What to Wear for an Autumn Photoshoot: Colour Palettes, Outfit Ideas & Styling Tips
Your guide to choosing beautiful, coordinated outfits for an autumn family, maternity or couples photoshoot in Leeds and Yorkshire.
There is something truly magical about autumn. The golden light, the rustling leaves, the rich colours and the feeling of the world slowing down make it one of my favourite seasons for outdoor photography.
Whether we're wandering through a beautiful Yorkshire park, exploring a woodland path or finding a quiet little corner beneath the autumn trees, this season creates the most wonderful backdrop for photographs filled with warmth, connection and nostalgia.
But once you've booked your autumn photoshoot, there's usually one big question:
What on earth should we wear?
If you've been staring at your wardrobe wondering which colours work together, whether everyone needs to match or if your favourite coat will look right in photographs, this guide is for you.
The good news? You don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe or dress everyone in matching outfits. A few thoughtfully chosen colours, comfortable layers and complementary textures can make all the difference.
To make things easier, I've put together some of my favourite autumn outfit ideas, with colour palettes inspired by real photographs from my autumn family, children's and maternity sessions.
1. Warm Autumn Neutrals: Timeless Family Photoshoot Outfits
Colour palette: Camel · Oatmeal · Warm Taupe · Soft Beige · Olive Green
If you're looking for a colour palette that feels timeless, warm and effortlessly coordinated, you really can't go wrong with earthy neutrals.
Camel, oatmeal, warm taupe, beige and olive green work beautifully against autumn's golden leaves and deeper woodland colours. These shades complement one another without competing for attention, allowing the people and their connection to remain the focus of the photograph.
In the family portrait on the right, the camel coat, taupe jumper, oatmeal knitwear and beige jacket create a wonderfully cohesive look. Everyone is dressed differently, but the colours work together naturally.
How to recreate this look:
Start with one main colour, such as camel or warm beige.
Add complementary neutrals, including cream, oatmeal and taupe.
Introduce a deeper shade, such as olive green, chocolate brown or darker shade of denim, for contrast.
Mix different fabrics and textures to keep the outfits visually interesting.
For example, Mum might wear a camel wool coat with jeans, Dad a warm grey or taupe jumper, and the children a combination of cream knitwear, beige trousers and soft brown accessories.
The result is beautifully coordinated without looking as though everyone has been dressed in a uniform.
My styling tip: Choose two or three main colours and allow each family member to wear a slightly different combination. You don't need everyone to wear every colour in your chosen palette.
2. A Pop of Colour: Red, Rust and Rich Autumn Shades
Colour palette: Berry Red · Pumpkin · Rust · Chestnut · Cream
When people think of autumn photoshoot outfits, they often imagine nothing but beige, brown and burnt orange.
But autumn is also the perfect season to embrace a little colour!
A rich berry red, muted burgundy, deep rust or warm pumpkin shade can look absolutely gorgeous against golden leaves and soft, earthy backgrounds.
Just look at the little girl in the red coat and matching beret. The beautiful red immediately draws your eye, while the surrounding autumn colours create a warm, harmonious backdrop.
It's a wonderful example of how a stronger colour can add personality to a photograph without overpowering it.
How to recreate this look:
Choose one richer colour as your statement shade and surround it with softer, complementary neutrals.
A berry-red dress or coat, for example, could be paired with cream tights, brown boots and a warm beige cardigan. For a family session, other family members could wear oatmeal, camel, chocolate brown or muted rust.
If you love a more colourful wardrobe, mustard yellow, forest green and deep burgundy can also work beautifully during autumn.
My styling tip: You don't need to dress everyone in bold colours. One carefully chosen statement piece is often enough to bring a whole family outfit together.
3. Soft and Romantic: Autumn Maternity Photoshoot Outfits
Colour palette: Ivory · Oatmeal · Mushroom · Mocha · Muted Rust
Autumn maternity photography doesn't have to be all about dark colours and heavy layers. In fact, some of my favourite autumn maternity photographs feature soft creams, delicate textures and neutral tones.
Ivory, oatmeal, warm beige and mushroom create a beautifully romantic look, particularly when photographed against the richer colours of an autumn landscape.
In this maternity portrait, the cream knitted dress stands out gently against the warm, earthy background. Its texture adds depth, while the soft, neutral colour keeps the photograph feeling elegant and understated.
The wide-brimmed hat adds a little personality and gives the whole image a relaxed, cinematic feel.
What to wear for an autumn maternity photoshoot:
Long knitted dresses, soft flowing gowns and comfortable, fitted dresses are all lovely options. Depending on the look you're hoping to achieve, you could also choose a chunky cardigan, a long wool coat or a soft shawl.
If you'd like your bump to be more defined, a fitted knitted dress can create a beautiful silhouette. Alternatively, a flowing dress can introduce movement and a softer, more romantic feeling.
For photographs with your partner or children, choose complementary neutral outfits rather than matching everything exactly.
My styling tip: Comfort is especially important during a maternity session. Choose clothing that allows you to move naturally, feels comfortable around your bump and makes you feel beautiful.
The most meaningful photographs are often the ones where you're relaxed enough to forget about the camera and simply enjoy the moment.
4. Classic Golden Autumn: Camel, Mustard and Burgundy
Colour palette: Camel · Burnt Orange · Muted Burgundy · Mustard · Chocolate Brown
If you love everything about autumn - the colourful leaves, cosy coats, woollen scarves and warm, earthy shades, this palette might be your favourite.
Camel, burnt orange, mustard, muted burgundy and chocolate brown echo the colours of the season and create a beautifully rich, nostalgic look.
In this photograph, the camel coat and beret work wonderfully with the golden foliage, while the checked scarf introduces several complementary shades.
It's a great example of how to use a pattern without making an outfit feel too busy.
How to recreate this look:
Start with a classic autumn piece, such as a camel coat, a rust-coloured jumper or a mustard cardigan.
Build the rest of the outfit around it using softer shades of beige, brown and cream. Add a patterned scarf, textured knitwear or a simple hat to give the outfit a little extra character.
For children's autumn photoshoots, I particularly love wool coats, knitted cardigans, corduroy trousers, pinafore dresses and soft scarves. They have a timeless quality that looks just as beautiful in photographs years later.
My styling tip: Patterns work best when they're used sparingly. If one person is wearing a checked scarf, floral dress or patterned jumper, keep the other outfits relatively simple.
5. How to Coordinate Outfits for an Autumn Family Photoshoot
One of the most common questions I hear before a family photoshoot is whether everyone should wear matching clothes. My answer is almost always the same: Coordinate, don't match.
You don't need everyone in identical jeans and white shirts. In fact, choosing slightly different but complementary outfits usually creates a much more natural and visually interesting photograph.
The easiest way to coordinate your family's outfits is to choose a palette of three to five colours and use those shades throughout everyone's clothing.
For example, you could build your family's wardrobe around: Cream + Camel + Rust + Olive Green + Denim Blue
Mum might wear a cream knitted dress with a camel coat. Dad could choose a taupe jumper and dark denim trousers. One child might wear an olive cardigan with beige trousers, while another wears a rust-coloured dress or jumper.
The outfits will work beautifully together, but everyone will still have their own individual style.
A few things to keep in mind:
Lay all the outfits next to one another before the session to see how the colours work together.
Mix light, medium and darker shades to create balance.
Choose complementary textures rather than dressing everyone in the same fabric.
Avoid having one outfit that feels dramatically more formal or casual than the others.
Make sure everyone feels comfortable and can move freely.
Most importantly, choose clothes that feel like your family.
If your little one loves wearing dresses, let them wear a dress. If your partner feels most comfortable in a cosy jumper and trousers, there's no need to persuade them into something completely different.
Beautiful family photographs are about the people in them, not just the clothes they're wearing.
6. Embrace Texture and Layers
Autumn is the perfect season for experimenting with textures.
Chunky knitted jumpers, wool coats, soft scarves, corduroy, suede and flowing fabrics all add visual depth to photographs.
Even when everyone is wearing similar colours, combining different textures can make the outfits feel more interesting and thoughtfully styled.
Layers are particularly useful for outdoor autumn photoshoots in Yorkshire, where the weather can be wonderfully unpredictable!
A cardigan, jacket or coat can be added or removed throughout your session, giving us different looks without needing a complete outfit change.
For children, layers also mean we can keep them warm and comfortable while they're exploring, playing and enjoying the outdoors.
I always recommend choosing shoes that suit our location, too. An autumn photoshoot might involve walking through fallen leaves, exploring woodland paths or standing on slightly damp grass.
Beautiful boots or comfortable, understated shoes are often a much more practical choice than delicate footwear.
7. What Colours and Clothing Should You Avoid?
There aren't many strict rules when it comes to choosing your photoshoot outfits, and I would never want you to feel that you have to dress in a particular way. However, a few things can be distracting in photographs.
Neon and fluorescent colours: These can look particularly intense against natural autumn backgrounds and may reflect unwanted colour onto your skin.
Large logos and bold graphics: They can draw attention away from faces and the connection between people.
Very busy patterns: Multiple competing patterns can make a group photograph feel cluttered. If you love patterns, try choosing one patterned piece and coordinating the remaining outfits around it.
Identical outfits: Dressing everyone exactly the same can make the photographs feel overly staged. Complementary colours generally create a softer, more natural result.
Uncomfortable clothing: If something constantly needs adjusting, feels too restrictive or doesn't keep you warm enough, it can make it harder to relax and enjoy your session.
Above all, don't feel that you have to follow every styling suggestion perfectly. These are simply ideas to help you choose outfits that photograph beautifully while still feeling like yourselves.
8. Don't Forget to Dress for the Experience
One of the things I love most about outdoor autumn photography is that it's about so much more than standing in front of the camera and smiling.
It's about little hands collecting fallen leaves, children running along woodland paths, families cuddling together beneath the trees and couples enjoying a quiet moment in the beautiful autumn light.
Your outfits should allow you to experience all of that. Choose clothing that you can comfortably walk, sit, cuddle and play in. Think about whether you'll be warm enough, whether your shoes are suitable for the location and whether your children will feel comfortable exploring.
And if the weather calls for an extra layer or a cosy scarf, embrace it. Those little details can become part of the story.
Autumn Mini Sessions in Leeds
If you're dreaming of warm and vibrant autumn photographs, you might want to have a look at my Autumn MIni Sessions. It’s my seasonal special offer - £130 for 20-30 min of shooting on location and 5 high resolution digital images. Sessions will take place on Saturday 17 October in Golden Acre Park in Leeds.
And if you prefer a more relaxed experience without time restriction, explore my outdoor photography sessions or get in touch to start planning your photoshoot.
With love, Kasia x