Family photos from different seasons in Connecticut in a grid with a title "the best season to take your family photos"

The Best Season for Connecticut Family Photos | Connecticut Family Photographer

Trying to decide when to schedule your family photos? Let’s chat about what makes each season different and what is right for your family. 

There are a lot of details that go into planning your family photo session. Timing, weather, locations, and wardrobe are some factors that I can help you coordinate as your family photographer in Southeastern Connecticut. This guide outlines the pros and cons of each season with some details to help you pick the best option for your family in Southeastern Connecticut.

Here are some things to consider when scheduling your family photos in different seasons:

Summer Family Photos

Beach days, sunshine, green everywhere. I’ll be honest, summer is my favorite season (shh, don’t tell autumn). 

Summer family photos are a favorite for me, but there can also be some challenges.

Pros:

  • Warmer weather  (beach photos where you can actually take your shoes off!)
  • Blooming flowers and trees
  • Longer photo season (more date flexibility)
  • Checked off your calendar before back to school

Cons:

  • Humidity
  • Late sunsets (challenging for littles with early bedtimes)
  • Mosquitos + Ticks (but bug spray is great and invisible in photographs)
  • Prime locations can be crowded

Best for: all families

Colors to wear: white, navy, light blue, cream, mauve, khaki

Favorite location: Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT

Why? Harkness has gorgeous gardens in the summer, beautiful fields, and a beach for perfect sunset photos. It is a gem in Southeastern Connecticut for photo sessions (or just family fun).

Check out more information about summer family photo sessions.

Fall Family Photos

Family walking and holding hands at Ledyard Sawmill with fall foliage.

Fall in New England is unbeatable. Beautiful foliage and comfortable temperatures, it’s no wonder that many families always pick fall for family photos. Here are the details to know if considering a fall family session:

Pros:

  • Beautiful foliage that is quintessential New England
  • Fewer bugs
  • Comfortable weather
  • Earlier sunsets

Cons: 

  • Short peak foliage season
    • Peak foliage usually only lasts about one week. If you miss it, you’re too late. If it is a very rainy season, many of the leaves can even fall before peak and you can have a bare tree backdrop.
  • Busier schedules (tough for parents with kids in sports)
  • High demand (may be harder to book)
  • Unpredictable weather (harder to choose outfits)
Mother, baby, and father pose together in front of a wooden bridge and a bright orange tree during peak fall foliate at Ledyard Sawmill.

Best for: families with young kids

Colors to wear: ivory, cream, maroon, navy, darker sage green, khaki, burnt orange

Favorite location: Sawmill Pond, Ledyard, CT

Why? The Ledyard Sawmill is a historic up-down sawmill on a beautiful property. With a large pond and gorgeous foliage, the Sawmill is a great backdrop for fall family photos in Southeastern Connecticut.

Learn more about my upcoming fall family photo sessions.

Winter Family Photos

Mother, father, and baby snuggled together at Geer Tree Farm in Preston CT

Winter family photos can be a fantastic way to end the year (and a way to make sure you get those holiday cards out). But winter in New England is no joke, so here are some things to consider when booking your winter family photo session.

Pros:

  • No bugs
  • Early sunsets
  • Holiday cards will be very recent photographs

Cons:

  • Holiday cards may feel stressful to order depending on session timing
  • Unpredictable weather (either moderate or very cold)
  • Limited location options

Best for: families with older kids

Colors to wear: maroon, navy, cream, hunter green, navy

Favorite location: Geer Tree Farm, Griswold, CT

Why? A Christmas tree farm! If you celebrate Christmas, these are the ultimate holiday photos without being covered in decorations. They are festive without being over the top, and it makes for beautiful photos.

Find out more about my winter family photo sessions.

Spring Family Photos

Mom with four children posing for a photo at Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in Preston, CT

The sun is shining. It’s finally not freezing. You can wear the pretty dress you’ve had tucked away in the back of your closet. Spring has sprung!

Spring family photos are a great way to celebrate the season changing and update your photos for the year.

Pros:

  • Warmer weather (sometimes)
  • Earlier sunsets (great for littles with early bedtimes!)
  • Less crowded than other seasons
  • Photos delivered well before the rush

Cons:

  • Lots of rainy days (maybe a reschedule)
  • Chillier temperatures (sometimes)
  • Trees are still leafless and many gardens aren’t blooming yet
  • Photos might feel dated for holiday cards
A boy kisses his mother's nose at Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in Preston, CT

Best for: all families

Colors to wear: white, cream, dusty blue, light pink, sage, khaki

Favorite location: Wicked Tulips Flower Farm, Preston, CT

Why? Wicked Tulips is only open for a few weeks in late spring with thousands of tulips. It’s a unique and gorgeous backdrop, plus you get to pick tulips with your family and create a beautiful memory while getting beautiful family photos!

Find out more about upcoming spring family sessions.

No matter your season, your family deserves timeless and beautiful artwork of this season of life. If you want to discuss your ideal session and see what would work best with your family, contact me!

Check out what is booking now here, or join the mailing list to be the first to know about the next season!

Four images in a grid with photos from four family photo sessions and text in the center "the best season to take your family photos"