When Is the Best Time to Schedule Family Photos in Northern Colorado?

Family of 6 standing in a grassy park with trees in the background in the fall. They're smiling at each other with arms around each other.

If you’re thinking about updating your family photos this year, you may be wondering: When is the best time to schedule family photos?

The short answer is: it depends on what you want from your session.

If you’re hoping for fall colors, photos for holiday cards, or portraits that can be displayed in your home before the holidays, September and October are especially popular. But fall isn’t the only good time for family portraits. Every season in Northern Colorado offers something different.

The best time to schedule your family session is the time that fits your family’s needs, your preferred look, and how you plan to use your photographs.

When should I schedule fall family photos?

Those dates can fill quickly, especially for families looking for weekend appointments or specific locations.

If fall portraits are important to you, I recommend reaching out early rather than waiting until the leaves have already started changing. Planning ahead gives you more choices for your date, time, location, and wardrobe.

And if your goal is to have your portraits ready for holiday cards, gifts, or decorating your home, scheduling earlier in the fall gives you more breathing room.

Family of 4 squatting and sitting in tall sunlit grasses smiling at the camera.

When should I schedule family photos for holiday cards?

If you’re planning to use your family portraits for holiday cards, it’s a good idea to think about your session before you need the photographs.

Remember that your photography experience doesn’t end when the session is over. You’ll need time to view your images, choose your favorites, order your cards or artwork, and receive the finished products.

Planning ahead gives you room to enjoy the process instead of trying to coordinate everyone’s schedules, photographs, and holiday orders at the last minute.

And your photographs don’t have to be specifically for holiday cards. Your family portraits can become artwork for your home, gifts for grandparents, albums, or simply photographs you’ll treasure as your children grow.

Family of 4 sitting on a railroad tie bridge in the evening sunlight.

Is fall the only good time for family photos?

Not at all.

One of the great things about living in Northern Colorado is that every season gives you a different backdrop for family portraits.

Spring can bring fresh greenery, blooming trees, and a lighter, more colorful feel.

Summer offers longer days, green landscapes, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor sessions.

Fall is popular for its warm colors, changing leaves, and cozy feeling.

Winter can create a completely different look, especially if you’re drawn to evergreen trees, snow, or a more relaxed indoor session.

There isn’t one “correct” season for family photos. The right season is the one that fits your family and the kind of portraits you want to create.

Family of 5 standing in a field of short wheat grass with mountains behind them and a smoky atmosphere from fires nearby in Loveland, Colorado.

How far in advance should I book a family photography session?

There’s no magic number of weeks that applies to every family, but the more specific your preferences are, the earlier I’d recommend reaching out.

If you have a particular fall weekend in mind, want a specific location, need to coordinate several family members’ schedules, or want your images ready for holiday cards, don’t wait until the last minute.

Booking early also gives you time to think about clothing without feeling rushed.

And if you’re reading this in March, April, May, or another time that isn’t fall, don’t assume you need to wait until September.

You can plan your session for the season you actually want.

What should we wear for family photos?

One of the questions I hear most often is, “What should we wear?”

You won’t have to figure it all out on your own. Once you book your family portrait session, I’ll send you my Family Portrait Experience Guide, filled with helpful tips to prepare for your session, including guidance on choosing outfits for the whole family.

The guide also walks you through other important details so you know what to expect and can feel prepared before your session day arrives.

And if you still have questions, I’m here to help. Planning your family’s portraits shouldn’t feel overwhelming.

Family of 7 sitting and lying in a grassy park with a large tree behind them during their family portrait session in Greeley, Colorado.

What if our family isn’t “perfect” for pictures?

Your family doesn’t need to be perfectly coordinated, perfectly posed, or perfectly behaved.

Kids move. Toddlers get distracted. Someone will probably make everyone laugh at the wrong time. That’s normal.

Family portraits aren’t about creating a picture that looks like your family stood perfectly still for five minutes.

They’re about capturing the people you are right now.

Your children won’t always be this age. Their personalities will change. Their favorite things will change. Even the way they interact with each other will change.

That’s part of why these photographs matter.

4 siblings lying on each other in yellow leaves covering green grass for their family pictures.

So, when is the best time to schedule family photos?

The best time is the time that works for your family and gives you enough time to enjoy the process.

If you want fall colors or photographs for holiday cards, start planning before the busy fall season. If you prefer spring greenery, summer sunshine, or a winter session, there’s no reason to wait for fall.

And if you’ve been saying, “We really need to update our family pictures,” this is your sign to stop putting it off.

Your family is changing whether you photograph it or not.

Let’s make sure you have the photographs to remember this season of your family’s life.

A family of 4 is standing holding a picture frame around them, smiling at the camera in Eaton Colorado with a rustic building behind them and tree branches hanging overhead.

A mother and and two young sons are hugging each other near a decorative tree with leaves hanging to the ground.

Ready to Plan Your Family Session?

Whether you’re hoping to update your family’s portraits, celebrate a milestone, create artwork for your home, or have photographs ready for holiday cards and gifts, there’s no bad time to plan a family session. I’ll help you choose the right time of year, location, and wardrobe for the look and experience you’re envisioning.

Carol Dunnigan Photography proudly serves families throughout Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Eaton, Severance, Wellington, Johnstown, Milliken, Ault, and the surrounding communities.

Ready to start planning your family session? I’d love to hear about your family and help you create portraits you’ll enjoy for years to come.

👉 Start Planning Your Family Session

More Family Portrait Tips

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Still have questions? Feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help you figure out what will work best for your family.