10 tips to shoot great family photos using autumn's backdrop

The arrival of fall brings so many photo ops: Jumping in leaf piles, the return of sports and trips to the pumpkin patch can make parents shutter-happy.

Here are 10 ways to snap beautiful autumn photos that both capture the magic of the season and your child’s unique personality.

1. Focus on the light.

“As the seasons change, so does the light,” said Baltimore photographer Rebecca Wyatt. “The sun sets earlier, its angles change, and its light illuminates the earth differently. It’s a great time to take advantage of the earlier golden hour and the warm glow.”

To make the most of the changing light, Wyatt suggested heading outside with your kids — and a cozy jacket or blanket — an hour or so before the sun sets.

“Explore, search for acorns, or just chat. Capture the light and feeling, and enjoy being together. There’s no better recipe for meaningful family photos,” said Wyatt.

2. Maximize fall’s colors.

Sarah Wilkerson is CEO of Clickin Moms, an online photography community based in Geneva, Illinois. Wilkerson says more than any other season, fall is about color. From changing leaves to orange pumpkins, a bit of planning and some minor photo edits can really make autumn colors pop.

“Dress your subject in blue for powerful contrast against the backdrop of fiery fall foliage,” said Wilkerson. “You can also bring out the season’s vibrance by giving your images a boost. You can do this with almost any camera by increasing its saturation or vibrancy picture settings. Or, if you choose to edit your images, you can add some saturation after the fact.”

3. Reinvent the leaf pile.

“If there’s one thing we associate with autumn, it’s leaves,” said Wilkerson. “Get creative with the way you incorporate this quintessential sign of fall in your photos — crumbling them to blow towards the camera like glitter, tossing them up over an umbrella or letting a child playfully hide her face behind the biggest one she can find.”

4. Perfect the ‘autumn overhead.’

Wilkerson said the perfect fall photo technique is the "autumn overhead," a shot where you stand above your child and photograph them lying on the ground below.

“When the trees are brown or bare, having a child lay on the ground while you shoot from overhead is a great way to bring fall into your photos,” said Wilkerson. “The leaves on the grass add great texture, and when your child’s eyes are tilted up towards the sky, you’ll get pretty catchlights — even on an overcast day.”

5. Think beyond the pumpkin patch.

Wyatt suggested searching for locations other than the pumpkin patch.

“Pumpkins are great, but so are apple orchards or sunflower fields,” says Wyatt. “Go exploring with your family and capture some amazing storytelling images of your adventure.”

6. Embrace nature’s frames.

“As fall foliage becomes less dense, take the opportunity to find little ‘windows’ between the branches and remaining leaves, through which you want to photograph your subject,” said Wilkerson. “This perspective adds wonderful depth and allows nature to provide you with a naturally creative frame for the season.”

7. Capture fall’s landscape.

Wilkerson said a great way to highlight the locations you frequent during this time of year — the apple orchard, pumpkin patch, football field or autumn hike — is to take a few steps back and capture the bigger picture.

“Frame your portrait, then take about 50 steps back and shoot wide, incorporating the rich environment of the season into your photograph and letting the child be very small in the frame,” she said.

8. Consider every fall activity.

Wyatt said that, while she’s a lover of pumpkins and leaves, it’s important to remember the moments in fall that make up everyday life.

“Aside from the weather, the most dramatic change fall brings to our family is returning to school. Capturing morning bus stop antics, after-school snacks, and the dreaded homework are all a part of documenting fall.”

“For our family, fall also means soccer season,” Wyatt adde. “Along with the obvious action shots, I try to remember to capture the sidelines, where so many emotions take place. High fives, hugs, and lots of smiles all make for wonderful images, as does that exhausted, after-practice face for which all parents are grateful.”

9. Brighten the shot with a pop of color.

“While bright days in early fall afford a vibrant backdrop, the setting gives way to grays and browns as winter and its blustery weather approach,” said Wilkerson. “All you need is one great color pop — a red scarf, pink umbrella, yellow balloon — to bring excitement and life back into the scene.”

10. Have fun!

Jessica Drossin, a photographer from Burbank, Calif., says the most important way to capture beautiful images in any season is to make it fun and to listen to your child.

“Instead of stiff grouping and awkward smiles, put your kids in situations where they will forget the camera and show off their true spirit as they discover nature, play with a sibling or cuddle a pet,” says Drossin.

“Set up a time to play and let them discover falling leaves, jumping in leaf piles and the world around them changing colors. If you’re photographing a teen or tween, allow them to be a little more serious if they feel awkward. Teens and tweens are changing, just like the season, and it’s OK to show their evolving nature,” she added.

“You don’t need to force smiles if you remember what is magical for kids about the season.”

This story was originally published Sept. 30, 2015.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com