Fall & Holiday Family Photo Outfit Ideas | What to Wear in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach family photographer Kaitlin Olah shares her favorite outfit ideas and tips for fall and holiday family photos in Virginia Beach and throughout Hampton Roads.
You know you want photos of your family with YOU actually in them. Now comes the part so many families stress about: What are we going to wear?!
I promise, it doesn't have to be complicated.
Choosing outfits for your fall family photos or holiday family photos should be less about finding the “perfect” outfit and more about choosing clothing that feels comfortable, looks beautiful together, and allows you to actually be present with your family during your session.
As a Virginia Beach family photographer, I want your photos to feel natural, connected, and like you- not like everyone was dressed up and told to stand perfectly still.
Here are a few of my favorite tips for choosing what to wear for your fall or holiday family photos in Hampton Roads.
Choose Comfort + Movement
Always wear something comfortable that allows movement during your family photos!
If an outfit is stiff, tight, itchy, or constantly needs adjusting, you're going to feel it - and you'll spend more time thinking about your clothes than enjoying your family.
Movement is a huge part of what makes family photography feel natural. I want you to be able to pick up your toddler, chase your kids, sit in the grass, snuggle together, twirl your daughter, or simply pull your family in for a big hug without worrying about whether your outfit is cooperating.
Flowy dresses, relaxed sweaters, soft fabrics, and layers are all beautiful options for fall family photos. A flowy skirt paired with a cozy knit sweater is one of my favorite combinations, and chunky sweaters on little ones are basically impossible to beat.
Think comfortable, cozy, and effortless. Your clothes should support the experience - not distract from it.
Choose Colors That Complement Fall
When you're choosing colors for your fall or holiday family photos, look outside for inspiration.
Rather than everyone wearing the same color or trying to perfectly match, choose a coordinated color palette where everyone's outfits complement one another.
Here in Virginia Beach and throughout Hampton Roads, fall gives us beautiful greens, warm browns, rusty oranges, deep reds, muted yellows, and plenty of neutral tones to work with.
If we're photographing your family surrounded by golden or orange foliage, consider wearing deeper greens, browns, creams, or other muted tones that complement the scenery. If your location is already filled with deep greens, you can bring in warmer tones through sweaters, dresses, or accessories.
For light neutrals, I tend to love cream, oatmeal, beige, camel, and warm brown more than bright white. Especially when we're photographing in the shade, bright white can sometimes pick up cooler blue tones and feel a little harsh against the softer colors of fall.
And remember: you don't need everyone in the same color. In fact, I usually prefer when you don't. Think coordinated, not matching.
Don't Be Afraid to Layer
Fall weather in Hampton Roads can be... unpredictable. One minute it's crisp and chilly, and the next you're wondering why you wore a sweater. 😂 Layers give you options while also adding texture and visual interest to your family photos.
Think:
Chunky knit sweaters
Cardigans
Denim or utility jackets
Soft scarves
Quilted vests
Corduroy
Knit dresses
Boots
Textured blankets or simple accessories
Layers are especially helpful for children because they allow us to make small changes throughout your session without completely changing everyone's outfits. And honestly? A little texture photographs beautifully.
Dress for the Weather - and for FUN
Above all, wear something you can have fun in.
Your family photos aren't about standing still and smiling at the camera for 45 minutes. At least, that's not how I photograph families. I want you to play. I want your kids to run. I want you to scoop them up, chase them, snuggle them, spin them around, and laugh together.
That means dressing for the actual weather we're going to experience here in Virginia Beach.
Fall in Hampton Roads can also be wet, so don't be afraid to embrace it. If the ground is damp, wear boots. If your kids want to sit in the grass, let them. Bring a towel in the car just in case.
And if someone gets a little dirt on their clothes? It's okay. I'd much rather photograph you laughing with your kids than have you spend your entire session worrying about keeping your outfit spotless.
Dark colors and textured fabrics can be especially forgiving when we're photographing outdoors.
The Most Important Thing to Wear? Yourself.
I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. You are your children's favorite person.
Years from now, they're not going to care whether you wore the exact right shade of beige or whether your toddler's sweater got a little dirty during your Virginia Beach family photography session.
They're going to care that you were there. That you picked them up. That you held their hand. That you laughed with them. That you were in the photos.
So when you're planning what to wear for your fall family photos or holiday family photos, focus less on making everything perfect and more on choosing something that allows you to be completely present with your people.
Because those are the photographs that will matter the most.
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