Take Autumn Photos To The Next Level With Tips From Marc Goldberg

As Mother Nature blankets the borough in gorgeous shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown, Brooklyn parents are readying their kids and cameras for fall photography sessions.

Getting those perfect shots is often trickier than it sounds, though. That’s why we’ve pulled in veteran photographer Marc Goldberg to talk about the best time of day to take fall photos, his favorite Prospect Park locations, and getting up the courage to switch your camera from automatic to manual.

CKC: First of all, tell us a bit about yourself.

Marc Goldberg: I’m a photographer based in Brooklyn, with a beautiful wife and two boys.

What brought you to your corner of Brooklyn, and how long have you lived in the neighborhood?

I’ve been in New York City for 18 years, and lived in Park Slope for 11. I opened my Gowanus studio back in 2010.

What is it about fall that pushes parents to whip out the camera?

Fall is the most dramatic transition of the year. Kids are the most dramatic shifts in our lives. We also remember it from when we were kids, and I think it’s evocative of a kind of nostalgia.

Do you need a fancy camera to score those money shots, or are there techniques you can use with something as simple as your iPhone?

It’s tricky to nail amazing color photos in the fall — especially on a sunny day. With the really little ones, you need a quick shutter with as little shutter lag (the time you depress the button till when the shutter clicks) as possible.

That said, an iPhone can take amazing pics. Mess around with the filters, play with the settings, and you’ll figure it out. If you have a point-and-shoot or DSLR, read the manual! I love manuals (excellent bedtime reading). Take pictures on overcast days for best/easiest results. With a gray sky, there is one large, soft, and even light source. Compared to a sunny day, where there is one small, bright, harsh light. Gray skies level everything out, whereas bright sun creates more challenging extremes to work with.

Here’s a bottom line — you want the exposure on the pretty leafs and your subject’s face to be the same.

What time of day works best for falls shots with kids?

Obviously early morning and late afternoon have the kindest light. That said, there’s no wrong time to shoot this time of year. The sun’s lower on the horizon and less harsh. As long as authentic emotions are playing out on the camera, there’s no wrong time to shoot.

What clothing colors or styles help to accentuate fall leaf shots?

Wardrobe is weather contingent. A cold kid is rarely happy — gotta keep them warm. I always tell my clients to layer up and make sure the little ones are extra snuggly, without looking too bulky. Layering also affords us more “looks” while we’re shooting.

Muted earth tones, whites, canvas hues — whatever looks best and fits best on you is what you wear. If the kids are little ones, I always tell my clients to consider that they’ll be the background, of sorts, when we’re doing portraits of the babies.

What would you say to someone that gets nervous about moving to manual on their DSLR camera?

Moving to manual is crucial if you have a DSLR. You’re smarter than the camera. You know what you want to see in your picture — the camera doesn’t. It’s a frustrating relationship.

Read the manual every night before bed, read blogs, watch instructional videos, but most importantly, get out and shoot. You gotta carry a camera with you a lot to learn how it works — gotta put your hours in to make your images better.

That said, one thing I tell folks is to pay attention to the settings when they’re shooting automatic. When the camera takes a picture and you like the look of it, shift to manual and match the settings from automatic. Then start taking pictures and playing with the settings from there.

What camera settings work better than others when shooting outdoors with kids?

Camera settings are completely contingent upon there weather/lighting hand you’re dealt. I love the gray days, shooting ISO (film speed) 400.  For shutter speed with kids, don’t go lower than 1/100 — maybe 1/60 if they can hold still. If you’re shooting in program mode, the action selection is good for active kids.

What are your favorite locations for shooting outdoors in Prospect Park?

Prospect Park is amazing with all of its locations. I follow the colors throughout the fall. I work along the length of Prospect Park West a lot because it’s so accessible and so many of my clients live right around there.

I also love shooting around the boathouse, and the southeast corner of the park is yellow and amazing (right now)!

Anything else we didn’t mention that will help to nail those fall family photo shoots?

The best way to nail your fall family shoot is to hire a professional. Beyond that, practice your manual settings, and don’t stress! Have fun — the amazing colors in the pictures won’t matter if the subjects aren’t happy. All of my images reflect the love and connection between family members. It’s the best!For more information on Marc Goldberg Photography, visit his website, or email marcgoldberg@mac.com.