The Best Month for a Fall Photo Session

Foliage, the cooler weather, comfy sweaters, fuzzy blankets, and the dreamy multi-colored foliage backdrops make the fall season one of the most popular for portraits. So the next question is… what month should I book my session for?

Below I break down what you can expect for each of the fall months so you can decide if September, October, November, or December is best for your photoshoot. Keep in mind I’m based in New York City and my thoughts and opinions are my own based on the previous local (NY/CT/NJ) photo sessions.

September

Fall technically does start at the end of September!

Things to Know

Is September technically fall? Well, yes and no! Fall starts at the end of September, days are getting shorter and a bit cooler. You can dress fall-ish for your session OR pretend it’s still summer! Or better yet, do a summery look and a fall look.

The leaves do start falling and some late summer flowers are fall colors (looking at you, black eyed Susan’s!) and beautiful.

The sunrises slightly later in the morning so you don’t have to do a 5 or 6am session to get the morning light. Sunset sets later in the day, so evening sessions start around 5/530pm.

The staff at Michelle Rose Photo strategically pick locations based on foliage to create the most “fall” looking images in September.

Why It’s Right for You
You are an early bird and plan your holiday cards ahead of time. You love summer but it’s too hot for an outdoor session. You want to do a summer AND fall look. You want your photos to look less fall and more evergreen. Early morning and evening session aren’t at extremely late or early times.

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October

My favorite month of the year! (Yay for Libra babies!)

Things to Know
October is usually the warmest month of the fall season with some sessions happening in 80-degree weather! The foliage can be slow to change, depending on your location, so most of the October images will have green trees and grass. We tend to see falling leaves early in October, so there should be some on the ground most of the month. For the best chance for color changes should happen at the very end of October.

Why It’s Right for You
If you want to get your holiday cards out before anyone else, avoid the cold as much as you can, and don’t mind green grass in your photos then October is the right month for you!

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November

This is the month where the trees peak in color (usually!) and you’ll get the most “fall” looking images. It’s always such a treat to watch the leaves change.

Here’s What You Should Know
The weather is the most unpredictable in November. Last winter was warm with multiple days hitting 65 degrees with an average temp of about 51 degrees overall. In years past, the temps have dipped during November and snow has made some appearances too! It’s usually warm enough most days to throw coats off for photos. Worried about being cold during a session? Pro tip – I rely on my hand warmers and Thermacare heat wraps under my clothes to keep me toasty.

Why it Works
Obviously, the weather is a gamble but if you want those gorgeous vibrant multicolored trees, November is the month for you!

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December

Believe it or not, the beginning of December is still very colorful! It looks like fall color timing will be similar to last year here in NYC.

Good to Know
December should be very colorful this year! Later in the month the muted color palette is super flattering to any winter outfit. Last year (2021) the weather was unseasonably warm in December with some days in the 60’s. I expect this winter to be similar to last year, and hope for another great month of sun and mid 50 degree days.

Keep in Mind
Put your most festive winter outfit on and let’s play with some leaves!! Don’t have a fabulous winter coat? Rent one — check out my fav rental sites Rent the Runway and Tulerie.

Worried you won’t get holiday cards out in time? New Year’s cards are the new holiday cards, and I think we can all agree that we are happy to leave this year behind us! Looking forward to ringing in a fresh new year with fabulous New Year’s cards!

Speaking of cards… we recommend Minted.com for all your life event announcements, invitations, and holiday cards. Michelle Rose Photo clients get a special link to Minted.com for easy holiday card purchases, and special discount codes for extra savings.

Looking forward to seeing you this fall season!