Happy Fall P&P Squad! It’s been fall for a couple of weeks, but it wasn’t until this past weekend that I finally celebrated my yearly start to fall with the traditional trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Every year, I like to get together with some fab girls and spend the afternoon taking photos and picking pumpkins somewhere in the country. (You won’t find me at the neighborhood pumpkin parking lot).
For this year’s event, I got together with some of the babes of San Jose Creatives at the Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill, CA. All the photography you see in this post is from Shannon Alyse Photography.
Keep reading for tips on what to wear, my fall bucket list & more!
3 Tips for Pumpkin Patch Outfit Planning
1 ) Pick a color
Every year I pick a fall color that I want to focus on. Typically, I’m all about orange, but this year I was feeling more maroon/ cranberry. You can see my last year’s look here featuring orange. I think that picking a color helps you focus when shopping or determining an outfit.
Looking for some fall color inspo? Check out this Vogue article to see what’s trending for 2018.
2 ) Practical Shoes are a Must
I always want to wear the bougiest of shoes when it comes to seasonal shoots. But the problem is, whether you’re going apple picking, or pumpkin picking or visiting a flower field, there’s dirt. And LOTS of it. It may very well be that it rained a couple of days before, or you might happen to step into a pile of dirt and dust. I learned my lesson when I ruined one good pair of shoes. Now I try to pick an older boot (that is still chic) but one I don’t mind getting ruined.
3 ) Adapt to your environment
I would have loved to worn a truly “fall” look featuring a pom pom hat and a cozy coat. The reality is that in California right now, it’s anywhere between 75 and 85 degrees. In fact, when we shot these photos it was 77 outside! I call this look “California Fall” because of the bare legs and sunnies. I was still low key melting in my sweater but #DoItForInstagram. But that’s okay – you can still have fun and take cute pics, rain or shine!
TIPS FOR VISITING & PHOTOS
1 ) Go early
Due to some scheduling conflicts, we did what I would highly advise against – shooting in the middle of the day. Not only were we in the harshest of sunlight (our photographer Shannon worked wonders), but there were tons of people at the farm. Go early to pick out the best pumpkin, have better lighting, and get the patch to yourself.
2 ) Hire a photographer or Instagram husband
I’m typically all for taking photos myself and bringing my camera along. But for an event like this that only comes once a year, you want to make sure that everyone gets in the pictures. If you can, hire a photographer or borrow someone’s Instagram husband so that you can get a mix of candids and posed photos.
3 ) Be respectful & buy a pumpkin!
At the end of the day, any pumpkin patch you visit is running a business. They typically understand that you need your photos, but try not to move too many things around or destroy anything. I also make a point of buying a pumpkin or snack on my way out – it makes for great fall decor and is a thank you to the company for letting you shoot there!
4 ) Plan your photos in advance
This goes with point #3. I try to have a basic idea of what I’m going to shoot in advance. (You can see my fall mood board here) This is great when you’re shooting in a group and trying to expedite matters.
FINDING A PUMPKIN PATCH OR FARM
I like to think that if you’re going out of the way to do this fall activity, you might as well make it an event! We could have gone to a patch in a parking lot, but visiting a farm is so much more fun in my opinion. Below is what I look for when I’m searching for a location:
- Aesthetics – I make a list of options and then search their location on Instagram. This will give you a feel for what you’re working with.
- Distance – I try to keep it within an hour drive. Anything more than that turns into a day trip.
- Hours – Double check on this one! Some open late and close early. Some open earlier in the season than others. Just double check 🙂
- Activities – Some pumpkin farms also have activities like corn mazes, hay rides, etc. I tend to lean towards those as they’re more fun for after you take your photos.
FALL BUCKET LIST
Looking for some more fall bucket list ideas? I have some date ideas in this post. Below is a run down of my yearly must-do’s :
- Apple Picking
- Apple Pie Making Party
- Halloween Movie Viewing
- Pumpkin Picking
- Finding fall leaves
What are your favorite fall activities?
