Happy 1st day of fall everyone! Tis the season for pumpkin spice everything, bonfires, and fall photography sessions. Do you want to learn how to shoot an outdoor fall photography session in 5 easy steps? Then keep reading.
The best part about these steps is that they can be applied to any level of photography. If you're a beginner photographer you could definitely benefit from these steps. Are you an experienced photographer? You can brush up on your knowledge. Even if you're a mom-tographer with no other camera than your cell phone. You can still apply these steps to achieve great portraits!
The easiest way to ensure your family gets the perfect fall photography session this year is to hire a professional. If you live in the D.C, Annapolis, or Baltimore area check out my website to read all about my photography and to book your session!
Or book a session by clicking the button below.
If you want to photograph a session yourself then follow these steps:
Step 1) choose a location
A fall session is all about color. You will want to choose your location wisely. It’s surprisingly difficult at times trying to find a perfect fall photo shoot location. Ideally you want to be at a location that is easy to access. That way small children, pregnant mommas, or even elderly people can easily pose for your photos. You don’t want a mom who is 36 weeks pregnant hiking through sticker bushes and boulders.
I have found that state parks are the best way to go when choosing a location for a session. There are already plenty of places to park and lots of paved walkways to get around.
The tricky part about using state parks is finding some nice overgrown foliage. For my Maryland photography sessions I’ve noticed a lot of parks around me are well maintained so that means you won’t find a ton of leaves on the ground or tall grass.
My advice is to take a day and visit a few parks in your area. Walk the pathways and when you see some interesting colors in the foliage venture off the walkway a bit to see if you could use that space for a backdrop for your fall portraits.
In your fall photo shoot location you want:
-A lot of color
-A lot of depth (distance between your subject and items in the background)
-Fabulous lighting (more on this topic below)
Step 2) choose a model and wardrobe
To choose a model for your session you need to consider the purpose of the shoot. A lot of times us moms want fun portraits of our children. So choosing a model is as easy as choosing our own children. It is such a privilege for me to photograph my children. It’s very rewarding as well. I get to showcase my family photography skills while also documenting my daughter’s childhood.
If the purpose of your session is to grow your photography business then choose a model in the genre you wish to photograph professionally. Do you want to shoot maternity photography, newborn photography, family photography or senior photography? Look for a model that fits into a category you want to photograph.
Then ask around. Talk to friends and family and see if someone you or they know would like to model for your session. Most people love having their portraits done so you won’t have too much trouble finding a good model. You could even do a model call to drum up some interest in your business and get some new traffic to your social media page or website.
Once you have a model you’ll want to choose wardrobe that will compliment the fall colors of your shoot. These days there are a ton of websites to order gowns, dresses, and stylish outfits for photo shoots. Choose wardrobe that is eye catching, unique, and coordinates with warm fall colors. Here are a few great clothing websites to get you started:
Maternity and Women: www.pinkblushmaternity.com, www.sewtrendyaccessories.com, www.sharonrosecustom.com, www.lulus.com
Children: www.jupetitpop.com, www.janieandjack.com, www.joyfolie.com
Step 3) Use props that coordinate with the location
Using flowers, foliage and props found in nature (tree stumps, drift wood, etc.) is a fantastic way to add interest to your photos. Using props that already appear naturally in your location is a way to tie in your model and give a cohesive look to your portraits. Really great fall props to use are leaves (obviously) and pampas grass.
Here are a few ideas to use fall props in your session:
-Have your model hold a vibrant fall leaf near their face.
-Throw leaves in the air like confetti all around your model.
-Style some pampas grass in the background of your photos and let your model hold one to tie it in. I recently did a pampas grass and fall inspired maternity session using this tip! See how I did it here.
If you’re not confident you can find these items at your session location you can purchase them ahead of time. You can find a lot of dried natural stems at your local arts and crafts stores or even Amazon! During most my Annapolis and D.C. maternity sessions I will bring a bouquet of flowers that I’ve prearranged and styled for the session.
Step 4) Choose A Time
A lot of hobbyists and beginner photographers don’t realize how important it is to consider the time of day when planning a session. It’s tempting to take the photos when it’s convenient for everyone. But if you want great photos that look professional you’ll need to pay attention to the time of your scheduled session.
The best time of day to do outdoor photography is the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset. During this time you’ll experience what photographers call ‘golden hour’. This is the time of day when the sun is so low in the sky that the light it gives off is warm and soft. If you use this light correctly it gives exquisite results (more on this topic in the next step.)
Now, I realize we don’t live in a perfect world and sometimes we can’t always do sessions right at golden hour. A good rule of thumb is to stay as close to golden hour as possible. The lower the sun is in the sky, the better your photography results will be.
I also want to add that the worst time of day for sessions is high noon. This is when the sun is the highest in the sky. This lighting will cast harsh shadows on your model and on your background. It will give you intense bright areas in the background coupled with intense dark areas. The light is harsh and not flattering at all. So, if at all possible avoid doing outdoor sessions at this time.
Step 5) Use directional light during the session.
Using directional lighting in your portraits will take your photography to the next level. I remember when I learned the impact of directional lighting in my Maryland family photography. It was a game changer. All of a sudden my portraits went from flat and dull to eye catching and dazzling.
Don’t complicate this topic too much. It literally means that either you or your subject moves so that the light hits the subject in any direction other than right in the front. If you pose your model with the sun directed on their face you will get less than stellar results. For one, they will most likely be squinting and if they aren’t then they’re making some sort of weird face to try and avoid squinting. For two, you’ll lose any and all desirable soft shadows on their face. These soft shadows give a flattering and 3-dimensional look.
My favorite directional light to use is backlight. I love to position my subject where the sun is shining on the back of their head. This separates my subject from the background and gives a beautiful warm glow to their hair and tops of shoulders. Another interesting way to use directional light is to side light your subject. Use the sunlight to illuminate the side of your subject but be careful not to have too much light on their face. You can do this by having them turn their body to the side but have them look away from the light a little bit.
There you have it. If you follow these 5 easy steps then you’ll be well on your way to a great fall photography session. Would you like to read about some of the gear I use during my Maryland photography sessions? Head over to this blog post!
Are you a beginner photographer? What did you think of these steps? Do you feel confident you could apply these steps to a successful fall photography session? Let me know in the comments!
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Have a beautiful fall everyone!
Best,
Amanda
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