What to Wear for Fall Family Photos in New Jersey
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end, which means fall family photo season is right around the corner! Fall is one of my favorite times of year for family portraits here in New Jersey—the warm colors, comfy layers, and beautiful outdoor locations create the perfect backdrop for documenting your family’s connection. In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite outfit inspiration and tips for what to wear for your fall family photography session.
Why Outfit Choice Matters For Fall Family Photos
Your outfit choices play a bigger role than you might think. While the focus of your session will always be the connections and moments you have, what you wear helps to create a cohesive, timeless look that I’m known for.
Fall in New Jersey offers a backdrop of golden light, colorful foliage, and natural textures. Choosing clothing that complements the season and doesn’t compete with it, helps create images that feel classic. Coordinated colors and textures photograph well against fall backgrounds, while bright neon colors, large logos, or busy patterns can distract and pull attention away.
Outfits that help your family look connected without feeling overly matched are also best. Instead of everyone wearing the exact same color, coordinating complementary tones creates visual interest while still feeling natural.
Also, wearing clothing that fits well and makes you feel comfortable and confident. When you’re not worrying about adjusting your outfit or wondering if everyone looks put together, it’s much easier to focus on what matters like playing with your children, and creating genuine moments together.
As your New Jersey family photographer, I’ll help guide you on what to wear for your fall family photos. From choosing a color palette to coordinating outfits, I’m here to help make preparing for your session feel stress-free.
What Moms Should Wear
When choosing outfits for your fall family session in New Jersey, I always recommend starting with mom’s outfit first and planning everyone else’s looks around it. Mom’s outfit is usually the hardest to find, so once you’ve chosen something you love, coordinating the rest of the family becomes much easier.
Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and like yourself. The best family photos happen when you aren’t worrying about your clothes—you can simply focus on enjoying time with your family. Look for pieces that fit well and allow you to move comfortably. I love mid- or maxi-length flowy dresses, blouses paired with light or dark wash jeans (avoid black), or a cozy sweater with a midi skirt.
For shoes, keep things simple and neutral. Ballet flats, sleek ankle boots, or a classic low heel are all beautiful options that complement your outfit without drawing attention away from your family. I typically recommend avoiding sneakers, as they can make an otherwise polished outfit feel more casual.
Once you’ve found your outfit, use it as the foundation for the rest of your family’s wardrobe. If your outfit includes multiple colors, choose one or two of those shades to carry throughout everyone else’s outfits. Rather than matching exactly, choose complementary colors that create a cohesive look. Mixing textures like knits, linen, corduroy, or denim—and incorporating subtle patterns—adds depth and interest while keeping the overall look timeless.
Best Fall Colors
For timeless fall family photos, choose colors that complement the beautiful autumn landscape rather than compete with it. My favorite fall color palette includes:
- Burgundy
- Mauve
- Navy
- Dusty Blue
- Sage Green
- Olive Green
- Camel
- Brown
- Cream or Ivory
- Soft Mustard
If you’re incorporating darker colors like burgundy, navy, olive, or brown, balance them with lighter neutrals such as cream or ivory. This keeps your outfits feeling light, cohesive, and timeless while adding contrast to your images.
What Babies and Toddlers Should Wear
After choosing Mom’s outfit, planning your children’s outfits should be next. Once you’ve decided what they’ll wear, it’s much easier to coordinate Dad’s outfit to tie everything together.
For girls, dresses are often the easiest option since they’re a complete outfit in one piece. I also love incorporating subtle patterns, such as florals or delicate prints. Because children’s clothing is smaller, these patterns add personality without overwhelming the photos. For boys, sweaters, henleys, and button-down shirts are all timeless choices. Pair them with neutral pants in colors like khaki, olive, or denim.
Choosing clothing that allows your kids to move, and play comfortably is going to be the most important. Simple, well-fitting outfits in soft colors and classic styles will keep the focus on your family’s connection.
What Dads Should Wear
Dads can often be the easiest to dress for fall family photos, so I recommend putting their outfit together last. Once you’ve chosen everyone else’s outfits, it’s much easier to find pieces that complement the overall color palette.
My favorite looks for dads include khaki or camel chinos paired with a button-down shirt, henley, or a classic crewneck sweater. Layering with a lightweight jacket is another great way to add texture and create a polished, timeless look.
Textures like denim, wool, corduroy, or solid flannel add visual interest without being distracting. Avoid large logos, bold graphics, or busy patterns, and choose well-fitting pieces that are comfortable and feel like you. Remember, the goal isn’t for everyone to match perfectly, but to coordinate with the family’s overall color palette.
For footwear, I love clean, neutral sneakers or simple leather boots to complete the look.
What NOT to Wear
- Neon or bright colors-they can distract from creating timeless images
- Large patterns-small patterns that aren’t busy or overwhelming are best
- Stripes
- Multi-color plaid
- Ripped clothing
- One color without texture to break it up
- Apple watches or other digital watches
- Chipped nail polish-opt for a neutral color or remove all nail polish
- Large logos or clothing with words
- Matching everyone in the exact same color
- Black–choose navy instead
- Running sneakers
NJ Fall Outfit Inspiration
Looks for Mom:
Looks for Dad:
Looks for boys:
Looks for girls:
FAQ
Can We Wear Black?
While black is a classic color, it can feel heavy in outdoor fall family photos and often creates a harsh contrast against the landscape. Instead, I recommend choosing navy, charcoal, or deep brown and pairing them with lighter neutrals like cream or ivory for a softer look.
When Is the Best Time to Reach Out for Fall Family Photos?
I recommend reaching out in mid-summer, ideally between June and August. Fall is the busiest season for family photography in New Jersey, and weekend dates tend to book several months in advance. Booking early gives you the best selection of dates and allows plenty of time to plan outfits.
When Is the Best Month to Capture Fall Foliage?
October is my favorite month for fall family photos in New Jersey. The foliage is typically at its peak, highlighting shades of gold, orange, and red. September often still feels like summer, while November can still be great, though many of the leaves have turned brown or fallen.
What If It’s Cold?
Fall weather can be unpredictable, so I always recommend dressing in layers. Layering with sweaters, jackets, tights, or undershirts helps keep everyone warm. Layers can also add beautiful texture to your photos.
Should Everyone Match?
No—matching outfits are no longer the goal. Instead, choose complementary colors that work well together. Mixing coordinating shades, textures, and subtle patterns creates a timeless, cohesive look.
Ready For Your Fall Family Session?
Choosing outfits for your fall family photos doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start with mom’s outfit, choose a color palette, and focus on clothing that feels comfortable and true to your family’s style. The goal isn’t to match perfectly, it’s to create a timeless look that allows your family’s connection to be the focus.
When you reserve a fall family session with me, you won’t have to figure it all out on your own. I’m happy to offer styling guidance and help you coordinate outfits that photograph beautifully and feel authentic to your family.
If you’re ready to document your family this fall, I’d love to help you create images you’ll love for years to come.
Reserve your New Jersey fall family photo session before my calendar fills up!
View more family sessions HERE, and more family photography tips HERE.
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