AAA Photo Session: Fall Foliage

“I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – Anne of Green Gables.

There are so many reasons to love fall photography. With fall comes cooler weather, colorful foliage, magical light and active wildlife.

No matter how you choose to capture this magical season – on a hike, in your own backyard or if you decide to hop in the car with your camera and see where the road takes you, the views are always great, the inspiration endless.

Thank You for Participating!

We asked to see your best fall foliage photos and you delivered!

Nothing compares to the spectacular show of fall colors in the Northeast and your photos prove it. Take a look at all of the submissions in the slideshow and don’t forget to check our social media channels, where we will be featuring some of our favorites.

Check out past AAA Photo Sessions and stay tuned for the next one, coming soon. 

Fall Photography Tips

Snap your best fall foliage photos ever this year with these pro tips and techniques from professional photographer Beth Mancuso.

Check Fall Color Reports 

First, you want to make sure you are seeing peak fall foliage.

Check your local fall color report to find out when leaf peeping is prime. I call Minnesota home and our Department of Natural Resources site offers a foliage report with daily updates and pictures of the various state parks and how the leaves are progressing. You can even compare with past years to try and plan your travels in advance.

The Northeast region is well-known for its grand fall color displays, so you are sure to find great foliage throughout the season. SmokyMountains.com provides a useful map of the entire United States with leaf peak predictions and current updates.

If you plan to visit a popular fall color destination, I highly recommend booking your trip up to a year in advance. Campgrounds and hotels can book quite far out. 

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Recommended Gear

You want to be able to shoot wide and close-up for a variety of shots. Wide-angle lenses are great for landscapes. I recommend a 16-35mm or anywhere in between. For a zoom lens, I like 70-200mm; it is a great lens for portraits and wildlife. 

Best Time to Shoot

There is never a bad time for fall photography. I like shooting at all times of the day. A sunny day will yield brighter colors and more contrast between darks and lights. An overcast day will yield muted colors but more even light. Don’t let a rainstorm deter you from venturing out either. Storms can produce crazy clouds and rainbows. Sunset and sunrise and the hour beforehand (aka golden hour) are a must-do for beautiful, warm fall photos. 

You can find sunset and sunrise times from all over the world on this website. 

Warm Up Your Photos

You can add warmth to your images by adjusting your camera’s white balance. This will really help make those fall colors pop. Most cameras come with preset white balance options. Look for the shade or cloudy white balance option and switch your settings to one or the other. For the best results, try them both out to see which looks better. 

You can also warm your images up later in post-processing by adjusting the white balance in a photo editing program like Photoshop or Lightroom. To do this, move the blue/yellow white balance slider towards the yellow side. 

Learn more about white balance and other camera setting options here.

Creative Fall Photography Ideas  

If you want to take your fall foliage photos from ordinary to extraordinary, try out some of these creative techniques. 

Slow Shutter Speed

Use a slow shutter to catch leaves as they fall from the trees. A slow shutter creates a blurred effect which adds some visual interest to images. In the image below, my shutter was set to 1/30 second. If there are no leaves falling, try staging it by using a tripod and throwing a few in front of the lens. I like this tripod by Rangers because it’s small and lightweight, making it perfect for travel. Alternately, if you want to freeze the motion of the falling leaves your shutter speed should be above 1/300.

Capture the Details

When it comes to fall photography, it’s all about the leaves. Shoot the leaves close up to show the intricacy of the leaves. I recommend a large aperture for this – f/2 is a good starting point.

Creative Framing 

Use branches and leaves to creatively frame your subject. You can even hold leaves up to your lens to aid in framing your subject.

Find Different Viewpoints

I like to look for hikes that will take me to a higher vantage point. To research hikes, I recommend checking out AllTrails. 

Fly High

If you really want a unique viewpoint, rent a drone to take with on your adventure. Make sure to check the state’s regulations on drones. A lot of State Parks frown upon it and National Parks have banned them. 

Fall is fleeting, so make sure to soak up every little moment that you can.

Get more photography tips. And for more fall fun, head over to AAA.com/FallFest! 

Beth Mancuso is a professional photographer. All photos are hers.