Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely love summer days, but nothing quite compares to the crisp mornings, booming color everywhere you turn, apple picking, and pumpkin spice everything!
I especially love this time of year to take pictures. The trees make beautiful backgrounds in pictures and the colorful leaves are handy dandy little props to use with your kids. It’s also a great time to snap some updated pictures for holiday cards before the weather gets cold. So in the spirit of this beautiful time of year, here are a few ideas to inspire your fall-picture taking.
Visit an Orchard or Pumpkin Patch
Local farms, orchards and pumpkin patches are awesome places to take pictures. You are probably visiting there anyways so grab your camera and bring it along. Pretty much everywhere you turn is a great spot for a picture. Be sure to check out this awesome list of various places to visit here in Madison.
Let them Play!
Leaves are so much fun to play in and make a gorgeous background! Throw them up and make it “snow” leaves. Rake them into a pile and let them jump into them. The possibilities are endless.
Use Props to Create a “Fall” Scene
I just love baskets (for little ones) and natural wood crates (for the older ones) as easy props for taking fall-themed pictures. They both really compliment the beautiful scenery this time of you. One quick tip though — if you are using a basket to prop your little one, just make sure it is nice and secure before you put your child in it. You don’t want them toppling over. Sometimes I will put a small weight (like a 5 lbs. weight) in the bottom of the basket to make sure it won’t tip over. Find a pretty location, set up your prop(s) and start snapping away!
Another fun and easy prop to use this time of year is a mirror! The trees are so pretty and colorful that the reflection of the colors in the mirror make for gorgeous pictures.
You can also use a fun prop like a wagon. Many orchards such as Epelgaarden have wagons readily available to use to transport apples (or your kids).
And pumpkins, of course, are fun to include in the picture! It also gives your child something to hold and play with to keep their hands occupied (if even for just a minute or two)!
But don’t worry about it if you don’t have any props readily available. I know I sound like a broken record but this time of year the gorgeous color from the trees and leaves are all you really need to produce vibrant, colorful pictures.
If you are looking for some quick and easy tips and tricks for taking pictures of your kids, be sure to check out part 1 here and part 2 here.
Great Ideas Kara!!
I <3 the last picture with the little man in the green hoodie & flap-eared hat.
Love that we have a list of apple and pumpkin farms to enjoy. We have been to five of these and loved them each. Now we can hit up the rest to enjoy and truely pick out our favorite. Thank ‘yoy.