Autumn is associated with cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and colorful fall leaves—the perfect recipe for gorgeous photography. If you’re planning an autumn photo shoot, you’ll have a number of opportunities for breathtaking scenery and festive props. Here are a few tips to enhance your seasonal photos and wow your friends and family.

How to Make Your Autumn Photographs Unique

1. Use Monochromatic Palettes

The standard autumn palette consists of red, orange, yellow, purple, and brown. While using all of these colors together makes for amazing backgrounds, have your photographer take a few monochromatic shots. Bring an outfit in one of the typical fall tones and go to a spot with a similarly colored backdrop. Warm red against red leaves, yellow against yellow flowers and grass, and orange against a pumpkin patch make for a stunning picture.

2. Shoot Around the Golden Hour

The golden hour is a valuable time in the world of photography. Described as the period right after sunrise or just before sunset, this short time frame produces redder and softer colors than any other time of day. This brings out the golden shades of autumn. The backlight of the rising or setting sun can help create dramatic silhouettes, while sidelights provide warm portraits.

3. Use Natural Elements

Falling leaves are a timeless classic for autumn photography. The leaves will be plentiful, so toss up a handful or gather them in a pile to sit in. Rather than having the subject of the portrait throw leaves towards the camera, have someone else do this from outside of the shot. This will allow the subject to pose freely for a more natural photo.

4. Take Advantage of Moody Weather

Foggy, rainy, and overall gloomy weather may seem like poor conditions for colorful autumn photography, but they may be a blessing in disguise. Fog can create haunting landscapes and ethereal atmospheres. Wear long, flowing dresses and skirts, or bring spooky costumes if it’s closer to Halloween. In the event of rain, bring knit sweaters and fuzzy socks for a cozy indoor photo shoot.

5. Choose Quintessential Fall Props

Props add interest and a personal touch to every photo. Autumn in particular has the potential for many types of props, from jack-o-lanterns and hay bales to bulky scarves and steaming mugs of hot cocoa. Incorporate these items into your shoot to show off your personality and your love of fall.

When you’re ready to schedule an autumn photo shoot, contact Meredith Struebing Photography. This photographer organizes and runs personalized photo shoots in St. Charles County, MO, that aim to capture the true essence and personality of your family. Always eager to improve her art, she frequently attends hands-on workshops to enrich her skills and learn the latest photography techniques. Visit her website to browse galleries of her family photo shoots, or call (636) 255-4679 to request a free consultation. You can also check out her Facebook for more great professional photos.