We all know the stunning Columbus fall colors are approaching quickly, and it’s time to start preparing with the right photography gear for autumn so you can capture them beautifully!
Whether you have weddings, senior portraits, family sessions, or a branding shoot coming up, it’s important to have the right gear for fall photography—especially when photographing your subjects against vibrant seasonal backdrops.
Portraits in Fall
If you’re taking autumn portraits, prime lenses are your best option. Popular focal lengths for fall portrait photography include 85mm, 50mm, and 35mm. Depending on the lighting, an f-stop of 1.4 will serve you well—but if you want even more light, bokeh, and background blur, splurging for an f-stop of 1.2 is the way to go!
Recommended Lenses:
Why These Work:
These focal lengths and wide apertures allow for creamy bokeh and beautiful subject separation against the fall backdrop—perfect for autumn portrait sessions.
Tips: To get the best portraits, try shooting during golden hour to add a warm tone to your images. Also, use foliage as a framing tool—especially if you’re in an area surrounded by colorful fall leaves. These are great fall photography tips to elevate your portraits.
Landscapes
Shooting fall landscapes? Wide-angle zoom lenses are ideal for capturing autumn foliage and scenic views.
Ideal focal lengths range from 14–35mm, or anything close to that.
Recommended Lenses:
Why These Work:
Wide-angle lenses help you capture the full scene and maximize the color and beauty in one frame. Using a wider aperture allows for edge-to-edge sharpness and crisp detail—essential for landscape photography in fall.
Tips: Pair your wide-angle lens with a tripod for stability and a polarizing filter to enhance colors. The filter reduces reflections and glare while boosting saturation. For added depth, include foreground elements in your composition—one of the best fall photography techniques for landscapes.
Birding & Wildlife
Photographing birds or wildlife in the fall? A birding lens with a focal length between 300–600mm will help you capture wildlife photography in autumn beautifully. Our birding instructor and wildlife photographer Kathy Cubert recommends it—see her work here!
Need more recommendations? Check out Kathy’s full birding gear guide here!
Recommended Lenses:
Why These Work:
These lenses allow you to capture distant subjects in a close, personal way. They also feature image stabilization and fast autofocus to help you follow and freeze motion effectively—ideal for birding and wildlife photography.
Tips: Photograph wildlife in the early morning when animals are most active. Use burst mode or high-speed continuous shooting to capture flying or fast-moving subjects. These are essential fall photography tips for birding.
Travel & Everyday Fall Adventures
Planning to travel this fall? The right travel photography gear makes all the difference. For everyday adventures and capturing a variety of subjects and scenes, a focal length around 24–105mm is perfect for fall travel photography.
To keep your packing light, a single lens with this range allows for a minimalist setup. If you prefer a more discreet approach and can carry a few lenses, consider pairing a prime lens like an 85mm or 50mm with a shorter wide-angle lens like a 16–35mm.
Recommended Lenses:
Why These Work:
These lenses offer all-in-one flexibility, giving you a wide range no matter where you are or what you’re capturing. Many are lightweight, making them perfect for travel photography in fall.
Tips: Keep your camera ready for spontaneous moments! A reliable travel camera bag is also essential—check out some great options here.
To capture new environments and cultures, look for candid moments and get creative with reflections and textures to make your images stand out. These are great fall photography ideas for travel.
Do you have what you need?
Choosing the right focal length to capture your subjects well in the fall is essential. Let us help you get creative with your fall photography gear this season!
Want to try something new but unsure if it’s the right fit? Rent with us! We offer a try-before-you-buy camera gear rental program and amazing weekend rates so you can get the most out of your rental. Check out our available gear here!
What will you be photographing this fall?
Comment below with your fall adventures and your favorite focal length for fall photography!
