Creating Your Fall Photo Playlist: How to Take Great Fall Photos of Your Kids, Your Pets, and More

Nature is always photogenic, but there’s something special about fall. The color of the leaves, the quality of the light, even the clothes that your human subjects wear – all of it contributes to making fall one of the best times of year to take great photos.

With so many opportunities for beautiful photos, you want to be sure you’re making the most of the season. Here are some tips on how to fill your digital frame’s playlist with striking fall photos.

Include your kids

Fall offers unique pleasures for children. Jumping in leaf piles, running through a brightly colored wood, eating caramel apples, and carving pumpkins are just a few. If you’ve got kids, take them out for a special fall experience – and make sure you bring your camera along.

A pumpkin patch makes for a fun backdrop, especially for babies and younger children. Older kids might still enjoy jumping in a pile of leaves, which makes a festive action shot. And don’t forget all the photo ops that Halloween brings. Document your little ones’ trick-or-treating with both posed and candid shots.

Take a family photo

Outdoor family portraits are a must during this time of year. Not only do they make for wonderful Christmas cards, but they also carry a certain special sense of nostalgia. It must have something to do with all the important family events that happen during the season: going back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving.

Take your family’s overall style into consideration when you schedule your photo session (or take your own if you’re into digital photography). Are you a bunch of goofballs? Go playful. Outdoor enthusiasts? Grab your gear and get a picture of everyone in their canoes. Driven, ambitious professionals and future professionals? Take an elegant picture against a stately outdoor setting.

These portraits, whether formal or casual, can make lovely additions to your fall photo playlist.

Bring in the pets

Pets are a part of the family too, so you’ve got to include a few fall images of your furry friends in your playlist.

Dogs and leaves go together like peanut butter and jelly, so take your dog out for a romp in the woods and see what ensues. If she’s a young, active pup, she’ll probably spend most of her time jumping over logs and chasing fallen leaves. Capture her energy by walking ahead with your camera and then calling her, taking a shot as she barrels her way toward you.

If your canine companion is more sedate, he may enjoy watching the scenery from a cozy spot against a tree.

And don’t forget about your feline friends – even if your kitty is indoors-only, you can get some beautiful images of her calmly taking in the foliage through a window.

Don’t forget the landscape photos

What would a fall photo playlist be without images of the season’s gorgeous colors?

If it’s a bright, sunny day, try shooting leaves against the sky – the blue and orange, red, or yellow will create a striking photo. On cloudy or misty days, head into the woods and take some long-range foliage shots. The shadows will be gentler, and you’ll get a nice soft image.

Other great photo ideas include shooting fallen leaves against blacktop or grass. You can sharpen the colors and contrast with a filter or another photo editing tool to make a perfect fall photo.

Shooting a bird’s eye view, straight down at the ground, is one way to do this; however, if you want to get more creative, try crouching down in the grass and focusing on a single leaf in your foreground.

For more dramatic pictures, try shooting one lone tree against a wide sky, or even a single leaf. These will make for unique celebrations of the season’s beauty, and add an artistic touch to your fall photo playlist.

Want to create more great playlists to share with your friends and family? Read our posts “How to Create a Meaningful Playlist to Share Your Trip with Loved Ones” and “A Lifetime in Pictures: Suggested Playlists for Your Gifted Digital Photo Frame

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.