Photographers say that fall, with its warm colors and shorter days, is the ideal time to take annual photos.

“The light becomes more beautiful earlier in the day, and so it’s much easier for families to benefit from that golden light and not have to wait until nine or ten in the evening,” explains the photographer. Edmonton Aspen Zettel.

“The sun sets earlier and it’s the best time to take photos,” said Buck Lake photographer Angela Roxburgh. “It’s easier for people to get their kids up during prime time.”

In addition to golden hour, the yellow tones of grass and leaves reflect warmer — more complementary — light, Zettel added.

“The colors look better and more flattering on skin tones. And people love playing with leaves, so it automatically evokes a sort of deeper sense of play that’s happening.

“It’s perfect.”

Although it’s too late for an outdoor pumpkin patch or sunflower patch, some Edmonton trees are still clinging to their leaves.

Here are some places to find some of the most colorful awnings in town:

• For maples, head to Rundle Park, Coronation Park or the west side of Clareview Park;
• Some larch viewing sites include Terwillegar Heights, near the Monsignor William Irwin Recreation Center or Catholic School, as well as Grange District Park; And
• The lanes of Red Oaks are on 36th Street near 8th Avenue and in Menisa Park just north of Knottwood Road South.

If the wind has blown you to your favorite foliage spot, fear not. It’s not too late for a fall family photoshoot, even if some (or most) of the leaves are gone.

Zettel said trees in lower, more protected areas like Mill Creek or Blackmud Creek ravines tend to retain their leaves longer. And don’t be afraid of fruit trees, she says, especially ones that are a little more bare.

“There are still some trees left with berries and crabapples…it’s the time of year to see them for what they are,” she said. “Especially when they’re in a shallow depth of field and they’re in the background, it’s just stunning.

“And then the sky turns purple a lot faster too. So you can also lean into that blue hour and really find the romance that comes with this time of year.”

Get scary

With Halloween fast approaching, Zettel said you can enjoy the feelings evoked by bare branches.

“You can make smoke bombs, you can make something scary using muslin or lanterns,” she said. “You could draw on that energy of things to be a little scarier.”

For explicitly Halloween-themed sessions, you can head to Summerside Grande Boulevard, Edmonton’s Halloween version of Candy Cane Lane, where decorating is well underway.

An exhibit can be seen at Pumpkins After Dark in 2021. The organization said family photo sessions are welcome at the event, as long as photographers have a ticket. (Provided) Pumpkins after Dark in Borden Park allows family photo opportunities on site, and Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm in Bon Accord said there are still plenty of photo opportunities on site.

“There are antique trucks and a pumpkin house to photograph a family in,” a Prairie Farms representative said. “Around the farm there are old-fashioned granaries, piles of pumpkins and selfies with goats – all so you can take the perfect photo with your little pumpkin.”

Prairie Gardens and Pumpkins After Dark require everyone, including the photographer, to pay admission.

If you’re looking for a scarier experience, the Stony Plain Red Brick Schoolhouse and Oppertshuaser House in Stony Plain are one of Alberta’s real-life haunted locations – with reports of orbs, apparitions, furniture moving and unexplained music.

A representative said the grounds are open to the public and anyone wishing to take photos in the house can call to set up an appointment. More information can be found on the Common Red Brick Website.

The Stony Plain Oppertshauser House, built in 1910, is one of Alberta’s haunted places, with ghost tours held in October. (Provided)

Tips and tricks (and treats)

People tend to lose focus after about an hour, so Zettel recommends not booking sessions longer than that. If your family includes children, special toys, snacks, or treats can help motivate and get things done.

“The key is actually to make things really fun,” Zettel said.

“I always tell people to really focus on enjoying each other and being together… because when you enjoy that session, it shows in the photo and you want to do it again.”

“(Children) also play on your emotions,” Roxburgh said. “So if you’re really stressed and you’re late or whatever, well, they’re going to feel stressed too. So make it as simple as possible.”

People can be seen at Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm in this undated photo. (Provided)Costs for family photos depend on the photographer, but can range from $200 to $1,500. If you think you can get it done in less than an hour, or you’re on a tight budget, Roxburgh said some photographers offer mini-sessions at a lower price.

Fall mornings can be chilly (you want to capture the red leaves, not your red nose), so you should shoot in the late afternoon and early evening and bring a blanket so you don’t get dirty or wet .

“In terms of outfits, it’s all about layering,” Zettel said. “So you don’t have to wear a coat when you take your family photos.

“You want to have two or three layers, that add texture and visual interest and make people comfortable without bulking up their silhouette.”

It can be tempting to choose matching outfits or lean into throws, but Roxburgh recommends choosing simple, neutral colors instead.

“Avoid huge designs, avoid logos, avoid really bright colors,” she said. “If one person has a pattern, that’s cool, but if everyone is wearing different plaids, that’s obviously very distracting.

“And then, in the same sense, if everyone is wearing the exact same color, we kind of blend together.”

Do you have a specific space in mind to hang your photos? Consider dressing in colors pulled from the room, Zettel said.

“Anything that matches that color palette,” she said. “That way, when you hang these photographs, they match the room, but not in a really obvious way.”

Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm offers indoor and outdoor activities and photo ops throughout the month of October. (Provided)Family photos are an investment, but Zettel and Roxburgh say it’s worth the time, even in an age when many people carry a high-resolution phone camera in their pockets and purses .

“The person who always takes the photos tends to never be in the photos…and it’s often the mom,” Zettel said.

“I think we all want to be seen and heard and loved, and a good photographer wants to give you that,” she continued. “It’s not just about taking photos and collecting them, it’s just about being present with the people we love.”

“It’s more than just hanging them on your wall,” Roxburgh said. “These are the photos that are left behind for generations of you and your family.”

You can learn more about Zettel and his work at his website Or Instagram page.

Roxburgh is the owner of BRZ Photographyyou can find out more on their website.