or hungry before you’ve even started.
Pack Light…Well, Toddler Light
I usually recommend traveling pretty light during a photo session, but I also know how much stuff those of you with toddlers need just to leave the house. 😂 So there are a few things worth bringing along.
Pack a few nonstaining snacks( like Cheerios or yogurt melts) baby wipes, extra diapers or bottles, water, and maybe a backup outfit if you know your kiddo has a talent for finding dirt wherever they go. I also recommend bringing layers that work with your color palette so you can easily add or take something off depending on the weather.
Keep everything you really need in one bag so you aren’t hauling half your house around during the session.
And a little word of advice from someone who has photographed a lot of kids…don’t break out the snacks unless you absolutely need them! For some kids, once the snacks come out, that’s all they want to do. A good photographer can usually distract them, play some games, explore with them, and keep things moving. Sometimes that little bag of Cheerios just gets in the way of all the fun!
Skip the “You Better Behave” Talk
How you talk about family photos with your kids is actually more important than you may think! Instead of focusing on how they need to listen or smile, tell them about all the fun you’re going to have together.
Talk about how they’ll get to explore outside, play some games, be silly, and cuddle with you. Let them know we’re going to spend some time together and see what happens!
Talking about the experience in a positive way helps them go into it expecting something fun instead of a “boring” thing they have to do. And when kids show up ready to play and be themselves, we can let things unfold naturally from there.
Mac and Cheese at 4 PM? Absolutely
Try to keep the day pretty normal and low key for the kids. This probably isn’t the day to plan a huge outing at the zoo or spend hours running around outside. A slower day at home can help make sure you don’t have tired, worn out kiddos by the time photos roll around.
One little detail that’s easy to forget is everyone’s nails! Give hands a quick check and clean or trim any nails that need it. Kids are notorious for somehow having half the outdoors stuck under their fingernails.
If your photos are around sunset, I usually recommend eating dinner beforehand. It might feel ridiculously early, but it can save you from some very hangry kiddos halfway through your session.
And give yourself more time to get ready than you think you’ll need. Someone will need help finding a shoe, someone else will suddenly need to use the bathroom, and somehow those last few minutes always disappear. I like to plan for an extra 10 to 15 minute buffer when heading to your location so you can arrive without feeling rushed too!
Your Fall Family Photo Checklist
- Choose and try on everyone’s outfits
- Check shoes and accessories
- Schedule haircuts if needed
- Decide if you want to schedule hair, makeup, or nails
- Check clothing for wrinkles, stains, or fit
- Pack your session bag
- Make sure everyone eats
- Give yourself plenty of time to get ready
- Leave early
- Put away the pressure for everything to go perfectly
And now…let it all go
You can prep and plan for all the things, but kids are kids and things can change pretty quickly. One kid may be running one way while the other is burying their face into you and refusing to look at the camera. And you know what? That’s okay!
Try not to go into your session with a grand plan for exactly how everything should happen. I’ve found that when we have a picture in our heads of how things are supposed to go, it’s a lot easier to feel disappointed when our kids have other plans.
Instead, love on your family, let your kids be themselves, and trust your photographer to take it from there. Your family doesn’t need to do everything perfectly to create photos that will help you remember this season together.
Okay, Who’s Ready for Fall Photos?
And if you read this whole checklist and thought, wait, I have to think about all of this?! Don’t worry. When you book a family session with me, I’ll help you along the way. From figuring out what everyone should wear to choosing a location that works for your family, you don’t have to do it all on your own.
By the time your session arrives, I want you to feel ready to put the planning aside, love on your people, and enjoy your time together. I’ll take care of capturing the connection, the personalities, and all those little details you’ll want to remember.
If you’re thinking about fall family photos in Toledo, Perrysburg, or Northwest Ohio, I’d love to spend an evening with your family. Let’s connect and start planning your fall family session!
Want even more fall fun? Check out the What to Wear for Fall Family Photos complete guide, Where to Take Fall Photos Near Toledo and Beyond and What is the Best Month for Fall Photos?
