Fall Family Portrait Locations
One of the most common questions I get is “where should we do our family portraits?” The thing with fall in Western New York is that almost every portrait location is amazing during this time of year! You almost can’t go wrong. But, since you asked, here are a few of my favorites for fall.
Knox Farm
If you’ve looked around my blog or website at all, you knew this one was coming, right? Knox Farm in the fall just hits different. It doesn’t have the most colorful trees out of all my picks, but something about the fall sunset light at this park makes family portraits just perfect. The fields that haven’t been mowed down are high and in all their goldenrod splendor. Sunsets are colorful. No cars on most of the paths means kids can run free without too much worry.
Possible cons:
It gets busy. This is my favorite for a reason, and it’s the same reason it is a favorite of many, many buffalo area photographers. You will have absolutely beautiful portraits if you choose this park, but we may have to share the space with others. Usually this doesn’t create a problem, but I wanted to mention it.
It’s a dog friendly park. This isn’t actually a downside unless you or your children are scared of dogs. Dogs are all on leashes outside of the dog park area, but I want to mention it here just in case you do have an extreme fear.
It’s a nature park. Ok, this seems obvious, and again, doesn’t mean it’s actually a negative - but it does mean that if it has rained, there may be mud. You will be walking in fields and weeds. There will be bugs. Tick checks after portraits are mandatory. I personally haven’t ever found a tick on me after being the fields (in 17 years), but better safe than sorry.
2. Chestnut Ridge Park
This wins for my favorite fall colors! Chestnut Ridge is a huge park. Most people only think of the casino overlook (which actually isn’t one of my top spots in this park) and forget about all the other trails and areas. It even has a pond that no one seems to ever remember is there! If you are a little extra adventurous, there is a creek bed you can climb down to to make it feel like you’re in a completely different world. And there is one unassuming spot in the park that always has the best light for portraits, even though it looks like nothing very special.
Possible cons:
There are cars on the roads - you can’t let kids run free.
Again, we’ll be in nature. If it rains, it’s muddy. There are bugs. Not as many fields, but more woods so still check for ticks!
Like Knox, it is a dog friendly park and many people walk their dogs here.
3. Amherst State Park
This doesn’t get as colorful as Chestnut Ridge or Knox farm, but is still a really pretty park for fall family pictures. The lighting at sunset is so pretty in the back field, and the bridge, walkway and creek are always favorites. While I generally beg clients to go into the field for pictures, you could stay on the walkways and still have a beautiful gallery at the end of your portrait session. This park is still pretty in late fall, when the leaves are coming off the trees. It does have some evergreens at the beginning, so even if leave are all gone, you can still get some greenery!
Like Knox, there are no cars in the park, so kids can run (just watch them around the creek if you don’t want them wet!)
Cons:
It’s a bit of a walk to the back field, and I’m probably going to make you walk it (even if you just stay on the path!).
Nature. Bugs. You get it!
Dog friendly, but doesn’t seem to be as many as other parks. And leash laws are in effect!
4. Delaware Park
Delaware park has good options whether the leaves are pretty and colorful, or if they haven’t turned yet, or if they’ve all fallen off! It kind of covers all seasons and all bases for portraits. I love the tunnel for family portraits, because kids love running through it and yelling. The steps behind Albright Knox (which I consider part of the park for portraits) add a bit of sophistication to portraits, and if you are wanting a fancier portrait session, this is the best choice!
Cons
It can be busy! Weddings, runners, events, you name it - things happen in this park! It just means, like any other park, we work around whatever is happening!
There is a pretty busy road between the park and the steps of Albright-Knox, so kids need to be kept safe.
Parking can be a bit hard to find close by, so you may need to walk a bit!
