Our nation’s capital is a beautiful city. It has so many elegantly designed buildings and monuments, plus trees and rivers that add to its charm. As a Washington, DC, family photographer and resident, I have the privilege of enjoying the scenery of this beautiful city on a regular basis. Each season in DC brings something special – the National Christmas Tree in the Winter, cherry blossoms in the Spring, 4th of July fireworks in the Summer, and in the Fall – those incomparable autumn leaves.
I enjoy DC in the fall because the heat of Summer in the city dies down, and it’s just hard to beat those vivid colors of the trees like those lining Rock Creek Park and contrasting with the marble monuments on the mall. If you’re planning a fall family portrait session in the DC area, I would be happy to help guide you through the process!
5 Tips for the Perfect Fall Family Portraits
Here are my recommendations for the perfect Washington, DC fall family portrait session:
1. Start with the End in Mind – Typically, clients reach out in the fall for their portraits because they have their annual holiday card in mind. Holiday cards are a great reminder and nudge to get photos taken. Before we start planning your session, I like to brainstorm ideas for how you would like to display these portraits. Are you dreaming of a family portrait above the fireplace? Maybe an album to tell your family’s story. Knowing our end goal helps us craft the perfect portrait session.
2. Choose Your Location. DC is a huge city with a lot of wonderful options for an outdoor photoshoot. I have an entire outdoor photography guide here for you. Washington, DC is beautiful and to have a great outdoor experience, we need to plan for crowds, parking, and permits. If you want an outdoor fall family photoshoot in DC, let’s collaborate to find a great location with as little hassle as possible.
The studio is a great option that avoids all the hassles and creates a classic backdrop. However, I know a few secret spots if you truly want outdoor fall family photos.
3. Plan Your Outfits – Now that the location is nailed down, let’s work on what to wear for your session. All my portrait sessions include wardrobe guidance. I have a client wardrobe guide, and clients can send photos of their outfits over for my opinion before the session. I highly recommend choosing your outfits at least a week in advance to avoid any stress.
4. Give Yourself Time – It’s essential that our portrait session starts on time, and with DC traffic, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to arrive and feel ready. Portrait sessions are usually about an hour, but by giving yourself extra time before and after, you’ll ensure that we’ll have ample time to get all the shots you want. If our session is at the studio, we have street parking with easy access to the studio!
5. Make Annual Family Photos a Tradition – Make your annual family portrait session a memorable tradition! My family always got ice cream after a portrait session, and I know my kids looked forward to that part every year! As your children grow older, they’ll come to expect whatever fun reward you have planned and likely have less resistance to the whole portrait session idea the next time.
Fall Family Portrait Photography
Family portrait sessions are such a special thing to invest in and photos in DC in the fall bring another level of charm. With some planning and preparation, you can have gorgeous family photos to enjoy for years to come AND a tradition to look forward to.
As a Washington, DC, photographer, I love to help families make treasured memories while giving them something they can keep forever. If you have any questions or want to book your family a photo session, feel free to message me here.
