Fall in Alaska means golden light, crisp mountain air, and vibrant foliage—creating the perfect backdrop for your family portraits. But one of the biggest questions I get is: “What should we wear?” That’s why I’ve put together this 2025 blog post guide to fall family session outfits in Alaska. Whether you’re dressing moms, dads, teens, or little ones, these tips will help you stay on-trend, comfortable, and photo-ready for your portraits.

Why These Trends Work in Alaska

• Rich Colors & Textures: Think golden beige, deep plum, olive green, steel grey, and dusty pink—colors that complement changing fall foliage.

• Movement-Friendly Silhouettes: Flowing maxi skirts, relaxed trousers, and cozy knits let your family move, hug, and laugh naturally.

• Layered & Tailored Outerwear: Leather coats, trench layers, and structured pieces offer warmth and style that complement Alaska’s mountain scenery.

Outfit Ideas by Family Member

Mom

• A flowing midi dress or maxi skirt layered with a knit cardigan or cozy sweater—a perfect blend of romance and comfort.

• Rich tones like plum, olive, or golden beige pair beautifully with fall foliage and coordinate across family members.

• Denim or suede skirts with tights or tall boots keep your look polished and chill-proof.

Dad

• Think structured outerwear like coats or jackets in deep olive or navy for a timeless, rugged look.

• Layered neutrals—taupe sweaters over gray or denim trousers—create a grounded, cohesive palette.

Younger Kids

• Go for warm neutrals—ivory, beige, taupe—paired with textured sweaters and cozy scarves.

• Add a pop of season with dusty pink or golden beige accessories (hats, mittens, boots).

Teens

• Flowing skirts with knit tops or cropped sweaters provide a stylized, movement-friendly layered look.

• Incorporate fashion-forward pieces like baggy jeans, leather jackets, or statement boots (chelsea or knee-high)—they’re trending for fall 2025. Teens feel better during a session if they feel like that have a say in their outfit 😀

Coordinated Color Palette Suggestions

• Golden Beige + Steel Grey: Modern, serene, and versatile.

• Olive + Plum: Rich, earthy tones that pop against autumn foliage.

• Dusty Pink + Navy: Soft meets deep contrast—romantic and refined.

• Use muted palettes for timeless elegance, or jewel tones for a bolder statement.

Styling Tips

1. Start with Mom’s outfit—then build the rest of the family’s coordinating palette from there.

2. Mix textures: Wool, suede, knit—these layered textures photograph beautifully and add depth.

3. Aim for movement—flowy fabrics, layers, and comfy pieces mean more candid and joyful photos.

4. Limit bold prints, but a neutral animal print accent (like a scarf or boots) can feel trendy without overpowering.

See this BLOG POST for more styling tips!

Fall 2025 is all about cozy elegance—with timeless neutrals, soft textures, and elevated layers that travel beautifully through your memories. When families embrace these trends, your Alaska portraits become as memorable as the season itself.

🍂 Ready to style your session and capture your family’s fall magic? Let’s BOOK a session and craft your coordinated looks together.

7 Tips for Preparing for Your Winter Session

Some people shy away from winter sessions because, well, it’s cold. But winter sessions make for some prime photo ops, so don’t write off the brr months. I LOVE winter sessions and the peaceful stunning backdrops they provide! The mountains really love to show off in the winter!

1. Keep tracking the weather. Those white winter days after a lot of snowfall can result in some seriously gorgeous photographs. Booking two months out probably won’t work, and you’ll instead want to book on a shorter notice. I leave room in my schedule to allow for winter sessions

2. Really play up the winter accessories when planning outfits. Think cozy knit scarves, colorful coats, adorable boots, mittens, beanies and more.

3. Plan the day out so that nobody gets fussy or too cold. A bribe of hot chocolate after the session goes a long way. Also make sure that everyone’s dressed warmly. I recommend mittens, even the cheap ones from Walmart or Fred Meyer. You can fit Costco base layers under most outfits to give an extra layer of warmth. Wear shoes that are warm over dressy. I know it’s hard, but the session will go much smoother! Hand warmers are a must! You can put them in pockets, gloves, etc. Also, the foot or body warmers!

4. Don’t be afraid to have fun in that snow. Snowball fights? Tossing the snow in the air. The possibilities are endless and this should be all about having fun. 

5. Choose colors and prints that pop. An all white background is absolutely beautiful, but having that pop of jewel toned green or that flash of knit texture can really make for a gorgeous photograph.

6. Pack the necessities. Noses tend to run in the cold, and glasses can fog up. Bring tissues, hand-warming packs, clean clothes and hot beverages to keep everyone perky throughout the shoot. 

7. Because it can be really cold, note that a shorter session may be in order. Make the most of your photos by using every single second to the max, especially at the beginning of the session when everyone’s still warm and spirits are particularly high. I tend to work quickly and move around a lot to ensure we get a full session packed into a much shorter time! I also choose locations that offer a lot of variety in one area.

I LOVE winter sessions with the gorgeous light, cozy textures, and breathtaking scenery! I can’t wait to photograph your family soon!