Best Time of Year for Family Photos in Michigan

Fall (September – November)

Fall is the most popular season for family photos in Michigan, and it earns that title every year. The foliage from late September through mid-October transforms parks like Kensington, Island Lake, and Stony Creek into a painter's palette of golds, reds, and oranges. The colors do half the work for me.

The weather is ideal — comfortable enough for kids to run around without overheating, cool enough for cozy layers that look great in photos. Golden hour happens at a family-friendly time, usually between 5:00 and 6:30 PM, so you're not keeping little ones up past bedtime.

The downside is demand. Fall weekends fill up fast, especially in October. If fall is your goal, book by July to get your first choice of dates. Weekday sessions are an excellent alternative — the parks are emptier and the light is the same.

Summer (June – August)

Summer sessions have a completely different energy — lighter, brighter, more playful. Lush green backgrounds, wildflower meadows, and warm evening light create a vibrant, carefree feel that's perfect for families with young children who thrive outdoors.

The biggest advantage of summer is the longer golden hour. We have more time to work with, which means less rushing and more room for kids to warm up naturally. If your little one needs 20 minutes to stop hiding behind your leg, summer gives us that buffer.

The challenge is heat and humidity, especially in late July and August. I schedule summer sessions as close to sunset as possible to catch the cooler air, but Michigan humidity is real. Early summer — June and early July — tends to be the sweet spot.

Spring (March – May)

Spring is underrated and underbooked, which works in your favor. Fresh green leaves, cherry blossoms, dogwood blooms, and that soft, hopeful quality of spring light make for gorgeous, airy portraits. If your family gravitates toward a lighter, more delicate aesthetic, spring might be your season.

The practical advantage is availability. You'll have your pick of dates and times. Spring is also the perfect time for Easter-themed minis, Mother's Day gifts, and first-birthday milestones since so many babies are born in spring.

The unpredictability of Michigan spring weather is the main drawback. We might reschedule once for rain, but that's free and easy. I build flexibility into my spring schedule because I know it comes with the territory.

Winter (December – February)

Winter family photos are dramatic, intimate, and completely different from what most families have on their walls. Fresh snow on the ground, bare tree branches, and that soft, silvery light create a mood that's cozy and cinematic at the same time.

Winter sessions are shorter by design — we work efficiently because of the cold — but that focused energy often produces a tighter, more polished gallery. Kids tend to cooperate better when they know it'll be quick, and the bundled-up, snuggled-together poses have a warmth that summer sessions don't naturally produce.

Holiday mini sessions in November and early December are especially popular for Christmas cards. These are my fastest-selling sessions of the year — 20 minutes, one location, holiday-ready photos delivered in time for ordering cards.

My Honest Recommendation

If you're doing one family session this year and you want the most variety and the most forgiving conditions, book fall. The colors are stunning, the weather is comfortable, the timing works for families, and your photos will look incredible on your wall year-round.

If you've already done fall and want something different, summer is my second choice — especially for families with kids under 5 who benefit from the extra time and warmth.

But the real answer is: the best time for family photos is whenever your family can show up relaxed and happy. I've shot beautiful sessions in every month of the year. The season sets the scene, but the connection between your family is what makes the photo.

Making It an Annual Tradition

Some of my favorite clients come back every year. Watching their kids grow up through annual portraits is one of the most rewarding parts of this job. Each year's photos look different — different season, different location, different stage of life — and together they tell the story of a family over time.

If annual sessions sound like your thing, I offer a loyalty discount for returning families. Your kids change so fast. One year they're sitting on your lap; the next they're taller than you. These photos are how you hold onto the in-between.