5 Must Have Photos for Fall

Fall is by far my favorite season! The chill in the air, the leaves changing colors, that smell of wood fires and coffee, not to mention boots and flannel! Oh, and I’m also obsessed with fall fashion colors.  Like the teal and mustard and deep raspberry colors. You know, kind of like the bold set of Crayola Markers.  I am in love with these colors.  They are my favorite, and they always seem to come out in the fall. You can tell by my family photo seen here:

Which brings me to my first must have photo for fall.

1. The Family Portrait:

Fall is the perfect time for family photos and here is why.  The temperature is cooler so you’re not sweating to death during your photo session.  Plus, layering clothing can create visual interest that just isn’t reasonable in the summertime. The fall foliage provides a beautiful backdrop, which lets all admit here, that sometimes a beautiful backdrop is hard to come by in the Midwest.  We don’t have gorgeous mountain backdrops or cloudy sunset skies at the beach. I love the Midwest and I do think it’s beautiful!  It’s just sometimes tougher to stay inspired (especially during those brown parts of winter).  But fall provides that gorgeous color that compliments any picture.  You know what comes right after fall- Christmas! You need that beautiful family portrait to show off to all your friends and family on those Christmas cards! I try to document our family at least once a year.  I think getting in front of the camera is important. I am way more comfortable behind the camera, but I still feel it is essential for my children and family that I try to get in the picture with them.

2. The Fall Colors:

This is the time of year where everything bursts into color, and it is usually for such a short time. Consider the colors of the leaves in relation to your subjects clothing.  Blue pairs beautifully with orange autumn leaves.  Think fall colors, mustard, warm neutrals, and maroons.

3. Halloween Costumes:

Cute, fun, or scary, Halloween costumes are something you must document.  Especially if you have children!  Consider the scenery their costumes belong in. Get that front door trick or treat scene. Add mystery to your photos by using elements to make your viewer uncomfortable. Such as slightly tilting the frame, underexposing to enhance shadows, and blocking the eyes.  For more ideas visit this article here.     

4. Fall Detail:

Think of what makes it fall for you.  Is it the change of weather? Perhaps you can capture the raindrops on the windows.  Is it the foggy mornings? Get up early and capture the sunlight lifting the fog.  Is it cozy blankets and warm drinks and soups?  Capture your loved ones wrapped up in soft blankets and enjoying that first sip of morning coffee. Is it the changing leaves? Think of ways to capture the leaves on the trees maybe with light behind them or covered in cobwebs. Pumpkins, tall dying grass, black cats, clear blue skies and dried corn.  There are so many fall details that need to be captured and documented!

5. Fall Traditions:

This would include but is not limited to, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Pumpkin carving, Trick or treating, sorting candy, decorating, cooking, family get togethers, raking leaves, hay rides, corn mazes, apple picking, and the list goes on and on! Capture and document all of these iconic traditions!

Fall is the perfect time of year to get pictures professionally taken or at least capture some on your own! Thanks for reading!         

What to photograph (other than your children)

So many children, including my own, get tired of participating in pictures.  I always want to practice on my own kids, but I know they get tired of having a camera in their face.  I’ll admit this has been a struggle for me.  My kids are great sports!  Not to mention they will not object to a chocolate bribe now and then! But lately I have been wondering what I can photograph besides portraits.  I love portraiture. It is so fun, but sometimes I just want some creative alone time.  So, here are some ideas that I go to for pictures other than children.

Flowers:

Setting up a still life is an excellent idea.  Perhaps just walking around your yard will give you some inspiration.  I love flowers, and I have a decent flower garden in my own back yard.  So sometimes, I just like to walk around there and see if I can find bugs or butterflies, or interesting flowers.  Then I try to compose a shot in the best way I can imagine.  Sometimes still life is so much easier than a fast-moving child.  It is also a great way to learn how to free lens!  

Cars:

I have an automotive background, so I love to photograph cars! I know, it’s kind of a weird background for an artsy girl.  But combining my love of cars and art is so fun for me. Once again, it is so much easier than trying to get a genuine reaction from a child! There are so many possibilities with cars from light painting to panning! Cars are a great way to experiment.  If you have a fisheye lens this might be a good time to use it!

Landscapes:

Landscapes aren’t something that I am used to doing.  Maybe that’s because I’m in Indiana and it’s pretty flat around here! Ha! However, I think that no matter where you live you can make a beautiful landscape picture.  Sometimes it’s just a matter of beautiful light! I find what helps me with landscapes are layering and making sure that you have a subject.  Whether it’s beautiful light through a tree, or a mountain or a barn. 

Details:

Sometimes it’s best to just give your children something to do or play and then capture all those little details.  Think of your composition and light. Hands and feet tell part of the story! Dirty bare feet, hands full of frogs or mud.  There are many possibilities!

Hope you enjoy these ideas! Thanks for reading!

5 Must Have Photos for Summertime!

1.       Icecream!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICECREAM! This is one that just screams childhood. Homemade popsicles work great as well. Keep in mind what your child’s favorite icecream is, and then try to dress them in a color that would complement it! For instance, if you know your kid loves mint chocolate chip, dress her in pink and go with pastels! Or Red for a complimentary color.   Does your child love rainbow sprinkles? Dress him or her in bright colors to make them pop! Then hand them that cone and make sure to capture all that sticky goodness as it melts down their arms!

2.     Kite Flying!

As the winds change and the weather gets hotter, it’s a perfect time to capture Kite flying! Use the kites in creative ways to frame your subject. You can get a low perspective to show just how high that kite is flying.  Use a quick shutter speed and make sure not to blow any highlights if you shoot in midday. Keep the storytelling in mind as well as composition.

3.       Strawberries, and other summer fruit!

Watermelon, strawberries, oranges, cherries, blueberries, and peaches! Go to your local u-pick farmers market and make sure to capture the fun!  This is the perfect time of year to think about seasonal food. If you garden- even better!! Capture all the details involved with picking, washing, eating, and drooling! Yum!

4.       Parks!

Whether it’s national parks or just your local playground, summer is a perfect time to freeze all those moments.  Get brave and take your camera out in public!  (I’m encouraging that as much for you as I am for myself!) Slides and swings provide a nostalgic scene or childhood you will not want to forget.  Consider thoughtfully how high those monkey bars are, or how fast they jump out of the swing. There are so many great story telling opportunities.

5.     Flowers!

This one is so simple, but there are flowers everywhere in the summer! My favorite are phlox and cosmos for photos. But you can use any you see fit! Put your subject against a beautiful backdrop of flowers or get a photo of your child picking those weeds.  Set up those flowers for your own still life or try your hand at some macro photography.  Whether it’s your child making a wish on a dandelion or picking a handful of those beautiful flowers you just planted this spring, you will want to remember it! Don’t let life just slip by, slow it down with photography!

Thanks for reading!