Autumn Family Portraits in Ogden: What to Wear and Where to Go
Fall is one of the most amazing times of the year and probably the most popular time for family photos. With the leaves changing and the mountains turning those warm fall colors, it’s hard to find a better backdrop for family pictures. More family photos are taken during the fall than any other time of the year, and I think a big part of that is just how beautiful everything looks. The weather is also cooling down, so you don't have to deal with the heat of summer, but it's still warm enough to be outside taking pictures without the discomfort of winter.
Finding a Great Fall Location Around Ogden
There are plenty of places around Ogden to take amazing fall photos. There are lots of great backdrops in the mountains, and you can find beautiful locations while staying within about 15 minutes of Ogden.
The fall season here doesn't last very long, and once the leaves change, you may only have about a week before they start falling. you may only have about a week before they start falling. As the season moves, we'll start higher in the mountains and farther away from Ogden and work our way down. Later in the season, there are many places right around Ogden that can be absolutely breathtaking.
Mountain Foothills and Canyons
The areas around Ogden, including the canyons and the beginning of the mountains, can have incredible backdrops once the leaves start changing. With the variety of trees in the area, you can get a lot of different colors. Yellow is probably going to be the primary color, but you'll also get reds and greens mixed in, which creates a beautiful contrast.
I really like being able to get up into the mountains where you can have the hills covered with trees in the background, while also having trees close around you. As the season gets later, you're not going to have as much of the mountain scenery in the background and you'll have more trees and leaves surrounding you instead. So if you're wanting more of the scenic mountain views in your photos, you'll probably want to plan your session earlier in the fall. Later in the season, we'll focus more on locations where the leaves and trees are all around you.
Historic Properties and Old Farms
A really fun way to go is if you have access to a historic property or an old farm. It gives you a very different look and a beautiful backdrop, and it can also make your photos feel more personal to you.
One thing to keep in mind is that most historic properties and old farms are private property. You'll either need to have access to one already or find a property owner who is willing to let you use it. In most cases, you'll probably have to pay a fee to take photos there.
Parks and Tree-Lined Areas
Some of the best places to take family photos during the fall are the parks in the community. Ogden and the surrounding areas have some great locations for this, and they're usually a little simpler to get to.
For families with kids, parks are nice because there's room for them to run around and move instead of having to stand in one place the whole time. They're also a good option for older adults who don't have as much mobility. Most parks have parking lots that are close to the areas where we'll be taking pictures, so you don't have to walk very far to get there.
One of the most popular locations in Ogden is the Ogden Botanical Gardens. It's a great location because there are multiple different backdrops within the gardens, so we can get a lot of variety without having to go very far.
Typically, the parks and other locations in the valley will be some of the last areas to change colors. So if you're looking for fall photos later in the season, these can be some of the best places to go.
What Should Your Family Wear for Fall Pictures?
What should your family wear for fall photos? This is one of the most common questions I get with family photos any time of the year.
One of the funnest ways to put your outfits together is to coordinate with each other instead of trying to be matchy-matchy. Getting everyone's shirt in the exact same color can actually be pretty difficult. When you coordinate colors instead, you have a lot more flexibility and can add some variety to everyone's outfits. Having two people in the same color can even look really good. Having multiple colors also adds depth to the picture and makes the overall image more interesting.
Jeans and khakis also look great for a fall family session and work well with a lot of different color combinations. I also recommend sticking with solid colors when you can. A lot of patterns and textures in your clothing can pull attention away from your faces. They're also harder to clean up if you want to make any changes during retouching.
I do love adding a little bit of excitement or color with things like scarves and jackets. They're easy to throw on or take off, which gives us a little more variety throughout the session without everyone having to change clothes.
Choosing Colors for Fall Family Photos
When you're choosing colors for your family, you don't have to put everyone in traditional fall colors. I do think colors that work well with the fall surroundings tend to look really good in photos.
Some colors that work really well are:
- Rust and burnt orange
- Olive and other greens
- Mustard and warm yellow
- Burgundy
- Navy
- Cream and other warm neutrals
- Brown and tan
You don't have to use all of these, but they give you a lot of different options to work with.
I would stay away from neon colors, large logos, and really bold patterns. These can stand out quite a bit and pull attention away from your faces. You also don't have to make everyone wear beige and brown. Adding some color can look really good with all of the fall colors around you.
Dress for the Weather and Terrain
One thing you'll want to be aware of when choosing your outfits is where we're going to be taking the pictures. If we're going up into the mountains, you'll want to be able to get around comfortably. There might be some hiking, walking through grass, or climbing over a few rocks, so you'll want to wear shoes and pants that you're able to move around in easily.
If you're wanting a more dressy look for your family photos, you may not want to go as far up into the mountains. We can stay closer to the parking lot or choose a location where you're not going to be walking through as much grass or uneven ground. It's not usually difficult to get around, but it's something you'll want to keep in mind when you're choosing your outfits and location.
You'll also want to make sure you bring a jacket. Once we're up in the mountains, it can be a little chilly, especially as we get later into the fall. A jacket can also be a great way to add another layer or some variety to your outfits.
Let the Kids Be Kids
When dealing with your kids, one of the things you have to realize is that they are who they are, and they're not perfect. They're not going to pose perfectly, and they're not always going to look directly at the camera. But years from now, when you look back at the photos, that's what you're going to love. You're going to remember who they were at that time in their life.
You still want to get them to look at the camera, and you still want to get them smiling, but you can do that through fun ways. One thing you need to know is that you can overwhelm a kid if you're constantly telling them to smile or getting angry at them. That's only going to aggravate them. You need to keep things simple, fun, and very calm.
You also don't want to have too many people trying to get their attention at the same time. Sometimes having one person standing directly behind the photographer and trying to get their attention is the best way to do it. If you have five people all trying to get a child's attention, they may not even know where to look anymore.
It's also really great to take pictures that aren't posed. Let the kids walk around and interact with their family and the environment. It makes it easier for them to take pictures because sometimes they just don't want to take a photo. By letting them play and interact with what's around them, you can sometimes get much better photos of them. We use this same approach in our children's portrait sessions as well.
Planning Your Fall Family Session in Ogden
Sometimes when you're dealing with all the elements of taking a photo, from the location to your family members to the weather, it's just hard to get everything perfect. And that's okay. It's the family, the moment, and the memory that's going to matter.
With a little planning and a little work, we can choose the right location for your family, figure out when the leaves are going to look their best, and choose outfits that work well with the location and the weather. We can also make sure we're choosing a location that everyone in your family can comfortably get around. By working together and planning these things ahead of time, we're going to give you the best opportunity to get the photos you're looking for.
Remember not to put too much pressure on yourself. These photos are about creating a memory of your family because your family is going to change over time. Your kids are going to grow up fast, and you're going to want to remember what they were like at this point in their lives.
One of the things we always recommend is getting family photos every two years. That way, you can look back and see those changes as your kids grow. They really do grow up fast.