I know it’s only the end of September, but we’re getting close to the perfect season for family portraits: Fall! There are many reasons I prefer to do family photos in the fall:
1. Everyone looks good in layers.
2. Warmer clothes tend to be textured (think denim and knits), which look really nice in photos, especially black and white.
3. The scenery is beautiful. The reds and oranges in the changing leaves make for a stunning backdrop.
4. Sunlight during the Fall season isn’t so direct, so it’s a little more flattering for portraits.
Fall portraits make great Christmas cards. If you are planning on having pictures taken this fall, keep your Christmas cards in mind. You might want to bring a few Santa hats just for fun, or do a few poses in front of some evergreen trees for a winter look without the goosebumps.
More tips for fall portraits:
1. Wear dark colors to contrast with the bright red and orange scenery. Browns and blacks look very nice on most skin tones.
2. Wait until the late afternoon when the sun is low. Angle your shot so the sun is either behind or to the side of your subjects. Use a lens hood to prevent flair and make sure you are setting your exposure for your subject’s face and not the light behind him or her.
3. Head to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard for classic fall scenery. Take photos on the hay ride!
4. Keep your photo shoot short and sweet. Plan ahead which photos you want to take so you don’t bore your family with “let’s try this” or “let’s try that.”
5. Try something silly. Have everyone jump on the count of three and take the shot mid-jump. Bring funny masks to wear. Have your kids wear their Halloween costumes. Sometimes the funny photos are the ones you love the most.
6. If you want the whole family in the picture, have a friend take over the camera. You can use a self-timer and a tripod, but getting everyone in focus is really hard. It’s better to have someone else click the shutter.