Fall Foliage Photography
This time of year, I love looking at photos of fall foliage. It brings me back to when I was a child and young adult, enjoying football games, hot apple cider, raking the leaves into a pile to jump in, pumpkin carving, apple picking, and all of the other delights of fall. Since moving to Florida, I haven’t been able to enjoy the sights and smells of the changing leaves, and it’s something that I definitely miss!
Taking photos in the fall is a different experience than doing so in the summer. The breathtaking backdrop of even mundane places, like your backyard or the neighborhood park, can become the focus of the photo. Also, the scarlets, golds, oranges and browns mixed with the bright blue skies of October make a photo op that’s hard to pass up! Here are some tips on taking great photos of your family this fall:
- Shoot off center. Most of the time, parents tend to put their kids front-and-center in photographs. When the scenery is stunning, though, try to capture the kids off to the side; this gives a good view of the background, which is half of the point when taking pictures amidst the gorgeous fall foliage.
- Try to get the trees when they’re between you and the sun. This will make the colors really pop. Read your camera’s owner’s manual to see all of the different settings that you can play with in order to maximize the color saturation.
- Dress the kids in bright colors, but avoid matching the shades of the leaves in the photo. Pale colors won’t look good against the backdrop of the warm hues of fall.
- Take photos of the kids enjoying the splendor of fall. Whether they’re trying to pick up a giant pumpkin, standing in line for a hayride, taking a bite out of a freshly picked apple or drinking hot chocolate with rosy cheeks after an afternoon spent in the crisp air, these experiences will become treasured memories in years to come.
- Snap pictures while you have the chance. An early frost or a stiff wind can cut leaf-peeping season short, so carry your camera with you wherever you go. If you see something photo-worthy, take the opportunity to get a shot now, because the colors will likely be different tomorrow.
- Try to get some close-ups. These take practice, but even if they’re not perfect, some close-up shots of mums, leaves, pumpkins or wildlife will make you smile as you look over your photos in the coming months.
- Take your holiday photo now! You won’t have to scramble around for an appealing background if you’re outside in October taking photographs. Get everyone together and take some pictures, then choose one for your holiday cards!
Even if you’re a budding photographer, you can enjoy a lot of success when you use the natural surroundings of autumn as your backdrop. Experiment and enjoy!
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I am addicted to photography! I love taking Fall photos because I am a pro at photo editing and the colors are so bright that the picture come out amazing! Love the tips you have added here! Thanks for posting! =]
Thank You for these helpful hints and tips! I truly love to take pics of my family…I just always seem to not have the touch. I am blessed and live in Washington State where the colors are all over the place right now to stern green evergreen trees that are surrounded by all are fall trees that are so many shades of broens, reds, and oranges with yellow! Man I am so trying everysingle one of your tips!!! I am excited to see what the camera will do!!! Thanks again!
I have to agree with you on this one. Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year to shoot. Unfortunately the season last maybe a week to week and a half will most.
Unfortunately this year, with all the rain we’ve been having, it looks like we will be going straight from green to brown without any the pretty colors. At least here in my neck of the woods. Even as I type this I’m looking out the door of my office and watching the rain flood the streets below.
Oh well, perhaps next year will be a better year for photography, autumn, and all the sights and smells you are speaking speaking of.
Barry
good tips!
Great tips! I love fall colors!
What a great picture! Thank you for the tips and i hope i can make a picture as great as the one above.
Great tips! I love fall too, and for some of those same reasons….we are taking family photos at the first of November so thanks for posting this
Thanks for the great tips! My daughter is a really good photographer and is just starting to take pictures for other people. I’m going to pass this article onto her. Thanks so much!
Boy do I miss the brilliant Autumn foliage of my Eastern roots. I still try to create Fall memories for my kids and the photos to capture it all. Thank you for these tips. I admit I’m not much of a shutterbug so these tips will really help in taking better snaps
I love living in a state where there are beautiful fall colors! Thanks for the tips!
Wonderful tips!! Thank you for sharing. I didn’t even think about taking pictures off-center!! The leaves are starting to fall very fast now, we are losing the beautiful foliage quickly in OH.
these are some awesome tips! i’m saving up for a better camera so i can work on my photography skills.these tips will come in handy!
I love autumn! Pictures say so much more than words. I really enjoy all the colors of the changing leaves! Thank you for sharing your tips!
I love Autumn and leaf photos. Unfortunately for me with the humidity and wetness of the leaves in the area I live in, not to mention all of the millipedes, playing the leaves isn’t an option! lol Thanks for the tips though! =)
Thank you for the tips. I love taking pictures of my kids and my dog enjoying the fall weather and all of the leaves!
Thanks for the tips about being in between the trees!
Being a photographer fall is my favorite time to experiment with shots. I love how everything is colorful!!
i live in mississippi and was hoping i could get a good family photo with us near/in a cotton field. they look beautiful!! soon after, they started harvesting lol – but our trees dont turn colors until much later.
wonderful tips. WE just got back from GrandFather Mtn in NC to see the foilage and it was spectacular
Thank you for the tips. I didn’t know to stand between a tree and the sun. I also agree, don’t dress people/kids in colors that will blend in with the background. I’m not a picture taker typically but every once in awhile I do take some and will try to use the tips provided 🙂
Thats a great picture!! I love fall photography 🙂