Last week while the kiddo was away for a morning of preschool, I was scheming a way for us to savor the magic of fall together.
Upon pick-up I whisked her off for a picnic in a neighboring town. As we ate our lunch under the changing leaves we also marveled over the quiet, colors, and beauty of nature.
Fall has been nothing short of amazing this year and beyond this picnic I’ve had a chance to fully soak it in with family festival outings and nature walks with friends.
If you’re looking to capture autumn adventures this season I’ve got 9 tips to help you make the most of this time of year.
1. Keep an eye out for peak color
When driving around town I always have one eye open to what the leaves and colors are doing so I can be sure to make time to capture my family during the peak of the season. I’m always surprised too at how late in the season the leaves continue to get more vibrant and beautiful. But, I also know that the peak time is short lived and needs to be acted upon fast.
2. Location is key
Look for bushes and smaller trees when you’re scouting a fall location. if you pose your kids and family too close to tall trees all you’ll capture is the tree trunk and not any of the beautiful branches with color. Open fields with rolling hills way off in the distance are another perfect location for capturing fall color.
3. Visit fall festivals
If it’s too early or too late in the season for peak color (or you live in a sunny warm location where the leaves don’t turn) seek out other fun fall opportunities. Visit the pumpkin patch or go apple picking and set up some your photo ops at those places instead.
4. Do fall crafts and activities
Once you get those pumpkins and apples home, do something with them! Capture the fun of pumpkin carving or baking an apple pie together and savor the magic fall with your kids.
5. Wear autumn colors
Enhance your photos even more with jewel tones that coordinate perfectly with the fall colors. Go for hunter green, mustard yellow, burgundy red, eggplant purple, or burnt orange. Even if the leaves aren’t at peak your wardrobe will help enhance what is out there with you right now.
6. Take advantage of golden hour
With sunsets getting earlier and earlier it’s easier to take young kids out way before bed time to capture them in the magical light of golden hour. The sun begins to duck behind the trees sooner during this time of year so keep a close eye on the light to ensure you’re not stuck in deep dark shade. We’ve been getting fantastic October photos with light streaming through the trees around 4:30pm here in Virginia.
7. Don’t forget the details
Don’t just focus the lens on your kids and family. Photograph all the colorful leaves, and pumpkins, and steaming cups of cider too. Those details make GREAT filler for album pages and will help the whole family remember the magic of the season.
8. Get the kids involved
Why not have your kiddos help you capture the season? If you have a tree nearby that changes colors in the fall, a time lapse project would be a great one to do together. Each day setup a camera on a tripod in the same spot at the same time of day and snap photos of it. Once the trees leaves have fallen you can compile all the photos into a movie (using a program such as iMovie or Windows Movie Maker) showcasing the seasonal change.
9. Warm up your editing
Many of my fall photos come out of camera looking a bit dull and cool for the season. I typically brighten my fall images, apply a warming filter (like Urbane in Picmonkey), and add a bit of contrast to really make my final edits shine.
Once you’ve taken the time to capture all the fall magic, share your photos with me on the Momtography Facebook Page HERE!
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