Fall Family Session Guide – Colours, Tips & Lethbridge scenery!
At StandOut Photography,
we believe in capturing the legacy of your family.
Our primary goal is to create art that will help you remember and honour all of the stages of your life & family, with a focus on capturing beautiful images that display connection, joy, and love.
When you book a family session with us, we will be there every step of the way to offer our experienced opinion on locations and colour palettes. You can begin by imaging your desired style & outcome – things like outfits, the location, and where you might want to display the final pictures.
If you already have a colour scheme in your home, for example, you can consider choosing tones and colours in your clothing that compliment your decor!
Finding inspiration for your Family Session
Consider what elements will be important to feature to showcase your family. A specific place, theme, milestone, or emotion – these can all be useful to help decide how to style your session!
General Tips for Outfits & Clothing
Weather plays a big role in what is comfortable season to season. Remember that layers are useful for potential cool weather, and by swapping an outer layer you can quickly add variety to your session style!
We usually recommend toning down clothing for groups – think darker shades, minimal prints, and less vibrant/neon hues. That said, if you have something special to include in the session (a team jersey, an heirloom, etc) then absolutely bring that along.
Light clothing accentuates, and darker clothing minimizes, so apply that principle as you see fit!
When a group is photographed, it is more harmonious if colours are a similar tone (not a mixture of pastels and jewel tones for example), but it is great if you have a few complimentary colours to break it up so it’s not too matchy. A warning that patterns can sometimes photograph great, but are often very attention grabbing in an image.
And finally, material matters when it comes to flash photography, as some fabrics are more reflective than others. Synthetic fabrics glow more in pictures, and they can cast their bright colours onto other people (sometimes flattering, sometimes not!)
Look to the landscapes for colour inspiration
Southern Alberta is a truly beautiful place, and we are lucky to have gorgeous scenery to inspire our Family Sessions. The yellows of the prairie, the blues of the sky, and the soft neutrals of the mountains, and of course the lush greenery in our valleys than turns to red in the Fall.
We also have a few amazing local niche environments with their own unique hues. Take Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens as an example! This family contrasts neutrals (grey, white, black) with pops of colour from the scenery, and does a great job of matching colours (but not patterns).
GENERAL TIPS FOR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS
On the day of your Family Photography session, it is best to be as relaxed and spirited as possible. That means a good night’s rest, staying hydrated, and an open mind coming into the session.
Bring along refreshments and even a (non-messy) snack for little ones to keep them patient through the session. You can think of outdoor Family Fall Sessions like small outings to the park, so bring along what you need to be comfortable (change of shoes, an extra clothing layer, wet wipes, bug spray, etc).
We provide full guidance and direct posing, relying on years of experience in composition & lighting to capture high-quality, professional, yet natural and relaxed photographs of your family!
Family Sessions at StandOut Photography in Lethbridge, Alberta
Jackie Standing, owner & photophrapher at StandOut Photography, brings her 15 years of experience photographing families, as well as her own experience as a mother of 5 girls to every photoshoot. She is hands-on with posing, wrangling small children, and getting (almost) anyone to laugh! Be assured that whether it’s your first photoshoot or your yearly family portrait updates, we will create images that you will be proud to share and display in your home.
