One of the trickiest parts of scheduling fall mini sessions is dealing with unpredictable Tennessee weather. When I set November 2nd as my original date with a backup weekend, I had no idea just how much that flexibility would matter.
As the original date approached, the forecast started looking questionable. There was a real chance of rain, and while I thought we’d probably be okay, I also know that waiting until the last minute to make weather calls can be incredibly stressful for families. Some people are comfortable taking the chance, while others need more certainty to arrange their schedules and outfits. That’s exactly why I give clients the choice—reschedule early to the backup date, or wait it out and see what happens.
I had six families scheduled for the original mini date. Five decided to chance it, while one family chose to reschedule right away, which allowed them to coordinate work schedules to make the backup weekend work. And wouldn’t you know it—November 2nd turned out to be absolutely beautiful. The family who rescheduled expressed some regret when they saw how nice the weather was. But here’s the thing—that apprehension turned out to be completely unfounded because the backup date was even more perfect.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 10 years of doing this: you simply cannot regret your weather-related rescheduling decisions. We all make the best choices we can with the information we have at the time, and weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable. That’s why I try to be as flexible as possible and let each client decide their own comfort level with uncertainty. While I want to offer clients as much flexibility as possible, I also don’t have the capacity to endlessly reschedule in pursuit of perfect weather conditions. That’s especially true with mini sessions, which is exactly why I build in that rain backup from the start.
(Note: While I absolutely allow flexibility for rain chances or extreme cold, I can’t reschedule because it’s cloudy. Some clients get apprehensive about overcast weather, thinking they need bright sunshine for gorgeous photos. But that’s not the case at all—overcast skies can create beautifully moody, soft light that’s incredibly flattering.)
What I’m most thrilled about is that the fall colors were absolutely stunning on both weekends. Many people assume the most gorgeous autumn color happens in October, but I’ve consistently found that early November is the real sweet spot here in Tennessee. The leaves were perfect on the original date, and they were still perfect the following weekend.
And this past Saturday, November 8th? I’m calling it—that was officially the most perfect day of the entire year. The light, the temperature, the colors—everything came together beautifully. This family’s session was filled with genuine smiles, cozy fall vibes, and that golden hour glow that makes my photographer heart so happy. Getting to capture these moments when everything aligns is exactly why I love what I do.
Ready to book your own family session? I’d love to photograph your family and capture the connections that make you unique. You can contact me through my website or follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates on availability and upcoming sessions.
