Autumn might be my favourite season for family photographs.

The light gets softer, the countryside changes completely and suddenly all those lovely textures — chunky knits, little jackets, boots and layers — make sense again.

But deciding what an entire family should wear for photographs can very quickly turn into pulling half your wardrobe onto the bed and wondering why nothing goes together.

So, here's my advice.

Start with colour, not matching

The goal isn't for everybody to match.

In fact, please don't feel like you need to find four versions of the same beige jumper.

Instead, choose a small palette of colours that sit beautifully together and spread them across everyone's outfits.

For autumn family photography, I particularly love:

warm cream and oatmeal

chocolate and tobacco brown

olive and moss green

rust and burnt orange

muted mustard

burgundy

denim

soft dusty blues

warm checks and subtle patterns

Think complementary rather than coordinated.

Your photographs will feel much more natural and timeless.

Family of four posing outdoors in autumn, smiling and embracing on a sunlit path surrounded by colorful fall foliage.
A smiling woman in a floral dress holds a young toddler girl outdoors in a sunlit park setting.
A cute baby in a knit sweater sits on a blanket outdoors, holding a dry autumn leaf in fall setting.
A mother in a floral dress holds hands with her young children outdoors in warm golden light.

Texture is your best friend

Autumn is made for texture.

Chunky knits, corduroy, brushed cotton, linen, wool, denim and soft layers all add depth to photographs without needing lots of colour or pattern.

A knitted cardigan over a cotton dress. Cord trousers with a soft jumper. A little wax jacket. Wool socks peeking over boots.

These small details photograph beautifully, particularly against long grass and all those earthy autumn colours.

Don't be afraid of colour

Neutral doesn't have to mean beige.

I love warm, earthy colours for autumn sessions, and a carefully chosen bit of colour can look incredible against the East Yorkshire countryside.

Deep reds, warm yellows, olive greens and rusty oranges can all work beautifully.

The trick is choosing colours that feel like they belong together rather than making every person the same.

If Mum is wearing a patterned dress, for example, I might pull one or two of the softer colours from that dress into everybody else's outfits.

It gives the photographs a lovely sense of cohesion without looking overly styled.

Dress Mum first

This is probably my biggest practical tip.

Choose your outfit first.

You're usually the person trying to organise everybody else's clothes, and it's very easy to get the children looking gorgeous before realising you have absolutely nothing you want to wear.

Find something you feel really good in first.

Then build everyone else's outfits around yours.

A flowing dress with boots and a knit works beautifully for autumn, but equally, jeans, a beautiful blouse and an oversized cardigan can look gorgeous.

You absolutely don't need to wear a dress if that isn't you.

Let children look like children

I don't want your little ones to look as though they're heading to a formal dinner.

Dungarees, knitted jumpers, cord trousers, bloomers, pinafores, little dresses, cardigans and boots are all lovely options.

Most importantly, they need to be able to move.

My family sessions aren't about sitting perfectly still and smiling at the camera. There'll be walking, exploring, cuddling, running and probably somebody being swung through the air.

Clothes that allow children to play will always give us better photographs.

Layers work beautifully

East Yorkshire in autumn isn't exactly known for its predictable weather.

Layers are perfect because they're practical and they look gorgeous.

Cardigans, knitted vests, jackets, scarves and overshirts give us options throughout the session and add interest without completely changing an outfit.

They're also much better than hiding a lovely outfit underneath one enormous winter coat.

What about patterns?

Patterns aren't banned.

A floral dress, subtle check or stripe can actually be the perfect starting point for an entire family's outfits.

I'd just avoid having several people wearing competing patterns at once.

If one person's outfit is doing a little more, let everybody else's clothes be quieter.

Things I'd probably avoid

There aren't many absolute rules, because I'd much rather your photographs actually look like you.

But there are a few things that can be distracting in photographs:

Very bright neon colours, huge logos, lots of tiny busy patterns and everybody wearing exactly the same thing can pull attention away from the people in the photograph.

I'd also think twice about lots of pure black against a soft autumn landscape. Darker colours can absolutely work, but chocolate, deep olive, navy or burgundy often give you that depth while feeling softer within the photograph.

Shoes matter more than you think

We're probably going to be in a field, woodland, village lane or somewhere equally unsuitable for pristine white trainers.

Boots are perfect.

Chelsea boots, little leather boots, wellies when appropriate — anything that works naturally with the setting and that you're happy to walk in.

And if the weather has been particularly Yorkshire-ish beforehand, I'll always let you know.

Above everything, wear something that feels like you

I don't want you to look back at your family photographs and think you all look lovely… but nothing like yourselves.

Styling helps create a beautiful gallery, but connection will always matter more.

Wear clothes you can move in.

Choose colours you love.

Let your children be comfortable.

Then forget about the outfits and concentrate on being together.

Because twenty years from now, you're probably not going to care whether everyone's shade of brown coordinated perfectly.

You're going to be looking at how tiny their hands were.

How they fitted into your arms.

And how your family looked in this little season of your life.

Autumn Family Photography in East Yorkshire

I photograph relaxed, natural family sessions across East Yorkshire, making the most of the changing countryside and beautiful seasonal light.

My autumn sessions are all about warm colours, muddy little boots, cuddles, movement and photographs that feel nostalgic without feeling staged.

If you're thinking about booking autumn family photographs, you can find out more about my family photography sessions in East Yorkshire, or take a look at my upcoming Autumn Mini Sessions.