If you’ve been around here long, you know I’m a sucker for good light and real moments. But throw in a cool breeze, golden hour streaming through changing leaves, and kids stomping through crunchy leaves, and I’m absolutely in my element. There’s just something about fall that feels like a deep breath—and in my opinion, it’s hands-down the best time of year for family photos.

Here’s why:

1. The Light Is Pure Magic

Photographer confession: fall light might be my actual love language. It’s warm and golden, soft and cozy, and somehow makes even the most chaotic toddler moment feel like it belongs in a storybook. The sun sits lower in the sky, which means beautiful light for longer stretches of the day (translation: more flexible session times and less stress over that pre-nap crankiness).

And don’t even get me started on golden hour in October. Chef’s kiss.

2. Fall Colors + Comfy Layers = Effortless Style

Fall wardrobes were made for photos. Give me alllll the earthy tones, textures, and layered knits. I always tell my families: you don’t have to match—just coordinate in a way that feels like you. Fall makes that easy. A cozy cardigan here, a pair of boots there, and suddenly your crew looks like they stepped out of a lifestyle magazine—without actually trying to.

Bonus: cooler weather = less sweat, fewer meltdowns, and way more cuddles.

3. Real Life Slows Down (A Little)

Okay, hear me out. Fall is busy—school pickups, sports, pumpkin patches, all the things. But it’s a different kind of busy. It’s a season that invites us to slow down, gather in close, and savor. I see it in the way families interact this time of year. There’s more stillness, more connection. And that shows up in the photos.

These are the images that end up framed. The ones where everyone’s a little more present, a little more themselves. The ones you’ll look back on years from now and say, That was us.

4. You’ll Have Them in Time for Holiday Cards (And Gifts!)

This one’s practical, but it matters! A fall photo session means you’ll have your gallery ready with plenty of time to send holiday cards you actually love—or print a few favorite images for gifts that grandparents will definitely cry over (in the good way).

Because as much as we say photos are for us… they’re kind of for everyone else too, aren’t they?

At the end of the day, fall photos aren’t about the outfits or the leaves or even the perfect light (though I’ll never say no to any of those). They’re about pressing pause, if only for an hour, and choosing to be fully present with your people.

And if you ask me? That’s always in season.