Okay, the Autumn Equinox doesn’t come until late September, but here's good news for anyone as excited for fall to arrive as I am: the meteorological start of autumn is September 1st. That means it’s already here! 🎉

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere we’ve (meteorologically speaking) entered the time of boots and sweaters, harvest fairs and falling leaves, cinnamon spice and pumpkin-flavored everything! And even if you live in a place where the colors don’t change and the air doesn’t become crisp, the signs of autumn will still be there: darkening days, kids returning to school (whatever that may look like), and people starting to plan for all the holidays that come after Labor Day.

The changing seasons (and change in general) are good for the spirit. They heighten the senses, give us new experiences, and remind us that the cycle of life and nature is always turning. The coming of autumn is especially exciting this year, when we’re all in need of a change!

So let’s look at five fun ways to dive into the proverbial leaves of fall and cozy up to this amazing season...and get some stunning photographs in the process!

Enjoy the colors of change

One of the most distinctive attributes of the autumn season is how the world suddenly changes colors. Some of us are able to see this in the trees on the streets where we live or in our city parks. Others of us go seeking this beautiful transformation in the countryside, or by traveling to state and national parks where whole forests put on dazzling displays. Perhaps where you live you can only see the colors changing in the deepening blue of dusk or fiery sunsets, perhaps in the bright orage of marigolds or the flames of newly lit fireplaces. However, you’re able to witness this transformation, there’s no denying that the vibrant, changing colors of autumn make the perfect backdrop for a fall photoshoot. Whether you’re staying home or doing some domestic travel this season, our local photographers are ready for you and all the colors of autumn!

Embrace back to school

Back to school may not look like it normally does for your family this year. Rather than the kids getting out of the house or adult students heading off to college classes, there may be a whole lot of Zooming, setting up workspaces at home, and parents acting as teacher assistants. But the return of fall and school does mean the return of much-needed structure in uncertain times, even if it’s things like homework and bedtime! Some of the joys of back-to-school (like the smell of pencils...wait, no one uses pencils, anymore?!) can be found in school lunches made at home together with local fall produce, kids getting to see friends again (even if just on Zoom), and the start of fall sports season (even if just in the backyard!). One of our favorite parts of back-to-school? School pics, of course! Kids getting all dressed up in new or best outfits and memorializing the age and grade for scrapbooks and pics to send to grandparents. A lot of schools aren’t doing school pictures this year, but don’t worry! Our one-hour package is perfect for school pics and our local photographers will insure a safe, contactless photoshoot at a place of your choice!

Plan for festive family gatherings

Family gatherings are a year round activity and take many forms, from the traditional Sunday dinner to special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. But as we turn to the second half of the year, the word “festive” and many trimmings are added to these get-togethers as the calendar offers up even more reasons to gather, like Thanksgiving and the later winter holidays. Whether your family is made up of you and your partner, you and your fur baby, or you and twenty relatives, the season’s festivities offer an opportunity to pull out decorations, make special recipes and enjoy time together. I like to include in my fall planning a special autumn equinox gathering and a Día de los Muertos meal in honor of loved ones who have passed. I also like to commemorate these festive family get-togethers with lots of beautiful photographs I can cherish until the season returns.

Celebrate fall fashion

I don’t know about you, but I think fall fashion is one of the best parts of the autumn. All those blazers, jeans, and boots we can finally pull out of the closet, not to mention the jewel-toned fabrics! Put them against a background of changing leaves or monochromatic city streets and those are the pics I want of myself until the end of time. The fall accessory options are also arguably the best of all seasons. You can still wear flip flops & strappy sandals those last warm days, sunglasses help with those earlier sunsets, and then there’s fingerless gloves, scarves, hats, and the occasional umbrella to add to your ensemble. Check out the latest fall fashion trends then celebrate the season with the purchase of some new piece of clothing, even just some new, cozy jammies. Whether or not you splurge on a whole outfit or signature piece, or just pull on your favorite sweater, pick your favorite fall setting and celebrate yourself with a magical, autumnal photoshoot!

Get cozy at home

As soon as the first hint of fall hits, I have the sudden urge to pull out Grandma’s quilts, light candles, check out books from the library, spread out a puzzle, and bake something sweet. As the days shorten and the weather cools, we naturally turn to our homes and revel in all that they can offer: safety, warmth, hearty meals, and time with family, just to name a few. If you don’t normally consider home a refuge, have fun with Google and search out one thing you can do to make it a safe and happy space this season. And if you didn’t get a chance to do a front porch photoshoot in the summer, you may have saved it for the best time. The “golden hour” of fall sunsets can be spectacular, especially for photographs, and our porches become festive backdrops of pumpkins, gourds, and scarecrows!

Over the coming weeks we’ll dive into all the splendours of fall. For now, let’s just cozy up to it, opening our senses to the changing colors, clothes, flavors, and pace of life. Remember, you can book a photoshoot and use it later, once you’ve decided exactly how you want to capture and celebrate this amazing season 🍂