Top 3 Must Have Fall Photos

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.

October is one of my favorite months. The air turns crisp and the season begs you to get outside and enjoy the changing leaves and bold color. There are so many fun family activities to do in the fall too. And you know, I have to point out the ones with the best photo opps! These are my top 3 must-have fall photos.

Apple picking. It’s the perfect family activity because you get to come home and bake! When you are out in the orchard, look for apples that are crisp and firm. Apples come in a variety of colors so that’s not an indicator of whether it’s ripe. Here’s a little hint ~ apples ripen from the outside of the tree to the center so the apples on the edge will ripen first. When you are taking pictures in an apple orchard, look for shady spots. You’ll get better results with nice, even light. If that’s not possible, keep the sun behind your subject. Get down on the same level as the kids and shoot from their perspective. You can also shoot from down below as they are choosing the perfect apple for a fun angle. It’ll give them a larger than life appearance! Just make sure it’s not muddy!

Pumpkin picking. Don’t forget carving pumpkins too. When you are looking for pumpkins to carve, choose one that has a flat bottom so it won’t roll. Make sure it’s fresh with a sturdy stem and no bruises. The same tips I mentioned above apply for taking pictures at the pumpkin patch. It might be harder to find shade though because the pumpkins are usually out in an open field. Consider making your trip in the late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky.

Playing in the leaves. There are lots of fun activities you can do with leaves too. Collect a bunch and have the kids sort them by size or color. You can do some leaf rubbing or use them to stuff a scarecrow Halloween decoration. When you are photographing your kids playing with leaves use a fast shutter speed to freeze any motion.