Originally posted on September 19, 2023
Every fall, I can’t help but start singing that classic jazz standard, Autumn Leaves. I know some people hate autumn because it’s a sign of winter coming but how can anyone hate these colors? Sure we have pretty colors in the summer too, especially with so many beautiful flower gardens and pots around the city but autumn is different. The colors are everywhere. They’re in the trees, in the fields, and even in the sky.
It’s for this reason that makes autumn such a great time for photos. When I look back at some of my past photos, the colors just seem to hug everyone in front of my camera. How can anyone say no to that?
So, if you’re thinking about booking your photo session, here are some tips to make the best of your autumn shoot. Let’s start with what to wear.
Solid colors are always a good option for shoots but be aware that fall has a specific grouping of colors so don’t wear anything that might clash with the autumn palette.
When the leaves have actually fallen, leaf “fights” are so much fun and make great photos but they can be a bit messy so be warned that you might get a bit dirty. Usually, those photos are best at the end of the shoot.
The weather is always in flux in the autumn so dressing in layers or at least, bringing a sweater or blanket for warmth is usually a good idea.
At the end of the day, wearing comfortable clothes is the best. It’s hard to smile when you’re uncomfortable!
As for where to do your shoot, that’s easy to answer – anywhere you see colors! Okay, let me be a bit more helpful.
Neighborhood parks are always a great place especially if you have children. Again, comfort is important so when you know the grounds well, you’ll definitely be more comfortable. Just be aware that things like houses, fences, and cars might be in the background. Sometimes, there’s just no way to avoid it.
Anywhere along the Meewasin Valley trails is going to be gorgeous. There are trees everywhere so have your beautiful colors and many areas of the trail that have things like park benches or neat-looking structures to pose around. The only real issue that comes up with the trails is that some of the coolest spots can be a bit of a hike but there are so many other locations that are near a parking lot so I don’t really consider the riverside parks and trails as a problem
Patterson Garden is one of my favorite places in Saskatoon. I plan to do a bigger post about this one but an arboretum is always going to be a great place in the fall!
I’m a bit partial to the Forestry Farm as a shoot location. It’s close by for me so I don’t have to drive too far but as I also grew up in the neighborhood, I have so many great memories of the park. Having your photographer comfortable is important too! Seriously though, almost all of the park is wonderful for photography, especially family photography.
The University of Saskatchewan and Innovation Place should probably be two separate entries but as they’re close by, I’m putting them together. They also have great architecture and the important part of an autumnal – colors! Lots and lots of different trees and bushes mean lots and lots of different colors.
Do I have any other advice for a fabulous fall photography session? Time. That “golden hour” comes faster in the autumn so instead of an evening shoot, you might have to plan for an after work shoot but I’d like to think that that’s a minor inconvenience for awesome photos!
To book your autumnal photoshoot, call or text me at 306-717-4476 or email me a [email protected]
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