What to Wear for Arkansas Fall Family Photos...

What to Wear for Fall Family Photos in Central Arkansas

Fall family photos in Central Arkansas are some of my favorites! The cooler temperatures, warm evening light, changing colors, and all those beautiful earthy tones make fall such a gorgeous time for family photography.

But then comes the question I hear all the time:

“What are we supposed to wear?”

My answer is pretty simple: coordinate, don't match.

You want everyone to look like they belong together without looking like you all bought the same outfit at the same store. And please, for the love of all things fall, don't show up in matching plaid. 😂

Here are a few things I recommend when planning your family's fall photo outfits.

Think Warm, Natural Fall Colors

Fall is the perfect time to pull out those warm, earthy colors that naturally complement the Arkansas landscape.

Think:

• Rust
• Terracotta
• Mustard
• Olive
• Forest green
• Burnt orange
• Cream
• Camel
• Brown
• Warm beige
• Dusty blue
• Muted burgundy

You don't have to put everyone in "fall colors" from head to toe. In fact, I don't recommend it.

Instead, choose a few colors that work well together and sprinkle them throughout everyone's outfits.

The goal is for your clothing to complement the location instead of competing with it.

Coordinate — Don't Match

There is a big difference between coordinating outfits and matching outfits.

If everyone wears the exact same color, pattern, or style, the eye tends to see one big block of color instead of noticing each person individually.

Instead, choose a color palette and mix things up.

Maybe Mom wears a patterned dress with rust and cream. Dad wears a solid olive shirt. One child wears a small floral pattern, while another wears a textured cream sweater and jeans.

Now you've created variety while still making everyone look connected.

And please...

No matching plaid shirts for the whole family.

One plaid? Absolutely.

Two different patterns? Even better, but throw some solids in there too!

Everyone in the same plaid? Let's just not. 😉

Mix Patterns With Solids

Patterns are wonderful for family photos, but too many competing patterns can become distracting.

A good rule of thumb is to choose one or two patterned pieces and build the rest of the outfits around them.

For example:

Mom: Floral dress with warm fall colors

Dad: Solid olive or brown shirt

Daughter: Small-scale patterned dress

Son: Cream sweater + jeans

Or:

Mom: Rust-colored sweater

Dad: Subtle plaid shirt

Daughter: Cream dress with texture

Son: Olive shirt + denim

The patterns give your images interest, while the solids help everything feel cohesive.

Leave the Black and White at Home

I know.

Black and white are easy. They're classic. They're probably already hanging in your closet.

But they're not always my favorite choices for family photography.

Solid black, white, and other very high-contrast outfits can create what I lovingly call the blob effect — especially when several family members are wearing them together.

White can also reflect a lot of light, particularly during bright portions of a session, while solid black can create a heavy visual block.

Instead, try softer versions:

Instead of bright white → cream, ivory, oatmeal, or warm beige.

Instead of solid black → charcoal, deep brown, navy, or a softer earthy tone.

These colors tend to photograph beautifully while still giving you that timeless look.

Wear Colors That Look Good on YOU

This one is important.

Don't choose a color just because Pinterest says it's a "fall color."

If you know you look fantastic in olive green, wear olive green.

If mustard makes you feel washed out, don't wear mustard.

Your family photos should look like your family, not like you recreated someone else's Pinterest board.

Choose colors that flatter your skin tone, hair, and eyes — but even more importantly, choose something that makes you feel good when you put it on.

Confidence photographs well.

Choose Something Comfortable

Please don't spend your entire session worrying about your clothes.

If your jeans are too tight, your shoes hurt, your sweater is itchy, or your child can't move in their outfit, we're going to know it.

And remember — my family sessions aren't designed for everyone to stand perfectly still and smile at the camera.

We're going to move.

We're going to walk.

We're going to play.

Kids might run. Someone might get picked up. We might sit down. We might chase each other. You may end up twirling your child around.

Your clothes need to be able to move with you.

This is one reason I love texture and movement so much in family photography.

Yes, I Will Wear the Dress

Here's the funny thing...

I'm not even a huge dress person in my everyday life.

But put me in front of a family photography session and suddenly I'm all about the dress.

Why?

The movement and texture are worth it.

A dress that moves when you walk, twirls when your child spins you around, or catches the evening breeze adds something beautiful to your images that a structured outfit simply can't.

You don't have to wear a dress. Absolutely not.

But if you've been debating one, consider it.

A flowing dress or skirt can add movement, dimension, and a little bit of magic to your family photos.

Don't Forget About Texture

Fall is the perfect season for texture.

Think:

• Knit sweaters
• Linen
• Corduroy
• Denim
• Woven fabrics
• Suede
• Layers
• Boots
• Scarves
• Textured dresses
• 
  

Texture keeps an image from feeling flat, especially when you're working with mostly neutral or earthy colors.

You don't need everyone layered up like you're headed to a snowstorm — because let's be honest, this is Central Arkansas and fall weather can have a mind of its own.

Just add a little texture where it makes sense.

Let Your Family Look Like Your Family

At the end of the day, the goal isn't to create the "perfectly styled family."

It's to create photographs that feel like you.

Choose clothing that allows you to move, interact, laugh, hug, chase your kids, and actually enjoy being together.

Because those are the moments I want to photograph.

Not just what your family looked like this fall, but how it felt to be together right now.

So pull together those warm fall colors, mix your patterns with solids, skip the matching plaid, choose clothes that make you feel good, and give yourself permission to move.

And if you're still standing in your closet wondering what in the world everyone is supposed to wear...

Send me a message. I'm happy to help you put it all together.

After all, the goal isn't just pretty outfits.

It's creating photographs that feel like your family.