About three years ago, after gaining a new writing client, I thought it was time to finally get some
professional headshots taken. The timing was perfect. I was updating my website and had created some
marketing materials so things were falling into place. Everything was great, except for the fact that it was
the end of June, in Texas. Of course, the photoshoot needed to be outside to catch some of the amazing
natural light, which meant that I spent about three hours in the sun on a 103° day. Keeping the river of
sweat on my forehead from photobombing my professional shots proved to be more work than the mile-
long hike it took to get to the location of the shoot. I survived that shoot, but later on I thought about how
it could have easily been avoided had I planned for a shoot in the cooler months. Hopefully this post will
convince you to do the same.
So, Texas is finally getting some fall weather, which in the South typically means anytime the
temperature drops below 70 degrees. Southerners have waited an excruciatingly hot six months (yes, six
months) of summer for these cool days. Now is the perfect time to get out there and take those family
photos. Why wait until the winter season to have your holiday card photos taken? Here are a few reasons
why the fall season is best time to line up little Timmy and Tanya or Rufus the labradoodle outside and
create photos that will last a lifetime
1. You Won’t Melt into a Puddle of Sweat.
Please see my story above. Let’s face it, it’s hot as Hades in Texas between the months of June-October.
Around the end of October we finally start to see glimpses of what I like to call, “Cold Front Season.”
It’s not quite a normal fall in terms of getting cold and staying that way, it’s more like a cold front that
drops temperatures below 70 degrees for a few days, and then it jumps back up to 85°-90°. Either way,
you have to take advantage of the ability to actually sit (or stand) outside for longer than 30 minutes,
which means the photo shoot won’t leave you burned and applying aloe vera to your skin several days
later. You can actually pick a shoot location outdoors and get some great natural lighting without melting
your face off!
2. The Colors Duke, the Colors!
Summer is nice, but in Texas it tends to get so hot, that things just turn brown and die without some
diligence in watering. However, fall seasonal colors are the best. The foliage is no longer getting beat up
by the unbearable summer sun and the leaves finally begin to realize that winter is coming. What that
means for you is that there are lovely colors everywhere, and lovely colors mean lovely pictures. Because
fall colors tend to be neutrals, you can color coordinate to your heart’s content. In addition to the color
coordinating, the weather is cool enough to add in some additional matching accessories. Try hats,
mittens, gloves or scarves for additions to your holiday card.
3. Holiday Props
In addition to cooler weather, the fall season welcomes in what the internet lovingly refers to as
“HallowThanksmas,” or the season in which we celebrate or prepare for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and
Christmas/other holidays. What this means for you is that you have the ability to use lots and lots of props
of your choice in your photo shoots. Feel free to pull out that Menorah and Dreidel, plant yourself in a
pumpkin patch or pull out the famous ugly Christmas sweaters and lawn snowman. Try variations of all
of those things if you are feeling adventurous this year. Just know that fall is the perfect season to take
advantage.
Hopefully this article encouraged you to go ahead and book your family photoshoot now. Take advantage
of the cool breezes, the awesome fall colors and the opportunity to pull out the Christmas tree early. The
cool weather might not last for very long and come Christmas, we may very well be looking at a sunny 90
degree day.
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