Fun Autumn Family Photos in the Woods
We decided early on that we wanted fun autumn family photos—images full of warmth, movement, and genuine joy. That’s one thing I love about autumn: the world shifts into these rich golds, ambers, and russet tones, and the light softens in the late afternoon. On this day, we were wandering through a park, looking for trees in prime colour and that perfect light. As soon as I saw a big pile of leaves under a wide-branching tree, I knew it would be the perfect setting.
The children spotted it at the same moment. Their excitement was contagious. Without planning a pose or fussing over composition, we simply let them loose among the leaves. They ran, they kicked, they gathered handsful—they played. I stayed a little back, watching how the light filtered through the branches, how the dust of leaves lifted in the air. The scene fell into place naturally, just as I hoped: colourful leaves, glowing light, laughter.
The Story
The biggest lesson I brought to this shoot is that fun autumn family photos work best when everyone forgets the camera. So I asked very little: “Go ahead and jump in,” “Throw some leaves,” “Laugh at each other.” The children responded immediately. Big brother scooping up leaves, his younger sister chasing after them, trying to throw them too. Their expressions shifting from surprise, to delight, to pure joy.
Light played quietly but powerfully. The sun was low, behind a veil of trees, creating rays that caught the leaves as they fell, illuminating particles in the air. I positioned myself so that the backlight made edges glow, so that every flying leaf was a sparkle. The tree trunk behind them, the soft ground, all faded into background tones. The focus remained on the children and their movement.
I waited for the right combination of elements, capturing the moments—that split second when leaves hover mid-air, when a smile lingers, when sibling play becomes a spontaneous dance. The final image you see is down to patience and careful observation. It holds laughter, colour, and the energy of this small family just being together.
Why Fun Autumn Family Photos Matter
This photograph is more than a pretty autumn picture. It captures what makes fun autumn family photos memorable: authenticity, colour, light, connection. The brother and sister aren’t posed; they’re genuinely playing. The leaves don’t just fill the frame—they become part of the moment, part of the story.
Autumn offers so many visual gifts: textured leaves, warm tones, a softness in the late-day light. But what turns those gifts into something enduring is allowing people to be themselves. This image reminds us what childhood feels like in autumn: crisp air, crunchy leaves, pure, unplanned laughter.
If you want family photos that don’t just look pretty but feel alive, aim for moments like this. Look for light that glows, scenes that invite play, spaces that let your kids move freely. When you set the stage and then let go, you’ll capture more than images—you’ll capture memories you’ll want to come back to again and again. Get in touch to book your session.
