If you think that I’m exaggerating when I say, I squeal and dance a little bit every time I see a pumpkin or hear a fall reference, you are wrong.

In fact, “squeal” and “a little bit” are under exaggerations.

In the long list of delicious autumn-related things we get to breathe in, eat up, see, wear and do in the coming months, taking family fall pictures is one of them.

I want to help you style your fall family photo shoot my letting you in on my thought process as I put our look together.

Start with one piece.

Minimize the daunting feeling of making multiple people look good, by starting with just one thing. Sometimes it’s what I want Jackson to wear, or it’s something I want to wear.

Either way, having that one piece to build off of really helps lay the ground work for all of the looks.

For our Christmas card picture from last year, I wanted Jackson in that red jacket. So I built out from there – adding texture and pattern with mine and Dayton’s looks.

Build so that your looks are like Lego’s – they interlock.

Notice in all of these pictures each of our outfits share an element the other one has.

Above – Jackson, Dayton and I all have an element of black and white (mine in the bracelet). Jackson also has a pop of color (which you can’t see on the tongue of his shoes) but it’s one that corresponds with my orange.

Below – Dayton has a chambray shirt that goes with the stripe in Jackson’s shirt. Jackson has on white which goes with my white. Dayton’s black shorts corresponds with my black stripes and Jackson’s khakis are a nice neutral addition that still flows while adding variation. (Bonus – his shoes are stripes to echo the pattern).

Throw in patterns.

This is my biggest tip of all. Looking back on our family pictures, my favorite thing about our looks are the patterns and how good they look on camera.

Anyone else ever notice that game show contestants are always wearing solid colors? Unless you’re immediately leaving your family portrait to appear on Family Feud, leave the solids at home.

Patterns look great on camera and give your look more depth and visual interest.

Also, a photographer friend once told me that white is a no no, and all black gets lost in the shadows.

Go for patterns.

I hope this helps take the stress out of your family pictures! Feel free to email me if you have any questions! elizabeth@thespiff.com

Need a good family photographer? Check out this girl! She’s talented and fun and will do a great job of capturing your family in photos you’ll love forever – I mean it!