What Should We Wear for Autumn Family Photos?

One of the first questions I get asked after someone books an outdoor family photography session is:

“What should we wear?”

And honestly, I completely understand why.

You want everyone to look like they belong together without looking too matching. You want the photographs to work beautifully in your home. You want the children to be comfortable. And, ideally, you don't want to have to buy five completely new outfits just for your session!

Autumn is actually one of my favourite seasons to style because there are so many gorgeous colours and textures to work with.

So if you've got an autumn family photography session coming up, here are my biggest tips for choosing what everyone should wear.

Start with a colour palette

Rather than choosing one colour and putting everyone in it, choose a small palette of colours that work together.

For autumn, I love:

• Cream and oatmeal

• Warm beige and camel

• Muted greens

• Rust and terracotta

• Soft browns

• Mustard

• Burgundy and deeper berry tones

• Denim

You don't need to use all of them!

Choose around three or four complementary tones and spread them across everyone's outfits.

For example, Mum might wear a cream knit with a rust skirt, Dad could wear beige chinos with an olive shirt, and the children could pick up some of those same shades through their outfits.

Everyone coordinates without looking like you've deliberately dressed as a matching set.

Think texture, not just colour

Autumn is THE season for texture.

Chunky knits, corduroy, denim, wool, knitted dresses and layered fabrics all photograph beautifully outdoors.

Texture adds interest to your photographs without relying on patterns or prints.

Layers are also really useful because British autumn weather isn't exactly predictable!

A cardigan, knitted jumper or little jacket can become part of the outfit while keeping everyone warm enough to actually enjoy the session.

You don't all need to match

Please don't feel like everyone needs to arrive wearing jeans and matching white shirts!

I always recommend coordinating rather than matching.

Look at everyone's outfits together before your session. You want them to feel as though they belong in the same colour story without being identical.

If one person's outfit has a pattern, use colours from that pattern to help choose everyone else's clothing.

That usually creates a much more natural finished gallery.

Be careful with patterns

Patterns aren't completely banned.

A subtle floral dress, checked shirt or delicate print can look lovely.

The problem comes when several people are wearing competing patterns at the same time.

If one person is wearing something patterned, I'd usually keep everyone else's clothing fairly simple.

I'd also avoid large logos, slogans, cartoon characters and very bold graphics.

They're often the first thing your eye notices in a photograph and I want your eye to go to you, not the enormous superhero on someone's T-shirt. 😂

Don't forget about shoes!

Shoes are one of those things people spend ages choosing approximately three minutes before they need to leave the house.

And then realise the children's bright trainers don't quite work with everything else. 😂

Your shoes will be visible in plenty of your photographs, so think about them as part of the outfit.

Boots, neutral trainers and simple shoes usually work beautifully for autumn sessions.

And because we're outdoors, please choose something everyone can actually walk in comfortably.

Dress your children like themselves

This one is really important.

If your child has never worn braces, a bow tie and a flat cap in their life, their photography session probably isn't the time to introduce all three.

The same applies to beautiful dresses that are incredibly itchy or shoes they're desperate to take off.

I want children to move, play, cuddle, explore and be themselves during family sessions.

Comfortable children are generally much happier children.

And happy children make much better photographs than an amazing outfit ever will.

Start with the hardest person to dress

If you're staring at five empty outfits laid across the bed and don't know where to begin, start with whichever person is hardest to dress.

Quite often that's Mum!

Find something you feel genuinely comfortable and confident wearing first.

Then build everyone else's outfits around that.

It's much easier than trying to find your own outfit at the end that somehow works with four completely different things you've already bought for everyone else.

Think about where you'll display your photographs

This isn't essential, but it's something worth considering.

If your home is filled with warm neutrals and natural colours, choosing similar tones for your photography session means your finished images will naturally work beautifully on your walls.

That doesn't mean you need to dress according to your sofa!

But if you're investing in family photographs because you'd love to display them around your home, thinking about the overall colours can help create a really cohesive finished gallery.

What if I'm still not sure?

Please ask me!

You don't have to figure everything out alone.

If you're booked for a family photography session with me and you're torn between outfits, you're always welcome to send me photographs of what you're considering.

I'd much rather help you beforehand than have you worrying about whether everything works together on the morning of your session.

Autumn family photography in Bedfordshire 🍂

Autumn will always be one of my favourite times of year for outdoor family photography.

The colours, cosy layers and softer autumn light create such a lovely backdrop for relaxed photographs without needing lots of props or complicated setups.

My family sessions are relaxed and natural, with plenty of movement, cuddles and interaction rather than expecting everyone — especially young children — to stand perfectly and smile at the camera for an hour.

If you're looking for a family photographer in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire and would love to update your family photographs this autumn, you can find more information about my family photography sessions on my website.

Phoebe x

Phoebe Berridge Photography
Newborn, baby, maternity & family photographer in Ickwell, Bedfordshire

Why Autumn Mini Sessions Are Perfect For Busy Families

Life with children is busy.

Between school runs, clubs, work, mealtimes, laundry piles and trying to remember what day of the week it is, finding time for family photographs can often feel like just another thing on an already full to-do list.

It's one of the reasons I hear so many parents say:

"We'd love family photos, but I don't know if the children would manage a full session."

Or:

*"I'd love to book something, but we're just so busy at the moment."

If that sounds familiar, Autumn Mini Sessions might be exactly what you're looking for.

They're Short and Sweet

One of the biggest benefits of an Autumn Mini Session is that they're only 20 minutes long.

That might not sound like a lot of time, but you'd be surprised what we can capture in just 20 minutes.

For many families, especially those with younger children, a shorter session often works better than a longer one.

Children can stay engaged.

Parents feel relaxed.

And there's no pressure for anyone to perform for the camera.

The result? Beautiful, natural photographs without spending hours of your day at a photoshoot.

Perfect For Children Who Prefer to Be on The Move

Let's be honest...

Most children don't want to stand still and smile at a camera for an hour.

And they don't need to.

Autumn Mini Sessions are designed to be relaxed and child led.

We walk.

We chat.

We explore.

We cuddle.

We laugh.

And sometimes we spend a few minutes throwing leaves into the air.

Some of the best photographs happen when children are simply being themselves.

A Great Option for Many Children With Additional Needs

Because Autumn Mini Sessions are shorter and less overwhelming than a full family session, they can be a wonderful option for many children with additional needs.

There's less pressure.

Less waiting around.

And more focus on creating a positive experience.

As with all my sessions, I encourage families to let me know anything that might help me support their child before the session.

Every family is different and I'm always happy to adapt where I can.

Dogs Are Welcome Too

For many families, pets are just as much a part of the family as anyone else.

One of the things I love about outdoor sessions is being able to include your dog in some of your photographs.

Autumn is one of the best times of year for this.

The cooler weather is more comfortable, the colours are beautiful, and the natural setting creates the perfect backdrop for the whole family—including the four-legged members.

Beautiful Seasonal Backdrops

There is a reason photographers get excited about autumn.

Golden leaves.

Rich colours.

Beautiful woodland tones.

Soft light.

It creates a stunning backdrop without needing anything artificial.

Nature does all the hard work for us.

The Leaf Throwing Is Always a Hit

If you've attended one of my Autumn Mini Sessions before, you'll already know what I'm talking about.

One of the highlights of every session is finishing with a big leaf throw.

The children love it.

The grown-ups usually end up joining in.

And it often creates some of the most genuine smiles and laughter-filled photographs from the entire session.

These are often the images families choose as their favourites.

Ready In Time for Christmas

Another reason Autumn Mini Sessions are so popular.

Timing.

Your photographs will be ready in plenty of time for Christmas gifts.

Whether you're planning to update the frames on the wall, create gifts for grandparents or simply have beautiful photographs to look back on, autumn is the perfect time to do it.

Family Memories Don't Need to Be Complicated

Sometimes parents put off booking family photographs because they think it needs to be a huge event.

The perfect outfits.

The perfect behaviour.

The perfect timing.

But family photography doesn't need to be complicated.

Sometimes all you need is 20 minutes, some beautiful autumn colours and the people you love most.

The rest tends to take care of itself.

Autumn Mini Sessions 2026

📍 Ickwell Green, Bedfordshire

📅 Saturday 17th October & Sunday 18th October

⏰ 20 Minute Session

✨ 5 Hand-Edited Digital Images

🐾 Dogs Welcome

💷 £85

If you'd like to capture some beautiful autumn memories with your family this year, I'd love to welcome you along.

Phoebe Berridge Photography

Family Photographer in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Cambridgeshire

Things I Don't Expect from A SEN Family Photoshoot

One of the biggest concerns I hear from parents before booking a family photoshoot is:

"I don't know if my child will manage it."

Sometimes that concern comes from previous experiences.

Sometimes it's because their child has additional needs, and they worry about how a photographer might react if things don't go to plan.

And sometimes it's simply because life looks a little different for their family.

If that's you, I want to reassure you of something important.

When it comes to photographing children with additional needs, there are a lot of things I don't expect.

I Don't Expect Eye Contact

Not every child feels comfortable making eye contact.

And that's okay.

A photograph doesn't need eye contact to tell a story.

Some of the most beautiful images come from children simply being themselves, whether they're looking at Mum, Dad, a favourite toy, or something that has captured their attention in the distance.

I Don't Expect Children to Sit Still

Children are meant to move.

They are meant to explore, investigate and experience the world around them.

This is especially true for many children with additional needs.

I would much rather photograph a child happily exploring than force them into a pose that makes them uncomfortable.

I Don't Expect Smiles on Demand

One of the biggest misconceptions about family photography is that every image needs a huge smile.

It doesn't.

Some children show happiness differently.

Some children need time to warm up.

Some children may never smile directly at the camera.

And that's completely okay.

The goal is capturing genuine moments, not forced ones.

I Don't Expect Immediate Trust

Meeting a new person can be overwhelming.

Meeting a new person who has a camera can feel even more overwhelming.

I don't expect children to instantly engage with me.

Some children will chat to me straight away.

Others may need time to observe from a distance first.

Both are perfectly normal.

I Don't Expect Perfection

Family life isn't perfect.

Children aren't perfect.

Sessions aren't perfect.

And honestly, that's where the magic usually happens.

The giggles, the cuddles, the movement, the little moments in between—those are often the photographs families treasure most.

What I Do Expect

I expect children to be themselves.

I expect families to love their children exactly as they are.

I expect there to be moments of connection.

And I expect to create photographs that tell your family's story.

Because a successful session isn't measured by how many times a child looked at the camera.

It's measured by whether we've captured who they are.

Communication Makes a Huge Difference

Before any session, I always encourage parents to tell me about their child.

Do they have a favourite toy?

A special interest?

A comfort items?

Are there any sensory sensitivities I should be aware of?

The more I know, the better I can adapt the session around your family.

Because every child is different.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Your Family Deserves to Be In Photographs Too

I've spoken to parents who have put off booking family photographs for years because they worried it would be too difficult.

But your family deserves to have memories captured too.

Not when things become easier.

Not when routines change.

Not when life feels more manageable.

Now.

Because your story matters exactly as it is.

And one day, these photographs will become some of the most treasured things you own.

Phoebe Berridge Photography

Child-led family, new born and baby photography in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Cambridgeshire.