“Is it cold outside?” My son asked me yesterday before we left for the bus stop on the first day of school. No matter that it was 100 degrees the day before, he thought that just because school was starting, we were suddenly in autumn, and that the temperature must have dropped 50 degrees overnight. I mean, we did have a crazy storm, but it may have dropped the temp by 15 degrees, not 50. 

Anyway, school’s back, so we’re in autumn, according to my son. Pay no attention to the humidity, cicadas, and random afternoon thunderstorms here at the end of August. And here’s where scheduling those fall family photos for your home might be the solution to all the problems that fall family photos presents. 

Problem 1 with fall family photos: Fall Color 

Fall in Richmond is a decently long season. We usually get at least 6 weeks of autumn before all the leaves are gone and the winter grays settle in. The problem, though, is guessing ahead of time when the leaves will start to change, and then also accurately choosing the right location and date for photos before your favorite photographer books out for the fall. There’s some real seasonal anxiety for you. Not all trees lose their leaves at the same time, after all, and while RVA’s season lasts a while, the location you choose for your photos may or may not cooperate with your dreams of fiery red maple tree backgrounds. 

Solution: Hear me out, I mean this with all the love. Let it go. Choosing to do family photos at home means that you don’t have to keep an eye on the trees, and that the photos will be about you and your family and your connection, not about whether or not the trees in the background are green, red, or completely barren by the time you schedule. Is it different? Yes. Will it be worth it? Also yes.

Problem 2 with fall family photos: The Weather

Okay, so you’re not stubborn, but you’re definitely sure you want outdoor photos, and you very carefully selected the most accurate week for peak leaf color. You got your partner to agree to the date, you scheduled haircuts for the kids the week before, you have your meetings scheduled to end early so you can run home and get everyone ready and then rush off to your session. And then the day arrives and Hurricane Milton decides to blow through town, which ruins your plans, and you’re back to square one. 

Solution: The weather can be whatever it wants to be outside, while we’re inside hanging out together. And if the sky is overly dark and gray, I have a simple light setup I bring with me so that your photos aren’t also overly dark and gray. Removing just that one aspect of unknown leading up to your session can be so freeing.

Problem 3 with fall family photos: The Outfits

You want fall family photos with sweaters and puffy vests and flannel and plaid and all the fall colors, but it’s still 85 degrees in October and your family is not here for that. It becomes another hurdle for you to manage in your efforts to just get family photos done. 

Solution: Climate control, indoors. Wear whatever you like, for whatever season you like, and however you hope it feels outside. Or, let the kids run around in as many or as few articles of clothing as you wish.

Problem 4 with fall family photos: The Pressure for Perfection

You’ve managed to hit the magical sweet spot with location, date, weather, and outfits, and everyone got a snack in the car without spilling it on themselves, while you race to the location to meet the photographer. But joke’s on you, nobody really wants to do this except you. Your kids are antsy and itchy in their flannel and want to do anything except stand still. Your partner is grumpy from their day at work and doesn’t feel like parenting in front of a stranger, and your anxiety thinking about trying to hold everyone together is making you sweat through your sweater. 

Solution: Kid-led sessions, in a relaxed, unposed location, with no need to pose or plan perfectly. You can ask the kids ahead of time (I’ll send you a questionnaire) if there’s anything they’d like to do during your session. You can ask your partner, too. And we’ll do the things that are fun for your family, that make your family happy and comfortable. With the kids in charge (to a point), they’re more likely to be cooperative. There’s no pressure for you to keep them still, to make them smile. No pressure for perfection. 

We’ll still get a whole-family photo for the holiday card. But it might be different than what you’re used to. It might be freeing for you to consider a totally different vibe for that card, and for gifts for grandparents, and it might be perfect to capture what your family’s really like, and hanging *that* on the wall in the family room. 

As you plan for your family’s photos this fall, consider staying home, letting your photographer come to you, and focusing (sorry for the pun) on the love and connection you’d like to remember with these photos. When you’re ready, I can help you with that. Click over to my contact page and say hello, and let’s start a conversation.