It’s that time of year again! Kids are headed back to school. The days are getting shorter and before you know it the holidays will be here! I so love shooting family mini sessions in the early fall! Kids are always excited to tell me about their back to school adventures. The weather is not so hot but not yet cold either. The Colorado landscape is still mostly green but not that bright neon green that our grass gets in the height of summer. 

The biggest question I get though is always “What should we wear for our family pictures?!” And while I know most moms dread pulling together all of the outfits, dressing family’s for pictures is one of my favorite things! I usually start with the girls in the family. I love mixing prints and patterns and the ladies usually have more options in that realm! 

For this look, I started with mama. I wanted colors that complemented and contrasted with one of my favorite locations along the Poudre river. I knew the backdrop would be greens and greys and brown so I wanted pinks or purples for a good pop! Once I found this dress, I just started pulling colors from it to match the rest of the family. Keep in mind that Colorado weather is totally unpredictable! I’ve layered in a sweater for mom and both ladies could add tights if needed. Those little additions also add great texture! 

Note that it’s not matchy-matchy! These combinations of patterns and colors make each individual stand out as their own person but also belong together as a group.

A few other tips!

• Jewel tones are great for a wide variety of skin tones too!
• A lot of the time you can start with a favorite outfits from your closets and go from there! You’ll be surprise how many outfits you have in the same color family. I know I’m drawn to certain colors when I shop and don’t even realize it!
• Comfort is important! Itchy collars do not make for happy smiling families! Do not put your little girl in a dress if she prefers pants. If you’ve got a little boy who prefers to run around the house naked, dress him in simple pieces 😉

If you are looking for a mini session for your fall family pictures in Fort Collins, click below to see available dates and time for 2016.