How to Take Fall pictures (The Complete Guide)

PhotographyFall PhotographyStyling

September 03 2025, 7:40am, Editor Isaias J, Styling Jason Orléans

So, you want to take fall photos?

By now in this series, we’ve explored the best times of day to capture autumn colors, how to pose naturally, and what outfits work best in the season’s golden light. We’ve also looked at editing tips to enhance warmth, contrast, and texture in your photos. In this guide, we bring it all together: what to wear during fall photoshoots, where to shoot for the most stunning backdrops, and how to edit your images for that crisp, cozy look.

The article is divided into Getting setup, subjects, posing and what to wear and editing. Take your time and take screenshots! Let's get started.

Setting up a fall photoshoot

When you are starting a fall photoshoot it is a good idea to remember the basics of any good photoshoot. The easiest way is gaining inspiration and thinking of cool ideas to do for a photoshoot. Some great places to find inspiration include Pinterest, Instagram , Google Images or TikTok.

Next, think of what camera you will be using. Today’s iPhones and Android Smartphones can match the quality of a Professional camera so don’t think too much about that.

If you are shooting on a professional camera learn more about taking stunning photos and ways to get the most out of your camera. Along with finding inspiration, find places in your local area that match the vibe. Also think about traveling during the time too. Common places for fall photoshoots may include Pumpkin Patches, Festivals, in the park or forest. is essential that you are decisive when you take your photos during the fall. Week by week the leaves change. It is best to do them earlier rather then later. If you have to retake the images you can do this again later on**

When should you go out for a Fall Photoshoot?

Portrait photography tips

The timing of the fall leaves varies state to state. Use the following map on this website to best understand when your state reaches its peak and decline for leaves.

Additionally days are shorter during the fall months and therefore the amount of time you will have for bright photos will be limited. Anytime of the day is fine to take photos (best time to take photos). However each time difference will produce a different amount of light and direction - so keep this in mind.

Generally there are 3 times to keep in mind. Mid-day where the sun is directly above you, generally producing hard light. Sunset or sunrise when the sun is towards the horizon and creates a golden color (also known as golden hour) and blue hour. These are the most times you will be outside when shooting.

There are also other times like midnight and nocturnal night. These times are early in the morning and late at night. Generally you won’t see much at this time so I’ll skip them for the sake of this article.

Styling Photoshoots in the Fall

Styled with Jason Orléans

Fall is one of the most visually rich seasons for photography. The shifting leaves, softer light, and natural backdrops provide endless opportunities to create images that feel both warm and timeless. But styling is just as critical as location when it comes to telling a story through photos.

Fall styling goes beyond choosing the right backdrop it’s about creating looks that complement the season’s natural beauty. To explore this further, I invited stylist and image consultant Jason Orléans to share his perspective.

Known for blending refinement with personality, Jason brings a polished yet approachable eye to fashion. Here’s his take on why fall is one of the best times of year to get creative with style and his go-to tips for photoshoots.

Jason Orléans on Styling for Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. The temperatures are perfectly in-between cooler than summer, yet not as harsh as winter. The autumn colors add a pop of color to a wardrobe and photo shoots.

As a stylist, fall offers a unique playground for creativity. It’s the season of layering, texture, and depth allowing me to craft looks that tell a story and feel effortlessly polished. Whether preparing clients for photoshoots or curating everyday outfits, fall naturally invites experimentation with warmth, contrast, and personality.

  1. Learn to Layer Clothing

    During the fall, layering becomes essential as temperatures shift throughout the day. In styling for photoshoots, it not only keeps clients comfortable but also adds visual depth, texture, and interest to an outfit.

    Thoughtful layering combinations such as a lightweight turtleneck under a tailored blazer, a worn-in denim jacket over a textured knit, or a loosely draped scarf with subtle patterns can elevate a simple outfit into a dynamic ensemble.

    Each of these not only creates visual depth and texture but also helps convey the wearer’s personality and narrative, turning each look into a story that feels curated, intentional, and ready for editorial-quality photography.

  2. Balance Texture and Movement

    I also love fall because it gives me the chance to wear all the sweaters and hoodies that have been tucked away in my closet the rest of the year.

    Beyond the cozy layers, the season brings a rich palette of colors and textures, with fabrics like wool, cashmere, suede, leather, and corduroy adding depth and warmth to every outfit I wear.

    Cosy Fall Fashion Photoshoot to Capture the Season

    Pairing a chunky knit sweater over a crisp button-down shirt with tailored wool trousers and polished leather boots creates refinement. Adding a suede jacket or a cashmere scarf brings texture and dimension perfect for the season and for capturing fall in photos.

  3. Autumn’s Color Palette

    As I stated earlier, one of the reasons that I love the fall season is the colors. Colors like beige, ivory, and cream complement the season's earthy tones, creating a harmonious, understated look. Meanwhile, colors such as deep red, mustard yellow, and olive provide a striking contrast against fall landscapes.

    Fall Colors for Portrait Photography

    You can blend with nature or stand apart in bold contrast both approaches work when styled with intention. Whether you choose subtle elegance or vibrant energy, the key is selecting colors that match your mood, outfit, and story.

  4. Accessorize with Purpose

    The goal behind adding accessories to your wardrobe is to elevate the clothing that you are wearing. The rule “less is better” applies here. I have two general guiding principles when it comes to accessories:

    • Every color must coordinate with the other items.
    • Use the same metals throughout for example, if you are wearing a silver watch, do not wear a gold necklace.

    Accessories should elevate, not overwhelm. Hats, scarves, statement boots, or belts add polish while keeping the subject the focus.

  5. Highlight Seasonal Props

    Props such as pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales, and cozy plaid throws serve more than the purpose of decorating the scene; they convey a specific narrative that ties together the subject and the outfit.

    They add layers of texture and visual interest, helping to establish a mood whether it’s the warmth and richness of an autumnal outdoor shoot or an intimate, curated indoor setting. When carefully positioned, props help guide the viewer’s eye, highlight fashion pieces, and add authenticity.

    Combined with lighting, pose, and styling, these details transform a simple image into a polished, editorial-quality photograph that resonates with lifestyle and luxury aesthetics.
    Read Fall Studio Photoshoot Ideas

  6. Coordinate Without Matching

    For group photos, everyone’s clothing should coordinate without being overly matchy. Stick to a color palette that works for everyone to avoid clashing tones that disrupt the flow of the photo.

    Consider the type of event too weddings call for more formality than family reunions. And always prioritize comfort: clothes that fit well make subjects look and feel more natural, which always comes across in the photos.

What do I take photos of?

Photoshoot ideas for fall

The most common answer is portraits. But there are plenty of other great subjects such as public events, festivals, art fairs, farmers markets and more. You can also create self portraits or take photos of objects or landscapes.

Essentially the list can go on as far as your creativity goes on. We’ll dive into portraits later on in this article too.

Landscapes are a great subject matter in the fall. As stated before it is best to plan out when you want to shoot and the color of the leaves during this time. This will ensure that you get the photographs that you want.

I find that with landscapes it is best to take them early. One if you don’t know how busy you may be in the future and two because the weather is usually unpredictable weeks out. Have fun and remember to use a large aperture number. Take the images back to photoshop and adjust any discolorations as well. Try shoting in Raw Format.

Shooting Street Photography can also be interesting during the fall because you will have different subjects and clothing then you do in the winter, spring or summer months.

Portraits! Ah yes. Portraits are a great subject during fall. Whether it be a single portrait or a group portrait, these are great and fun photos to take.

Portraits can be for social media pages, yearbook photos or family photos for example. The key to portraits in the fall are great outfits, poses and smiles!

Products and advertising campaigns. Seasonality is very important when getting to the final months of the year. Taking product/lifestyle/advertising photos during these months combine customers with your brand during these months. It is a good idea if you have a lifestyle brand to use this time to get out into the fall leaves and ambience for great photos.

  • Portraits – Single, group, or self portraits. Great for social media, family, or yearbook photos.
  • Events – Public events, festivals, art fairs, and farmers markets.
  • Landscapes – Plan for leaf colors. Shoot early. Use large aperture numbers. Edit in Photoshop. Shoot RAW.
  • Street Photography – Capture unique fall clothing and seasonal subjects.
  • Products – Seasonal product, lifestyle, and advertising photos. Use fall leaves and ambience.

Posing for Fall Photos

Aesthetic Fall leaves

Posing for fall photos outdoors can be great and extend your creativity. Here are a few ideas of what you can do to get some great poses in for the Fall Season

[ Find a tree and a leafy area. Take time to take photos around the tree. You can either sit straight up. [Instead of leaning in without only your arms you can use something else- a tree. Although trees are not the only thing to lean on. Other examples may include decorative walls, bricks, benches, ]

Editing the Photos

Girl looking up

Okay so you’ve finished taking the photos. Now how should you go about editing the photos?

First go back and adjust the white balance of the photo. The white balance gives an example of where the whitest part of the image is.

During the fall months many trees will be red, orange and brown. This will skew the white balance to compensate for this color. Your images may look bluer than normal. This is the reason why, and you can fix this by adjusting to warmer colors. Although after editing this may be intuitive it is important at the start.

Putting together a preset can also be a very helpful way to edit your photos. This way you can copy and paste similar settings onto the rest of your photos. If you would like to learn more I recommend checking out the full article of editing photos for fall.

This article has gone over some ideas for taking your own fall photos. From posing, what clothes to wear during fall. Get ready for your next photoshoot -

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