Fall photo sessions make me giddy every year. Why? Because, to me, it means that we are inching closer to what I like to call, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Christmas Card Season. The art of physical mail, the individual story that each one brings, and the celebration of family, new life, and growth just hits different during the holidays. But I digress.

Bringing it on back to family photos. What we know as moms, especially with multiple kids, is that even the seemingly small event can sometimes require a copious amount of effort and planning. Between work, school drop off, soccer games, dance classes, robotics club, meal planning, 12 loads of laundry, the book club you decided to join to check something off your yearly goals list (and regretted immediately after), fall festivals that you zealously committed to bring the snack mix for, and the 6 fundraisers that your “kids” are encouraged to participate in, who truly has the bandwidth to even entertain the idea of family photos? And on top of planning the actual photo session with your favorite local photographer, what do you wear or where do you even begin shopping? The only person who we’ve bought new clothes for this past year is my 5 year old boy who was at risk of going out in a crop top with his 2T basics. Anyone else with me?

Consider this a gentle hand on your back – I’ve got you and the entire family covered.

For moms, this dress from H&M is one that works for all seasons of life. Bonus points for evoking the neutral color palette of my dreams. For those who love to shop local, Wildland carries a beautiful curation of incredible brands.

For dads, or those of you responsible for making them look *chef’s kiss*, Madewell, Everlane, and Mango are my tried and true shops for menswear. These joggers from Mango bring a comfortable but still put together vibe, which is a win for everyone involved.

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For the babies, both young and old, I love adding touches of pattern and personality into their outfits. This structured checkered dress from Zara is sure to give you the festive feel and guaranteed “twirling” abilities. A hat like this, also from Zara, is a great way to showcase the personality of your boys and lets them have a little fun along the way. H&M, Cottontail Jones, Zara, Quincy Mae, and Kindly the Label are great places to start when looking for all things kids clothes.

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Find a color palette that you love and pull items that bring out those colors. It’s fully acceptable to sway from the identical matching outfits. Set the tone, laugh as much as possible, and be sure to allow your photographer time to capture the candid moments between you and your family. Those photos often end up being the gold.