When Is the Best Time for Fall Family Photos in Metro Detroit?
Every year I wait and wait for fall in Michigan… and every year it feels like it lasts five minutes.
One day everything is green, then suddenly the trees are gorgeous, and before we know it, all the leaves are on the ground.
And as a photographer, every fall I get the same question:
When is the BEST time to schedule fall family photos?
And my answer might surprise you — because it's not necessarily peak fall color.
September is seriously underrated
If you have younger kids, September might actually be my favorite month for family photos.
It's warmer, sunset is later, and we have those beautiful golden fields mixed with green trees and the very beginning of fall color.
Why does the warmer weather matter?
Because cold kids are usually done with photos VERY quickly.
In September, kids can run, play, cuddle and explore without coats covering their outfits or everyone thinking about how cold they are.
And because sunset is later, we also have a little more flexibility with evening schedules.
If you love warm, golden, natural photographs more than you care about having orange leaves everywhere, don't overlook September.
October gives you more color — but there is a trade-off
October is beautiful in Michigan. There's a reason everyone wants it.
The trees start changing, leaves begin covering the ground, and everything immediately feels more like fall.
But here's what I always want families to know:
More fall color doesn't automatically mean a better session.
The later we get into October, the earlier the sun sets and the less predictable the weather becomes.
A beautiful 65-degree afternoon can turn into a 45-degree evening very quickly.
And if we get several days of rain or strong wind right around peak color? A lot of those leaves can disappear faster than you expect.
So waiting for the “perfect” weekend can sometimes mean missing it altogether.
So when is peak fall color?
This is where Michigan makes things interesting.
There isn't a magic date that I can put on the calendar every year.
Temperature, rain, wind and the location itself all affect when the trees change. Even two parks around Metro Detroit can look completely different during the same week.
That's why I don't recommend choosing your session date based only on trying to predict peak color.
Instead, think about the feeling you want.
Want warm weather, golden grass and some green? Go earlier.
Want a mix of green, yellow and orange? Early October is a great middle ground.
Want the strongest fall colors and leaves on the ground? Look toward the middle or later part of October — knowing we're taking a little more of a gamble with weather.
Here's the part people forget: sunset changes too
This one is important, especially with little kids.
As we move through fall, sunset gets earlier and earlier.
And because I schedule outdoor sessions around the best light, your October session may need to start noticeably earlier than a September session.
That can be great for families with young children who go to bed early.
But if you have older kids with school, soccer, dance or other activities, an earlier weekday session can suddenly become much harder to make work.
So when you're choosing your fall date, don't only look at the leaves.
Look at your family's schedule too.
When should you actually BOOK?
Earlier than you probably think.
You don't need to see orange leaves outside before booking an October session.
Actually, by the time that happens, many photographers' best fall dates are already booked.
Booking early gives you more options for dates and times, and it gives us time to plan your location and outfits without you ordering six sweaters two days before your session and hoping one of them works.
And yes, you can absolutely book an October session while it's still summer.
If you ask me to choose...
For families with younger kids, I LOVE late September through early October.
You still get that beautiful fall feeling, but we usually have more comfortable temperatures, more flexibility and enough color and texture to make everything feel like the season.
If your number-one priority is colorful leaves, then waiting a little longer into October makes sense.
But I would never postpone family photos just because the trees aren't “perfect” yet.
The leaves are the background.
Your family is the photograph.
And if you're not sure when to schedule your fall family photos in Rochester Hills or Metro Detroit, that's something I can help you figure out. Tell me the look you love, your kids' ages and what your schedule looks like, and we'll choose a date that makes sense for your family.
