20 fall family photo ideas you can shoot yourself on iPhone

You do not need to book a photographer for good fall family photos. An iPhone on a small tripod, the self-timer and a park full of leaves will get you most of the way. The secret is to plan three or four poses, coordinate colours instead of matching outfits, and shoot in the last hour of sunlight.

Here are 20 fall family photo ideas, from posed to candid.

Posed (but relaxed) shots

1. The blanket sit. Spread a plaid blanket, parents sitting at the back, kids on laps or in front. Shoot from slightly above, at 1.5x, so nobody is hidden.

2. The bench line-up. Parents on a park bench, kids standing on it or sitting between them. Benches keep everyone at different heights.

3. Walking towards the camera. Holding hands in a line, walking slowly and talking to each other. Set the 10-second timer and start walking when it starts counting.

4. The family triangle. Tallest person in the middle at the back, others lower on either side. The Triangle 1 guide shows where three heads should sit.

5. Kids on shoulders. Each parent carries one child on their shoulders. Great for families of four.

6. Under a big tree. Put the whole family small at the base of a tree in full colour and let the tree fill the top of the frame.

Candid and playful

7. The leaf throw. Everyone throws leaves at the same time. Burst mode.

8. Leaf pile jump. Kids jump into a pile while parents cheer.

9. Swinging a child. Two parents swing the youngest between them.

10. Tickle fight on the blanket. Real laughter beats posed smiles.

11. Piggyback race. Two parents, two kids, a short race. Shoot from the finish line.

12. Reading together. A parent reading a picture book to the kids on a blanket.

Detail and storytelling shots

13. Hands stacked. Every family member's hand stacked on a pumpkin or a leaf.

14. Small boots in a row. Everyone's boots lined up on the blanket.

15. The baby's view. Lie on the ground and shoot up at the family looking down at the camera.

16. Hot chocolate break. Mugs or thermos cups, steam, mittens.

Locations

17. A forest path. The path leads the eye to the family.

18. An orchard. Apple picking, with a child on a parent's shoulders.

19. A pumpkin patch. See 20 pumpkin patch photo ideas.

20. Your own street. Leaves on the pavement, your front steps and a wreath on the door. Familiar places make photos you will look back on.

What to wear for fall family photos

Pick a palette of three or four colours and give each person a mix, instead of matching shirts. Good fall palettes:

• Cream, camel, rust and denim
• Olive, mustard, brown and cream
• Burgundy, navy, grey and tan

Add texture with knits and corduroy, and avoid big logos and neon.

How to take family photos yourself on iPhone

• Use a tripod or prop the phone on a bag. Put it at chest height of the adults.
• Use the 10-second timer and repeat it. Take three or four rounds so you get a frame where nobody blinks.
• Frame first, then join. Leave space where you will stand. The Portrait 1 guide frames full bodies at 1.5x.
• Shoot in the last hour before sunset. Soft, warm light and no squinting.
• Keep the horizon level. slay shows a live level, so the tree line stays straight.

Frame the whole family

slay draws composition guides on your live iPhone camera, so you can frame the shot before you set the timer.

Get slay on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6807513456?utm_source=slaycamera&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fall-family-photo-ideas