Fall Color Style Guide

Happy first day of fall, friend!!!! I hope you’re as excited about it as I am! Today I’m coming to you with a dear friend, Shelbie Scippio of Seeking the Sea Photography! We have joined forces to bring you a special seasonal treat! Shelbie is a talented photographer in the Stockton, California area. She is constantly amazing me with the number of hats she wears, and her ability to do everything so well! She is mommy to the most handsome little man (you’ve seen him around here with Isla!), a gorgeous fashionista, and we have seriously bonded over our sense of adventure (and our adventures that somehow turn to misadventures)! I can’t wait for you to read what we have in store, so without further ado…let’s dive in!

Who doesn’t love autumn?! The crunch of fallen leaves, the aroma of home-baked pumpkin spice goods wafting through the air, and crisp, cool mornings…we need a #PSL run just thinking about it! Fall also happens to be an exciting time for us photographers! So many beautiful people decide it’s the most magical time of the year to have their pictures taken, and we get to love on lots of families! We often get asked what colors make for the best fall palettes no matter the location for your photos, so we decided to put our heads together and bring a fall wardrobe color guide to you! That’s right, we did the hard work for you because we love you (and fall, of course!)!

So what did we come up with, you ask? After much trial and error, we decided that our favorite fall color palette that you can rock in any location consists of navy, cream, mauve, burgundy and mustard.

There are so many ways to combine these, you really can’t go wrong! Another tip? Be careful with patterns (you don’t have to completely avoid them). While we both a love a little pattern mixing, think more TEXTURE and less pattern. Are we stressing you out yet? Don’t stress!! We know that sometimes family photographs can get put off because it feels like so much work to get everyone coordinated and looking their best. Don’t let that perception keep you from documenting these precious days that you’re in! We are more than happy to consult with our clients in finding perfect outfits for their families!

In fact, let’s start right now with some practical advice! Some of our favorite places to look for clothing for the family include, for the ladies: Morning Lavender, Red Dress, Francesca’s, and Impeccable Pig; for men: Polo Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers; for children, toddlers and babies: Zulily, Carter’s, Hazelmoonfly, and Lenny Lemons; and for the whole family: Old Navy, Gap, J.Crew, and Zara.

So do these color combinations really work anywhere? We’ve found that one location where people are hesitant to include fall colors in their wardrobe is the beach. Typically families lean towards more pastels for the beach (and those colors make our hearts pitter-patter!!), but if you want to include your fall colors at the beach, we say go for it!! And just to prove this point…how gorgeous do these girls look at the beach in their fall colors? We say they’re pretty darn perfect.

The key to polishing off any outfit is accessories, and that is especially true when you’re going to be photographed! We suggest including a statement necklace, floppy hat, some arm candy, a light scarf, or (bonus points!) an heirloom piece- and if you do wear something with sentimental value, tell us! We want to be sure to pay extra attention to photograph it. And don’t forget the boys! Bow ties, suspenders and hats are fun accessories for them!

And of course, the most important factor in how any outfit looks on you is your confidence! Need a couple confidence-boosting tips? Plan ahead. Make sure your outfit fits the way you want, you have it ironed/steamed and ready to go! Also, choose comfort. If you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, chances are, you’re not confident either. Same goes for hubby and kids. If they aren’t dressed comfortably, they probably won’t be very happy during the shoot which can lead to stiff and awkward photographs. Contrary to popular believe, it IS possible to be comfortable AND fashionable! So come into your session knowing that you look amazing no matter what you are wearing, and you will fall in love with the end result of your photographs!! We can’t wait to meet you, friend!!