Fall mini sessions are a popular way for photographers to capture beautiful autumn colors and create stunning images for their clients. It’s the season of beautiful leaves, pumpkin lattes, and gorgeous family pictures. There are so many great fall mini session ideas out there.
Autumn is an incredible time of year to capture gorgeous pictures and candid moments with clients. Hosting a fall mini-session allows families to get extra creative with the little details and memories they want to capture. From back-to-school to pumpkin patch mini theme, the fall mini-session is an exciting family photo time. It is also a great way to showcase your photography skills to prospective clients. The best part of the mini-session is engaging and building relationships with clients who will likely come back for more photo sessions.
While mini-sessions are great opportunities for upselling, it can be overwhelming to choose a theme. Don’t worry. Here are some creative fall mini-session themes you can recreate:
Pumpkins are a must-have in fall mini sessions whether you make it as props for portraits or backdrops.
Pumpkin patch mini-sessions
Let’s start with the basics for fall mini session ideas: pumpkins. They’re a great fall element and can be used in various ways. For example, you could use them as props for your portraits or as a backdrop for your photos. You might even want to incorporate them into your shoot by making them part of the background or foreground.
The pumpkin patch is also an excellent location for this type of mini session because it has so many different options–you can take pictures among rows of pumpkins, on top of hay bales next to them, under trees with bright orange leaves…the list goes on. Create a story that involves each member of the family so you can come up with suitable poses. It’s nice to have your images tell a story to make the session more magical and memorable for your clients.
Pumpkin patch mini-sessions
Pumpkins are a must-have in fall mini sessions whether you make it as props for portraits or backdrops.
Let’s start with the basics: pumpkins. They’re a great fall element and can be used in various ways. For example, you could use them as props for your portraits or as a backdrop for your photos. You might even want to incorporate them into your shoot by making them part of the background or foreground.
The pumpkin patch is also an excellent location for this type of mini session because it has so many different options–you can take pictures among rows of pumpkins, on top of hay bales next to them, under trees with bright orange leaves…the list goes on. Create a story that involves each member of the family so you can come up with suitable poses. It’s nice to have your images tell a story to make the session more magical and memorable for your clients.
The first thing you need to do is find a pumpkin patch near you. If the farm has a wagon or stroller available for rent, then this will make things much easier for everyone involved! It’s also an excellent way for kids who may not be able to walk very far without needing to rest their legs. Plus, it allows them more freedom to explore all the different areas on site–not just those closest to their parents’ feet.
Back-to-school mini-sessions
Who wouldn’t want to capture their kids’ milestones? Back to school can be a great fall mini session idea! Back-to-school mini-sessions are fun as you catch the kids’ personalities, all adorable and excited about school. Schools may have their own photo sessions but they can’t capture the individuals’ kids stories and energy. This session is a lovely way to capture the start of a new chapter of a kid’s life, whether it’s their first day of school or class of 10. The best part of mini-sessions like this one is you can include family members including the parents or the doting younger siblings. Proud parents, grannies, aunties, and uncles will gosh over the cute photos and printed cards.
Proud parents would want to see their kids’ milestones be it the first day in class or school. Back-to-school-mini-sessions capture a new chapter in their kids’ life.
Back-to-school mini-sessions
Proud parents would want to see their kids’ milestones be it the first day in class or school. Back-to-school-mini-sessions capture a new chapter in their kids’ life.
Who wouldn’t want to capture their kids’ milestones? Back-to-school mini-sessions are fun as you catch the kids’ personalities, all adorable and excited about school. Schools may have their own photo sessions but they can’t capture the individuals’ kids stories and energy. This session is a lovely way to capture the start of a new chapter of a kid’s life, whether it’s their first day of school or class of 10. The best part of mini-sessions like this one is you can include family members including the parents or the doting younger siblings. Proud parents, grannies, aunties, and uncles will gosh over the cute photos and printed cards.
Apple orchard/apple picking mini-sessions
Autumn mini session season isn’t complete with any apples lying around as background or props. Apples are another fall staple that makes stunning photo sessions and yet another perfect fall mini session idea. Families can pick up the apples and make pies after. Plenty of ways you can incorporate apples as part of your mini-session. You can have an apple orchard as the background. Find the nearest orchard farm for the mini session and bask in the autumn sunshine peeking out from behind the apples. Apple orchard sessions also create a great bonding experience for the families.
Halloween mini-sessions
Halloween is among the Fall highlights one shouldn’t miss. For some people, Fall is about Halloween. But this doesn’t mean all spooky and dark. The Halloween-themed mini-session can be a fun family bonding experience. Family members can try seasonal craft sessions, ghoul hunting, or pumpkin carving. Those who want to channel their fantasy and spooky spirit can enjoy mini sessions with old castles or graveyards as backgrounds.
Nothing screams Fall more than red-hued leaves and stunning foliage, as the background, foreground, or props.
Fall-themed/fall foliage mini-sessions
Nothing screams Fall more than red-hued leaves and stunning foliage, as the background, foreground, or props. It’s the simplest way to introduce the fall theme into your mini-session. You can have your subjects lie on the ground, so they look up at you with the leaves as the background or let them sit near or in a tree framed by the beautiful leaves. Leaf piles are also a great way to get your kids playing in leaves, which can make for some fun photos. You can also photograph them playing in the leaves or even just standing next to a pile of them.
Fall-themed/fall foliage mini-sessions
Nothing screams Fall more than red-hued leaves and stunning foliage, as the background, foreground, or props.
Nothing screams Fall more than red-hued leaves and stunning foliage, as the background, foreground, or props. It’s the simplest way to introduce the fall theme into your mini-session. You can have your subjects lie on the ground, so they look up at you with the leaves as the background or let them sit near or in a tree framed by the beautiful leaves. Leaf piles are also a great way to get your kids playing in leaves, which can make for some fun photos. You can also photograph them playing in the leaves or even just standing next to a pile of them.
Cozy Flannel mini-sessions
Sometimes the best look is simple and laidback. Fall is the perfect season for the sport that coordinated flannel look with the family or loved ones. The entire family can cozy up indoors wearing jeans and flannel and drinking cocoa or pumpkin lattes. It also makes a perfect outfit for casually hanging out outdoors.
Things to remember when shooting Fall mini-sessions
Now that we’ve covered some themes for fall mini-sessions, we also need to consider the following:
Theme or no theme?
A theme saves time, maximizes the background, and allows you to think of possible poses. If you decide to have a theme, make sure your clients are aware of it so they can choose appropriate wardrobes and props. Encourage your clients to wear fall colors that will complement the scenery. Earthy tones like brown, orange, and green work well.
Posing Workflow – Plan your Shots!
A posing workflow can help you maximize your time and get the most out of your theme. You can be as detail-oriented and have each family member pose differently or a little more laidback with your session. Consider bringing props like blankets, pumpkins, or fall leaves to add interest and variety to your shots. Experiment with different poses and compositions to create a variety of images. Use the natural surroundings to create exciting designs. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared for changes. Fall weather can be unpredictable, so have a backup plan in case of rain or other adverse conditions.
Location
Choose a location with beautiful fall foliage, such as a park or nature reserve. Scout the location beforehand and choose spots that will make for great backdrops.
Timing
The best time to shoot Fall mini-sessions is during the golden hour before sunset. This will give you soft, warm light to enhance the fall colors.
Make Scheduling Mini Sessions Easy
Fall is a wonderful season for mini-sessions. You want to capture the loveliest and most memorable moments of your clients when the leaves are vivid and the weather is perfect.
Iris Works can make scheduling easy for you so you can focus on planning your posing workflow, finding the location, and building rapport with your clients. We keep it simple, and we’ll walk you through our setup for a seamless transition of our automated system.
Fall mini-sessions are a great way to bring in clients who are still on the fence about a full session but want to try your photography skills. With leaves changing into beautiful rich hues and the weather cooler, Fall is a lovely season for family bonding, hot cocoa, pumpkin patch, and mini-sessions.
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