Favorite Fall Family Photo Session Location in Raleigh
Raleigh is a big city, and there are some amazing locations for fall family portraits. Things I look for when looking for the perfect location for a family:
Light. Light. Light. I don’t shoot anywhere where the light is harsh to make you squint, and I don’t shoot in overly covered areas like forests. Just not my jam. I love the golden hour light setting behind my families. It just makes a beautiful glow.
I love textures like flowers, bushes, buildings, fences, tree lines, etc. Anything that gives it a little depth & dimension is what I lean toward. However, I don’t like it to be overly busy. I don’t want to distract from my clients.
Variety is fantastic. Some locations give a lot of variety. Maybe you can shoot with trees behind you, a field, or a fence. The more variety I can give in a session, the better. Sometimes just shifting your direction can give a whole different vibe. The photos below were taken in a 10 minute (YES, TEN MINUTE) mini session. So, I wasn’t moving around. I was in one spot. That is why I love this location. I can get so much variety without having to walk around.
If the location isn’t overly crowded, that is a plus, but unfortunately, the best places aren’t secrets anymore.. just like the gem below. The worst thing is having to wait on people to move out of your shot or to have to photoshop them out later.
This location is at the NC Museum of Art. Any photographer who has shot here can probably recognize this area based on the photos, and the NCMA is not a secret gem. In fact, it is a super popular photography location. But I mean, come on! Look how gorgeous these images are. I love that you can see the fall leaves in the background but it doesn’t scream fall… and I’m pretty sure it was like 80 degrees on the date for this session last October. But, I will definitely be back because it is just so beautiful to me. If you see me out there, give me a shout!
