10 Best Autumn Photography Ideas: Capture the Beauty of Fall

Autumn, with its vibrant foliage and cosy ambiance, is a photographer's dream season. The crisp air, golden leaves, and warm hues offer endless opportunities for breathtaking shots.

Whether you're a professional photographer or an amateur with a smartphone, here are the 10 best autumn photography ideas to help you capture the beauty of this enchanting season.


Autumn Idea 1: Golden Hour Magic

The golden hour during autumn is simply magical. The soft, warm light during sunrise and sunset enhances the rich colours of fall foliage. Head out during these times to capture stunning, ethereal photographs of nature at its finest.

Learn more about sunset photography here.

 
Trees and ferns in forest during autumn

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course.

Golden hour shot taken from inside the forest with a sunburst through the trees

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course.

 

Autumn Idea 2: Fall Foliage Close-Ups

Get up close and personal with the leaves. Use a macro lens or the macro mode on your camera to capture intricate details of individual leaves. The veins, colours, and textures make for compelling compositions.

To learn more about Macro Photography - check out our online course here.

 
Close up of a fallen leaf on the floor in autumn

Image by 51581 from Pixabay

 

Get access to ALL our online courses - 1000’s of videos, worksheets, critiques of students work, personalised support and much more with our monthly membership.


Autumn Idea 3: Reflections in Water

Find a calm pond, lake, or river and capture the reflections of autumn foliage on the water's surface. The mirrored image adds depth and symmetry to your shots.

Learn more about reflections and compositional ideas with our beginners course.

 
Reflection of autumn trees in a lake

Image by Alain Audet from Pixabay

 

Autumn Idea 4: Autumn Portraits

Embrace the fall colours as a backdrop for portraits. The warm, soft light of autumn complements skin tones beautifully. Have your subjects wear earthy tones to blend with the environment or use contrasting colours for a striking effect.

Learn more about Portrait photography - Portrait Photography Tips

 
Portrait of a woman with a fall background

Image by Petr Jalový from Pixabay

 

Autumn Idea 5: Fall Harvest

Visit a local farm or orchard to capture the bounty of the season. Pumpkins, apples, corn, and other autumn produce make for delightful subjects. You can shoot them in their natural settings or create artistic still life arrangements.

 
Artistic still image of mixed autumn vegetables

Image by Sabrina Ripke from Pixabay

 

Autumn Idea 6: Leading Lines Through Foliage

Autumn offers the perfect opportunity to experiment with leading lines. Use pathways, roads, or trails lined with colourful leaves to guide the viewer's eye through your photograph, creating a sense of depth and perspective.

Increase your Creative Skills instantly - Check out our leading lines blog here to learn more.

 

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course.

 


Autumn Idea 7: Misty Mornings

As autumn mornings become cooler, you may encounter mist or fog. These atmospheric conditions can add an enchanting and mysterious quality to your photographs. Explore your local parks early in the morning for this ethereal effect.

 
Oak tree during Autumn in the mist

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course.

Misty autumn photo of a road in the centre of the image lined by trees either side of the road

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course.

 

Autumn Idea 8: Wildlife in Autumn

Capture the wildlife that thrives during the fall season. Squirrels busily collecting acorns, migrating birds, or deer in rutting season are all excellent subjects. Remember to be patient and respectful of their natural habitats.

Learn how to take incredible wildlife images with our wildlife course.

 
Squirrel on fence with autumn leaf's in the background

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

 

Autumn Idea 9: Candid Moments

Document the simple joys of autumn. Candid shots of people playing in piles of leaves, sipping hot cider, or sharing a laugh by the bonfire can convey the warmth and nostalgia of the season.

 
Child flicking autumn leaf's in the air

Image by Scott Webb from Pixabay

 

Autumn Idea 10: Silhouettes at Sunset

Position yourself to capture the silhouettes of trees or people against the backdrop of a colourful autumn sunset. This technique can create breathtaking and dramatic compositions.

 
silhouette of people on a park bench in autumn

Image by MabelAmber from Pixabay

 

Extra Autumn photo Inspiration

 
 

Image by Jack Lodge - taken from our Forest Photography Course, transform your autumn forest photography!


Conclusion

Autumn is a season that invites photographers to explore its beauty in countless ways. With its captivating colours, unique lighting, and a wealth of natural subjects, it's a fantastic time to improve your photography skills and build a portfolio filled with stunning images.

Whether you're capturing the fiery hues of fall foliage or the heartwarming moments of the season, these ten autumn photography ideas will help you create images that celebrate the enchantment of this special time of year. So, grab your camera, step outside, and let the beauty of autumn inspire your creativity.


Like this? - Check out more free tutorials below


I hope you liked this tutorial on the best autumn photography ideas. If you did, please leave us a comment and support us by sharing it with your friends and subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page for more.

We also have an excellent learning community on social media so please join us there as well.

Thanks for watching and remember – Learn more at The School of Photography.


About the author

Hi, I’m Marc Newton and I’m a photographer, educational speaker, author, teacher of photography and the founder of The School of Photography. Follow my personal work on Facebook, Instagram.