Planning for your Fall & Christmas Photos
Let's talk about one of the biggest questions parents have before their family photo session: WHAT IS EVERYONE GOING TO WEAR?!
You have your session booked, you're excited about the pictures, and then comes the task of finding outfits for everyone. Somehow, getting the entire family dressed and coordinated can feel like the hardest part of the whole experience!
The good news? It doesn't have to be complicated.
Whether you're planning fall family portraits for your Christmas cards, Santa pictures, Christmas tree farm photos, Christmas pajama pictures, or a fun baking session with Mrs. Claus, a little planning can go a long way toward creating beautiful, polished images.
My biggest advice is to coordinate rather than match. You want everyone to look like they belong together without looking like they're wearing a uniform. And remember, not every holiday photo has to be perfectly coordinated and traditional. Sometimes a little personality and a fun outfit make the best memories!
Here are some of my favorite tips to make planning your family's fall and Christmas photo outfits easy.
Start With a Color Palette
Instead of choosing everyone's outfit individually, start by picking 3-4 colors that work well together. This gives you a starting point and makes shopping much easier.
Some of my favorite color combinations include:
Classic Christmas: Red, forest green, cream, and a little plaid.
Neutral Christmas: Cream, beige, camel, brown, and soft white.
Traditional & Cozy: Burgundy, navy, ivory, and dark green.
Rustic Christmas: Rust, olive green, tan, and warm brown.
Winter Wonderland: Cream, gray, soft blue, and silver.
Fall Favorites: Rust, mustard, burgundy, olive green, camel, and denim.
Once you have your colors, spread them throughout the family. One person might wear a plaid shirt, another a solid sweater, and someone else a dress in one of your coordinating colors.
You want the colors to complement each other, not compete for attention.
Coordinate, Don't Match!
This is probably my biggest tip when it comes to family photos.
Remember those days when everyone wore the exact same white shirt and blue jeans? While there's nothing wrong with that, today's family portraits look beautiful when everyone has their own outfit that works together.
For example, Mom might wear a cream sweater dress, Dad could wear dark denim and a burgundy sweater, and the kids could wear a combination of plaid, cream, and forest green.
Everyone looks coordinated, but nobody looks like they came from the same clothing rack!
A few easy ways to accomplish this:
- Mix solid colors with subtle patterns.
- Combine different textures like knits, corduroy, denim, and velvet.
- Choose complementary colors instead of identical outfits.
- Let each family member wear something that fits their personality.
- Avoid having everyone wear the exact same pattern or color.
The goal is to create a polished look that still feels natural and comfortable for your family.
What to Wear for Fall Family Photos & Christmas Cards
Not all Christmas cards have to feature Christmas trees, Santa, or holiday pajamas! Some of my favorite Christmas card photos are actually taken during the fall.
Fall is a beautiful time for family portraits. Between the changing leaves, gorgeous mountain views, and warm autumn colors, it's a wonderful opportunity to capture updated family pictures for your holiday cards.
If you're planning fall portraits, think warm, earthy colors and cozy textures.
Some of my favorite fall color combinations include:
- Rust, cream, and denim.
- Burgundy, navy, and tan.
- Olive green, camel, and ivory.
- Mustard yellow, brown, and cream.
- Soft neutrals with touches of burnt orange.
For a polished family look, try mixing sweaters, jeans, boots, dresses, and layers. Mom might wear a flowy dress with boots, Dad could wear a coordinating sweater and dark denim, and the kids can wear a combination of complementary colors and patterns.
A little tip: Let the location help guide your outfit choices. If you're taking pictures surrounded by beautiful fall foliage, earthy tones and warm neutrals photograph beautifully against the changing leaves.
And don't forget to plan ahead if you're using these pictures for Christmas cards! You'll want enough time to select your favorites, order your cards, and get them mailed before the holidays arrive.
Fall portraits are also a great option if you want a beautiful family photo for your Christmas card without having a traditional holiday-themed background.
What to Wear for Santa Pictures
Santa pictures are the perfect opportunity to dress up a little!
You can go traditional with beautiful Christmas colors or keep things simple with neutral outfits and classic textures.
Some ideas I love:
- Little girls in velvet dresses, plaid skirts, tights, and festive bows.
- Little boys in button-down shirts, sweaters, corduroy pants, or plaid.
- Babies in adorable knit rompers, festive dresses, or classic Christmas outfits.
- Parents in coordinating sweaters, dresses, or polished casual outfits.
Red, green, burgundy, cream, and navy all photograph beautifully for traditional Santa portraits.
You can also add a little sparkle with hair accessories, velvet bows, or subtle holiday details.
One thing I recommend is avoiding clothing with large logos, busy graphics, or distracting characters. You want the focus to stay on your children and their interaction with Santa. And remember, comfortable clothing is important, especially for babies and toddlers who may be sitting, standing, or interacting with Santa.
What to Wear for Kids' Holiday Pictures
Not every holiday photo session needs to include the entire family. Sometimes the sweetest pictures are the ones featuring just your children!
Whether you're bringing the kids for Santa pictures, Christmas pajama photos, or a fun baking session with Mrs. Claus, you want their outfits to complement the setting without taking away from their little personalities.
For traditional Christmas portraits, I love:
- Velvet dresses, plaid skirts, and festive bows for girls.
- Sweaters, button-down shirts, and corduroy pants for boys.
- Classic red, forest green, burgundy, cream, and navy.
- Simple accessories like suspenders, hair bows, tights, and festive socks.
If you're having pictures taken with Santa, remember that the focus will be on your child interacting with him. You don't need an elaborate outfit to get beautiful pictures. Sometimes a simple sweater, cute dress, or classic Christmas outfit is all you need.
Christmas Pajama Pictures
This is where you can throw some of the traditional outfit rules out the window!
Christmas pajama pictures are meant to be fun, relaxed, and full of personality. You can choose matching family pajamas, coordinating Christmas prints, or let everyone pick their own festive pair.
Some cute ideas include:
- Classic red and green plaid pajamas.
- Matching Christmas tree or reindeer prints.
- Traditional red, white, and green holiday pajamas.
- Cozy neutral pajamas with Christmas details.
- Different coordinating patterns in the same color palette.
Make sure everyone's pajamas are comfortable and fit properly. Christmas socks, slippers, bows, and cozy blankets can add a fun finishing touch.
Baking with Mrs. Claus
Baking with Mrs. Claus is another session where you can have a little extra fun with outfits!
Since the children will be pretending to bake Christmas treats, you'll want something festive but comfortable enough for them to move around and participate.
Some ideas I love:
- Festive dresses with tights and cute hair bows.
- Red or green sweaters with jeans.
- Plaid skirts and coordinating tops.
- Christmas-themed aprons.
- Simple cream or red outfits with holiday accessories.
- Classic button-down shirts with suspenders.
An adorable apron is a great addition, especially if you want that little Christmas baker look! I would avoid anything too formal or fussy. These sessions are designed to capture the fun of baking with Mrs. Claus, so let your children wear something they can comfortably enjoy the experience in.
And if your family loves being a little silly, don't be afraid to pull out those ugly Christmas sweaters! Sometimes the funniest outfits make the most memorable holiday pictures.
One of my favorite tips: If you're bringing siblings, coordinate their outfits without dressing them identically. One child in plaid and another in a solid sweater can look beautiful together while still letting each child's personality shine through.
