12 Creative Fall Mini Session Ideas (2024)

It’s the season of colorful leaves, pumpkin lattes, and spooky vibes! Now that autumn is officially back in town, there’s never been a better time to get the family together for a photoshoot. But with so much autumn fun to be had, carving out time in your schedule for a full photoshoot can be tough. That’s why we’ve put together 12 adorable fall mini session ideas for families on the go this autumn.

You’ll notice that the settings we mention ahead are available to book through Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. Peerspace makes it easy to uncover and book amazing hidden gem spaces near you that bring your family photoshoots, events, and more to life. Let’s get started!

1. Hit the pumpkin patch for a classic family shoot al fresco 

Come on, is it really fall unless you visit the pumpkin patch at least once? Luckily, you can find countless patches popping up across the country from September onward. 

If it’s just you, the pumpkin patch is a perfect place to show off your latest autumn looks for Instagram. But, if you have little ones, you can follow them as they pick out some winning pumpkins. And you can use their chosen pumpkins as adorable props in your family photos. 

Check out Pumpkinpatches.com to scout patches and other fun fall activities near you!

2. Carve jack-o-lanterns together 

Once you’ve picked out your ideal pumpkin, it’s time to give it a happy face. Why not turn this Halloween tradition into a mini session opportunity? 

Set up a pumpkin carving station where you can snap photos of yourself expressing your artistic talents and indulging in a time-honored autumn pastime. And if you have younger kids, you can capture their adorable expressions as they scoop squishy pumpkin guts with their bare hands. 

You can upgrade this fall mini session idea by hosting it at an aesthetic Peerspace workshop studio. One awesome option is this rustic crafting workshop in Cypress, TX. It not only provides the tools you need to get creative with your pumpkins, but it’s also insanely photogenic.

3. Go glamping at a mini cabin for your mini session

Instead of hanging out inside, why not find the perfect rustic backdrop for your autumn mini session? 

Check out this adorable glamping cabin on a flower farm in Newfane, VT as a possible setting. The contrast of its indoor and outdoor space can help create visual interest in your photos and bring some unexpected palette choices to the mix. Learn more about booking this adorable space on Peerspace.

Our favorite cozy fall family photoshoot ideas provide even more autumn magic. Check them out!

4. Pick apples in an orchard

Are pumpkins not your thing? That’s totally cool. There’s another fall staple that’s ripe for the picking this time of year — apples!

Head to an orchard for your mini session and snap photos of yourself picking fresh and delicious apples. Not only can you take some adorable photos in the autumn sunshine, but you can also enjoy apples right off the tree, when they’re at their best. 

And if you want a little more privacy, check out this cozy cabin in an apple orchard in Ellijay, GA. The house is rustic, stylish, and sweet, so perfect for taking even more photos and for just relaxing post-shoot.

5. Show off your fall fashion in an industrial photo studio 

Of course, no one says you have to hang out outdoors to capture autumn vibes. Staging your mini session indoors can give you more control over the lighting and backdrops. Plus, you don’t have to brave the chill in the air, either. 

Check out Peerspace for cozy photo studios you can use for your session, like this industrial Southside photo studio in Chattanooga, TN. The rich-toned exposed bricks will lend an elegant flair to fall fashion and let your unique sense of style shine. 

Check out what a photographer shared in their Peerspace review after booking multiple sessions here: “I used this studio last year and loved it. I loved getting to use it again for a birthday session for my mom. It was just as advertised and was a great experience!”

6. Bake autumn treats together

Want to put all those apples you just harvested to good use? Try staging a baking mini shoot!  How cute would it be to snap photos of yourself or your kids whipping up tasty snacks in an aesthetic kitchen? 

Check out Peerspace for rentable kitchen sets or houses with gourmet kitchens that you can rent by the hour, like this warm and cozy kitchen in Los Angeles, CA. It’s a fully functional event space perfect for baking some tasty treats together in front of the camera, and then eating them with gleeful abandon after!

A Peerspace reviewer who booked an event here shares: “Absolutely wonderful! Super responsive and everyone loved the space. They had everything you could need in the kitchen and the hosts were very welcoming.”

7. Take photos with a vintage car for a touch of Americana

Bring a touch of Americana to your photo shoot with this fall mini session idea. 

Find a Peerspace studio with a retro car, like this rustic barn with a vintage truck, and use it to stage cool fall photos. If you have little ones who are fans of cars, they’ll love getting to see and hang out with a car that looks just like one of their toys. And you can capture photos of their adorable expressions. 

8. Add a water feature for added sparkle

Water isn’t just for summertime. While it might be a bit too cold to dive in, staging your mini session by a lake or pond can lend some gorgeous dreamy vibes to your shoot. The sparkling water can reflect the beauty of the autumn foliage around you, and provide an upgraded setting for an outdoor mini session. 

Keep an eye out for Peerspace settings with a water feature on-site, like this luxurious home with a backyard pond near Chicago. 

9. Wander in an autumn forest 

If you want plenty of lush, vibrant fall foliage in your mini session, you’ll find plenty of it in a local forest. 

You can go artistic and moody with introspective shots among the trees, or playful and fun with pics playing in piles of fallen leaves. You can locate nearby woods with the National Forest Foundation’s “find a forest” search engine.

Here’s what to know and how to master forest photography in case this is your first rodeo.

10. Retreat to a secluded cabin in the woods

Or, if hiking around the woods isn’t really your thing, try heading to a woodland cabin to stage your mini session. Cabins like this cozy abode in Blue Ridge, GA, can help you feel like you’ve stepped into a fall greeting card — and the photos you take there can make for amazing Instagram material. 

11. Head to the farm 

There’s plenty of fall fun to be had on the farm! Put on your best fall overalls and head to a local farm for some playful pics in piles of hay or straw. There may also be animals around that you can take pictures with — and how cute would it be to take pics in a wool sweater with a cuddly baby goat keeping you company? 

12. Hang out with horses 

If your little ones are fans of animals, you’ll love fall mini session ideas like this. 

Instead of heading to a regular farm, head to a horse ranch to snap photos while the autumn colors fall. If you have kids, they’ll love getting to see and pet a huge animal — and you can satisfy your inner horse girl. Keep an eye out for horse ranches on Peerspace for your session, like this ‘70s-themed property in LA. 

Fall mini session ideas: conclusion

We hope these fall mini session ideas have you more excited than ever to plan your shoot. Remember, you can use Peerspace to book incredible photoshoot locations, no matter your location, budget, or theme. Check us out today!

Find unique mini session photoshoot locations on Peerspace