{Consideration provided by Irvine Park}
Pumpkin patch photos are some of my favorites. But this year, I knew they would be a little different. It was 90 degrees outside, so I knew that getting my kids to wear any semblance of a costume was out of the question. I picked up two festive, orange, Fall-oween shirts at my local Target and headed to Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch for our favorite Fall tradition, and of course, to get in some great pumpkin patch photos.
We absolutely love the park’s Fall-tastic transformation, and as an aside to all of the activities that kids can participate in during the annual Pumpkin Patch, we’ve used this time to take a new set of photos for the year. Filled with thousands of pumpkins big and small, the park is the perfect backdrop for your Fall and Holiday Photos.
1. One of our very first stops is the pumpkin patch, which is located in the Locomotive Loop and Miner’s Meadow behind the train station. There are a number of different pumpkin patch photos you could stage including having kids sit in the middle of a group of pumpkins with a variety of different items in the background. Try taking photos with your kids sitting and standing, posed and candid. If you have more than one child, be sure to take photos of each child individually as well as with their siblings. I also recommend having children hold a small pumpkin, if possible. Since the lighting in this area varies throughout the day with the sun and the trees overhead, aim to visit early in the day or late afternoon for the best shots. And while you’re at the pumpkin patch, you can purchase your very own pumpkin for as little as $10.
2. While you’re in the pumpkin patch, take a stroll through the hay maze and grab some photos of your kids navigating their way to the end. Lighting is important in this particular area so be sure the sun is behind you, if possible. In addition to taking photos of your kids faces, be sure to take photos of them from behind and experiment with varied angles to get the best pumpkin patch photos. While you’re in this area, you might consider getting your child’s face painted for additional photos, but be sure you’ve captured all of the shots you want in the pumpkin patch so that your child can enjoy their face paint for the remainder of the day. Don’t forget to have your child play the carnival games and bounce in the bounce house. These areas are also perfect for candid shots.
3. As you stroll through Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch, be sure to pick out your favorite photo stand for a festive Fall photo. Our personal favorite is the stand located by the Haunted House which shows you how tall your child is this Fall. While you’re in this area of the pumpkin patch, I recommend taking a few photos in front of the house. The lighting is best in this area later in the day and offers a beautiful backdrop for pumpkin patch photos. This is my ideal spot for more staged photos of my kids. If you plan to take photos of your kids with different outfits, this is the ideal place to change it up!
4. At this point, even if my kids have been enjoying all of the festivities at the pumpkin patch, they need break. Take time to allow kids to pan for gold (one of our favorite activities) and take a ride on the John Deere Racers. These two activities are ideal for candids.
On your way to decorate cookies, stop at the Hay Pyramid for a family photo. Then grab a sweet treat and a few candids of your child’s best sugar cookie designs.
5. Once you’ve explored the pumpkin patch, take a hay ride or a ride on the train. Photos in front of the train or inside the wagon can compliment your more formal, posed shots. I prefer candids in these 2 locations, capturing the joy and wonder in my child’s eyes. As you complete your photo tour through the pumpkin patch, remember to take a lot of pumpkin patch photos so that you have enough to choose from.
What you need to know about the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
The pumpkin patch runs through October 31, 2016 and admission is free. Most activities require 1-2 tickets and each ticket is $5.00. Free activities include the Haunted House and the Hay Maze. If you plan to enjoy all of the activities and have more than one child, the best deal is to purchase a book of 15 tickets for $60 which will save you $15. Parking is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays, $5.00 per vehicle on weekends and $7.00 per vehicle on holidays. Aim to visit early in the season and early in the day to avoid the crowds.
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