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Hi Friends,
There’s something magical about Rochester this time of year.
The lower light creates a super warm glow, the trees are on fire with color, and every corner seems ready for a photo. 🌿
This month, I wanted to share a few of my favorite local gems that are great for photos (and more importantly, are kid-approved for hikes, playgrounds and more). This is a NON-comprehensive list, but I include spots I don't usually see on people's lists. Sure, everyone knows about Powers Farm Market (and it's fabulous!) but Durand Eastman Golf Course isn't typically top-of-mind.
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✨ Genesee Land Trust
Perhaps you've never heard of this network of nature preserves and parks but there are SO many hidden gems - explore the list below for your next outdoor excursion.
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🌸 Ganondagan State Historic Site
Not just a museum! (Although I’d highly recommend a visit). The fall colors come alive here. And just a short walk through the fields will bring you to the view featured in the picture above and at the top of this newsletter. There are several hiking trails through the woods, fields and across creeks - just be sure to retrace your steps so you don’t get lost like my family and I once did while aimlessly wandering!
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🌳 Mendon Ponds Park
This Park is kind of enormous, which can be intimidating when choosing a place to explore or take pictures. The locations featured in the pictures above are Round Pond, the Algonkian Shelter at Deep Pond, and the Canfieldwoods Shelter at Hundred Acre Pond. There is also, of course, the Mendon Ponds Fairy Trail. Start at one of these spots, then follow your nose! You can't go wrong roaming around this local gem.
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Durand Eastman Golf Course
Durand has a lot to offer (shoreline, woodsy magic, a curved walking bridge) but I'm going to focus on the golf course they have there. Let's keep this to ourselves - if people realized the beautiful vistas right off the parking lot there, I could see it getting a little too popular. To be fair, I tend to avoid it on busy Saturdays and during peak summer hours. Getting beaned with a golf ball is not ideal. But on a chilly weeknight in the fall, you get the place to yourself and some of the prettiest backdrops you can find for those holiday cards you'll be sending out in a just a few short weeks.
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🏘️ Village Charm - best "weather-proof" choice
Villages can be the BEST place for a day out and charming fall photos. There are so many to choose from in the Rochester area, I couldn’t pick just one: Fairport, Pittsford, East Rochester, Spencerport, Brockport, Canandaigua, to name a few. (Yeah, I know Canandaigua is technically a city, but please. It's village vibes.) Villages offer great variety — you can grab portraits with fall color in a nearby green space, then walk just a few steps for more textured shots with brick or stone backdrops, complete with fun cafe scenes. And, importantly, during this moody time of year, pictures looks GREAT rain or shine. These villages bring their A-game for fall - big planters full of mums, pumpkins spilling out of storefronts, and cinnamon-apple scents wafting from every shop you pass.
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Pro Tip:
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Golden hour (the hour before sunset) a popular time of day to take photos, and for good reason. The soft, flattering light means no harsh shadows, just warm glows that make skin tones look incredible. If you’re planning family or senior photos, this is the time to go! Conversely, avoid early afternoon (noon-2pm during this time of year) if you can help it. And since we're talking about timing, don't forget about the daylight savings change come early November, which steals even more evening light! Plan for pictures in October for both the best foliage AND a little more leeway in the evenings. So get out there and enjoy these cinematic fall days!
Until next month ✨
Warmly,
Erin
Erin Cummings Photography
P.S. 🍁 Fall sessions are Rochester’s busiest time of year for family sessions - if you’ve been dreaming of cozy family photos, a golden-hour photo shoot, or updated portraits, now’s the time to grab your spot.
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