Fall family portraits book fast around Howell, Michigan, and there's a reason for that. The color only holds for a few weeks each year, and everyone wants the same window. At Noreen Owens Photography, that window is usually the third week of October. If you've been putting off booking your family's session, here's what you actually need to know this year: when to book, what to wear, and where sessions happen.

Families come to fall portraits for different reasons. Some are filling a gallery wall that's been missing a current photo for years. Some just had a baby and want the whole crew together before the holidays take over. Whatever the reason, the timing and the details below are the same for everyone.

When Should You Book Fall Family Portraits?

The best time for fall family portraits in this area is the third week of October. Color is typically at its peak that week. To hold it, book by early September. Late August works too, so if someone asks when to start thinking about it, September is a safe answer.

There's a reason for the timing. Michigan State University Extension notes that southern Michigan's mix of maples, oaks, and other hardwoods often holds color into late October. That's later than the state's northern regions, where the color peaks weeks earlier. It gives families here a slightly longer window, but it still closes fast once the leaves actually turn.

Because that one week draws so many families at once, calendars fill up early. Booking in late summer isn't jumping the gun. It's just how the timing actually works.

What Should You Wear for Fall Family Portraits?

For fall family portraits, stick to solid colors and skip the patterns. Plaid and flannel look cozy in person, but put four family members in four different flannels and the portrait starts to compete with itself instead of focusing on your family.

A few combinations work especially well for fall. Mustard yellow is a favorite, an unexpected color that most people wouldn't think to wear but that pops beautifully against fall backgrounds. Browns and beiges are dependable and warm. Solid black photographs cleanly. Cranberry paired with grey or cranberry paired with denim gives just enough color contrast without turning into a costume.

The short version: pick one or two solid colors your whole family can work with, and leave the plaid for the pumpkin patch.

Where Do Sessions Happen This Year?

This year, the studio has its own outdoor space at the new Howell location. Many fall sessions stay close to home because of it. That said, some families head off-site when a different spot has better color that particular week. Rather than locking in one exact location months in advance, the plan gets finalized closer to your date, based on where the color actually looks best right then.

A Few Things that Make the Day Easier

Make sure everyone eats and drinks water before your fall family portraits session. It sounds small, but a hungry family is a crabby family, and crabby does not photograph well. If you've got a baby coming along, pack a backup outfit. Spit-up and blowouts happen, and it's a lot easier to change clothes than to reschedule.

Sessions also aren't rushed. Some kids warm up right away. Others take longer, and that's fine. Nobody's watching the clock waiting to move you along, because a portrait taken while a two-year-old is mid-meltdown isn't one anyone wants to hang on a wall.

Fall family portraits aren't just another item on the to-do list. They're the piece that ends up on the wall long after the leaves are gone. That's worth getting right, from the timing down to the wardrobe. If your family hasn't booked yet, now's the time to start thinking about it, before the third week of October fills up.

Smiling boy and girl lying in autumn leaves outdoors

Smiling family standing together in front of colorful autumn trees during their fall family portraits

Two brothers sitting on grass with a brown dog in a sunny autumn park

Smiling boy and girl lying on grass outdoors under a tree in autumn.

FAQs

When is the best time for fall family portraits in Michigan?
The best time is the third week of October, when color is usually at its peak in southern Michigan. Book by early September to hold that week, though late August works too. Because so many families want that same week, calendars fill up early, so it's smart to book before color season officially arrives.

What should we wear for fall family portraits?
Stick to solid colors and skip patterns like plaid or flannel, which can clash when multiple family members wear different prints. Favorites include mustard yellow, browns and beiges, solid black, and cranberry paired with grey or denim. One or two solid colors across the whole family photographs best.

Where are fall family portraits taken?
Sessions often stay close to the studio's new Howell location, which has its own outdoor space. Some families head off-site if another spot has better color that particular week. The exact location is finalized closer to your session date, based on where the color looks best.

How far in advance should I book fall family portraits?
Book by early September for the best shot at the third week of October, which is peak color season. Late August also works. Because the peak color window is short, spots for that specific week fill up faster than most people expect.

What if my baby has a meltdown or needs a wardrobe change mid-session?
Pack a backup outfit for spit-up or blowouts, since it's much easier to change clothes than to reschedule. Sessions also aren't rushed, so there's time for a child to settle in if they need a minute before things feel comfortable again.

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post

Fall Family Portraits in Howell, Michigan

When Should You Book Fall Family Portraits?

What Should You Wear for Fall Family Portraits?

Where Do Sessions Happen This Year?

A Few Things that Make the Day Easier

FAQs

Leave a comment

Archive