i. you don't have to match

Actually, I usually recommend that you don't.

Matching outfits can sometimes make a photo feel a little too coordinated. Instead, think about coordinating colors, textures and styles.

You want everyone to look like they belong together without looking like you're all part of the same uniform.

A family in different shades of cream, brown, rust, olive and denim is going to give you a much more natural and timeless look than everyone wearing the exact same color.

ii. start with a color palette

One of the easiest ways to get everyone coordinated is to choose a few colors and build from there.

For fall, I absolutely love: Warm neutrals, cream and beige, browns and camel, rust and terracotta, olive and muted greens, mustard, denim, and soft, earthy tones.

You definitely don't need to use all of them! Pick two or three colors that you love and then work from there. If Mom is wearing a rust-colored sweater, maybe Dad wears a cream shirt and jeans, one child wears olive, and another has a little plaid that pulls some of those colors together.

iii. mix your textures

This is one of my favorite ways to make fall photos feel really cozy.

Think sweaters, corduroy, denim, knit dresses, flannels, jackets, boots and other textured pieces.

Even if everyone is wearing relatively neutral colors, different textures keep the outfits from looking flat and add a lot of visual interest to your images.

And fall is basically the best season for sweaters, so we might as well take advantage of it.

iv. don't be afraid of patterns

Patterns are totally fine!

The trick is just not to have everyone wearing one. If one person is wearing a plaid shirt or a floral dress, let that be one of the more noticeable pieces and keep the rest of the outfits a little simpler.

You can then pull colors from that pattern into the other outfits. This gives us some visual interest without having the entire family competing for attention in the photo.

v. layers are your best friend

Especially here in New England! Fall weather can mean 70 degrees one day and 45 degrees the next. You really never know what we're going to get. Layers give us options.

Cardigans, sweaters, denim jackets, flannels, vests and coats can all be added or removed throughout your session. They also give us another way to add texture and variety to your gallery. And if it's chilly? Bring a blanket.

A cozy blanket can make for some really sweet family photos and, more importantly, helps keep little ones warm and happy.

vi. dress for your actual family

This one is important. Please don't choose an outfit just because it looks cute in a Pinterest photo if your child absolutely hates wearing it.

If your toddler refuses to wear dresses, don't put them in a dress.

If your teenager lives in jeans and sneakers, let's work with that.

If your family is more casual, be casual!



Your photos should look like your family. I want you to look back at these pictures years from now and see yourselves—not a family who was dressed up in clothes that didn't feel like you.

vii. you don't have to buy anything new

Seriously. I created this Amazon list to make things easier, not to give you another reason to spend money.

If you already have outfits in your closet that you love, start there!

You can even send me pictures of a few options you're considering and I'm always happy to help you figure out what works together. Sometimes you already have everything you need—you just need to see the outfits together.

viii. My Biggest Tip?

Don't overthink it.

Choose clothes that coordinate, feel comfortable and make you feel like yourselves. You don't need the perfect Pinterest-worthy wardrobe. You don't need everyone in the same color. And you definitely don't need to spend hundreds of dollars buying completely new clothes for your family. A little planning goes a long way. And if you want some help getting started, I've already done the scrolling for you!