Fall is a magical time of year. The heat of summer begins to fade, trees turn vibrant colors, and there are endless activities. It’s the perfect season for creating memories with your children – no matter their age – and capturing special moments with photography. We assembled a list of our favorite fun fall activities for the whole family and paired them with some of our top photography tips. Whether you use a camera or your cell phone, we hope you enjoy embracing the magic of fall with your family!
Fun fall activities & photography tips
Visit a pumpkin patch
Pumpkin patches are filled with fun activities like picking pumpkins, hayrides, and corn mazes. It’s an adventure for little ones and older kids alike.
Photography tip: Get down low and capture your children’s expressions while they search for the perfect pumpkin. The bright orange of the pumpkins & the backdrop of a blue sky make an ideal setting for capturing candid moments when they find the perfect pumpkin.
Bonus activity: Sit down as a family and carve fun jack-o-lanterns with the pumpkins you picked. Little ones will require more help & supervision but may enjoy scooping out the ‘pumpkin guts’ and drawing a face for you to carve.
Leaf pile jumping
Few things are more satisfying than jumping in a pile of crunchy fall leaves. Kids of all ages will love jumping into a freshly raked pile of leaves or walking down the sidewalk jumping on the leaves as they pass. Plus, it’s free and easy to set up in your own yard!
Our tip: Use burst mode to capture photos of your children in motion as they run and jump into the leaves. Plus, capture all the giggles when they land. For extra fun and even more giggles, jump into the pile with your kids & take a family leaf pile selfie.
Pick apples at an orchard
Apple orchards are a fun and educational family outing. Enjoy learning about different varieties of apples and fill up a basket of fresh fruit to take home. Plus, many orchards offer fun family activities like corn mazes, petting zoos, and gift shops full of fall treats.
Capture the moment: Photograph your child reaching for an apple or their proud smile as they hold a freshly picked one. The golden afternoon light filtering through the trees will provide beautiful, soft light for portraits.
Corn maze exploration
A corn maze is a fun challenge for the whole family. Involve your children in deciding which direction to go or make it a race and see who can finish the maze first.
Our photography tip: Use the leading lines of the maze to guide your eye through the photo. Capture your child as they find their way through the maze. Get down to your child’s height or use a wide shot to show how small they look compared to the towering cornstalks.
DIY fall crafts
Spend an afternoon indoors making fall-inspired crafts. Consider projects like leaf wreaths, handprint turkeys, or scarecrow dolls made from items found in nature or from craft supplies. Cut out shapes ahead of time for younger children or have older children draw and cut their shapes as appropriate for their age. DIY fall crafts make a great activity for a rainy day!
Photography tip: Use your home’s natural light when photographing your child indoors to preserve the vibrant colors of their fall project. Try capturing them from different perspectives and take close-up photos to capture the details of their creations.
Bonus tip: Photograph your child with the project after it’s completed and create a folder in your phone for all their special projects to keep the memories but reduce the clutter.
Nature walk & scavenger hunt
A nature walk is a fun way to get outdoors and appreciate the season’s beauty. From the cooler weather to the vibrantly colored trees, it’s the perfect time of year to spend some quality family time outdoors. Level up the fun by creating a scavenger hunt for your kids. Look for acorns, pinecones, and different-colored leaves.
Our tip: If you try a scavenger hunt, take creative close-ups of the treasures your child finds on your walk. Or try capturing your child in motion as they bend to pick up a leaf or walk ahead of you. If you can, take your walk in the early evening when the golden hour light will add even more vibrance to your images.
Campfire & s’mores night
A cozy campfire is another fall family favorite. If age-appropriate, involve your children in collecting materials and building the fire. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores, cuddle up under a blanket, and take turns telling stories for a cozy family night at home.
How to capture it: Use the campfire’s glow to light your portraits. Explore longer exposure settings to capture the fire’s warm glow and the night sky together.
Bake fall treats together
Let the kids help bake pumpkin bread, apple pie (this is extra fun if you use the apples you picked together at the orchard), cinnamon rolls, or Halloween themed cookies. Choose age-appropriate tasks like measuring, dumping in pre-measured ingredients, mixing, or decorating. For added fun, enjoy a family tea party or share the fall fun with your neighbors when the baking is finished.
Savor the moment: Focus on the details like the flour on their face and the gooey grins after the first bite of the cinnamon rolls they helped bake. It’s also a great opportunity to photograph special interactions between older and younger siblings as your older child helps the younger one add an ingredient to the batter or decorate cookies together.
Fall sports
This season is a great time of year for outdoor sports. Attend a football or soccer game with your family or organize your own. Play football, soccer, or frisbee in your yard. Or try setting up an obstacle course with hay bales, pumpkins, or fall leaves as part of the challenge.
Our photography tip: Use burst mode to capture your family in motion. If you attend a sporting event with your family, photograph your kids cheering for the team in the golden hour light.
Have a family picnic
Pack a picnic on a nice afternoon & take your family to a local park or scenic area. The kids can enjoy some time playing outdoors and you can all enjoy the nice weather. It’s the perfect time of year to spend a warm afternoon outdoors, but just cool enough that the pesky bugs should leave your lunch alone.
Photography tip: Children squinting in the sun? Have them close their eyes & tell them to open their eyes on three. Count 1-2-3 & take your picture on 3 to catch them just as they open their eyes. No more squinting!
More photography tips
1. Timing is everything: Make the most of the golden hour – just before sunrise and just after sunset. This time of day is perfect for portraits. The light is soft, warm, and not harsh like at midday. It will cast a beautiful glow on your family and the fall landscape.
2. Embrace the colors of fall: Fall offers rich reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. Whether you’re photographing against a backdrop of trees or piles of pumpkins, use the season’s vibrant hues to make your photos pop. Encourage your family to wear neutral or warm colors that complement the natural surroundings.
3. Capture candid moments: While posed photos are nice, some of the best images come from unplanned, candid moments. Watch for your kids’ natural reactions as they explore or interact with you or each other – whether they’re laughing, running, or looking in awe at the falling leaves. These authentic moments tell a beautiful story and create lasting memories.
4. Get on their level: Try shooting from their eye level rather than from above when photographing younger children. This helps capture their perspective of the world and creates a more intimate feel in your images.
5. Use props & seasonal elements: Incorporating fall props like pumpkins, baskets of apples, or a cozy blanket can make your photos feel more seasonal and fun. Have your kids sit on hay bales, hold a bunch of fall leaves, or cozy up in a blanket for a fun fall photo.
6. Let kids be kids: Don’t stress about getting the perfect shot. Kids love to move, play, and explore their world – let them do that! Some of the best photos come when kids are being themselves, having fun, and not focusing on posing or smiling for the camera.
Preserve the memories
After your fun-filled fall activities, take a little time to look through your photos & select your favorites. Create a fall photo album, print your favorite images, or even create personalized gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Fall is fleeting, but the memories and photos you capture will last a lifetime. Get out there, have fun with your family, and make this season one to remember!
Need help capturing those moments? Our team is here to help you make the most of this beautiful season. Reach out today to schedule a session and turn those moments into lasting memories.
