Share the fun of autumn
An autumnal wood full of fallen leaves is a perfect and accessible location for an energetic shoot with the kids
We tend to think of autumn as a sombre, moody season, but there’s a lot of fun to be had, too – especially when you introduce children and pets into your seasonal shots. At this time of year, the weather can be even more unpredictable than normal, so it’s best to have your photo subjects lined up and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. Ideally, you want dry but bright conditions.
Choose your shoot location well in advance. You want somewhere with a lot of space, autumnal colour and plenty of naturally occurring props, such as piles of colourful leaves.
Children should be dressed warmly, but in clothes that allow them to scramble about and have fun, as this is the key to a successful shoot. Whenever you work with kids, engage them with what you’re doing, and expect attention spans to be short. Making the session fun by suggesting a leaf-throwing competition is a good way to get them on your side, but only suggest these things when you’re ready or you’ll be in danger of missing your shots.
As there’s lots of action you have two choices: select a shutter speed of over 1/500 sec to freeze the action, or go slower for a hint of deliberate movement in your shot. A shutter speed in the region of 1/30 sec will work, but have the camera on a tripod to avoid camera shake.
A pet portrait is another great option for this time of year. You can turn a walk through the woods into a photo shoot, even if you take one camera and lens so you’re travelling light. A medium telephoto zoom lens such as a 70-200mm is perfect for this kind of photography.
Shutter speeds will need to be fast, as pets move around even quicker than children, so don’t be afraid to push up the ISO to help. It’s always better to have some high-ISO noise in your shot than a shutter speed that’s too slow.