Whether you want to believe me or not, this summer is going to fly by – it already is! Soon we’ll be buying new school supplies, cozying up watching football, and watching the leaves dump all over our lawns. So before fall hits us like a freight train, I want to start talking to you about your annual fall family photos – the ones you’re not even thinking about yet because “it’s summer!”
And also probably because planning fall family photos feels like something that you and your family dread every year. Does it feel like a chore? Is it like pulling teeth to get your kids and husband into their nice outfits (you say nice, they say “itchy,” “awful,” and sometimes just “NOOOOOOOOO!”)? Do you so desperately want beautiful fall family photos but walk away every year stressed out about the whole thing?
Or maybe you haven’t scheduled fall family photos in years because of this very reason. Well, as a Boise family photographer, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.
When and How to Take Your Boise Fall Family Photos
Fall in the Treasure Valley is absolutely magical, but it’s also incredibly brief. The perfect window for beautiful fall family photos in Boise lasts only a few short weeks, making planning essential for capturing those golden moments your family will treasure forever.
Here are three ways to create the perfect fall family photo session that leaves you with beautiful images, happy memories, and none of the stress and awful cheesiness of forced smiles in uncomfortable poses.
1. Think Ahead: Planning Your Fall Family Photos
This is the most important step that I think often gets overlooked because people get busy, and somewhere around October 15th think “oh yeah, we should have some fall photos taken.” They hire a random photographer, go to a local park, have their stressful hour, and go home exhausted, hoping there’s at least one good image in there… or at least some heads they can swap together to make one good one.
Instead, I suggest you think ahead about your photos. Think about it now. Think about what you want. Think about the end goal – do you want a new photo for the mantel or a photo for holiday cards? Maybe you want to create Christmas photo gifts for the grandparents, or you want to document this stage of life with an album you can look back on.
Best Timing for Fall Family Photos in Boise
Think it through and open up that discussion with your photographer. If you want beautiful late summer sunsets while you’re still sun-kissed bronze, then the end of August through September is the best time to book your photos.
If the perfect “fall” Boise photos – as in fallen leaves and vibrant colors – is what you want most, then you’re going to want to book your session for right around the second or third week in October (it’s a very, very short window).
For more of a winter shoot with snow, you may want to wait until the last week in November and make a trek up to Bogus Basin or even places like Sun Valley and McCall.
Making these choices early helps us plan and time your fall family photos perfectly so your dream session can come to life.
2. Find Meaning in Your Photos
While you’re thinking ahead about what you want, I want you to plan your fall family photos with intention and find meaning in this photoshoot. It shouldn’t just be about getting an annual photo – it should be about documenting your life. Your REAL LIFE.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning Family Photos
- Where do you go as a family?
- What do you like to do?
- What brings you joy?
Do you spend a lot of time running in the foothills? If you answer YES, then taking your fall family photos at the Foothills Learning Center and exploring the area with your kids or going for a hike on the trails might be the perfect scenario for your family.
If your answer is NO because you never go to the foothills and hate hiking… then why would you have your fall family photos taken there?
Meaningful Fall Family Photo Locations in Boise
If you spend all winter long up on the mountain, then let’s go to the mountains for your fall family photos! If you like to hunker down at home, cook meals together as a family, and want to document life as it is right this very moment, then perhaps the perfect location for your fall family photos is in your very own home.
Does your family attend the Western Idaho Fair every single year without fail? Or maybe you never miss the Spirit of Boise Balloon Festival or going to Linder Farms to pick out pumpkins. Whatever it happens to be – treat your fall family photos as an opportunity to document these moments and adventures as a family.
Authentic Styling for Fall Family Photos
Find meaning in what you’re choosing in all aspects of your fall family photos, from the time of year to the location or activity, and also in what you’re choosing to wear. If your daughter is a total tomboy and can’t stand wearing dresses, don’t put her in a dress for your fall family photos. You’ll only end up with a sullen, upset girl who really doesn’t want to be there having her photo taken in “this stupid dress.”
Allow your kids to have some input in what they’re wearing and what you’re choosing to do for your fall family photos – let them get excited about the photo shoot with you. You might be surprised at the ideas they come up with when you let them take some ownership in the planning.
Every family is different, and the more your location or activity choice reflects you, the more you will love your fall family photos 20 years from now.
3. Commit to Making Your Family Photos Special
Okay, you’ve thought ahead and you’ve envisioned that perfect fall family photo session – now commit to it. Don’t phone it in. Buy the new outfit, get your hair and makeup done, find the perfect location even if it’s an hour away, bring Grandma or even the family dog.
Choosing the Right Photographer for Your Family Photos
Hire a photographer who understands your vision and wants to help you achieve incredible fall family photos, not just hand you a disk of images and never see you again. The photoshoot should be so much more than that one hour of actual shooting time.
The planning and coordinating is a massive part of successful and stress-free fall family photos – and the planning and brainstorming is fun! Let’s daydream together and figure out how to make you feel comfortable and allow you all to have fun during your fall family photos.
Investment vs. Expense: Making Family Photos Worth It
Don’t spend money on fall family photos that aren’t authentic to you and end up forgotten in a drawer or on a card that gets tossed into the trash as soon as the holidays are over. Spend money on fall family photos that matter. Get them printed, hang them on the wall, actually send out the Christmas cards.
According to Professional Photographers of America, families who print and display their professional photos report higher satisfaction and more frequent viewing of their images. We promise you won’t regret investing in meaningful fall family photos.
Your Fall Family Photos Action Plan
Alright, so your homework for creating amazing fall family photos is:
- Think about what you want for your next fall family photo session and begin to plan it with intention
- Envision where and how you’re going to display those fall family photos (and please, please don’t say on a harddrive in a drawer until that day in the future that you maybe will print one or two)
- Let us know when you’re ready to commit to creating fall family photos that truly represent your family
Ready to Create Your Best Fall Family Photos Yet?
Fall family photos in Boise don’t have to be stressful or inauthentic. With proper planning, meaningful locations, and a commitment to representing your real family, your fall family photos can become treasured heirlooms that bring joy for decades to come.
The brief but beautiful fall season in the Treasure Valley is approaching fast. Don’t let another year pass without capturing these precious moments with your family. Ready to plan your dream fall family photos? Contact us to discuss your vision and book your session. Our experience with family photos in Boise means we know exactly when and where to capture that perfect golden light and vibrant fall colors your family deserves. Let’s create photos that you’ll love for years to come.
LEAVE A COMMENT
Comments