Tips for Great Pumpkin Patch Photos

Marcie Cheung
We love going to the pumpkin patch with friends because they have so many activities and it’s a great way to spend a morning. We try to go early in the day to avoid crowds (and nap times) and to get choice parking. I appreciate that they have lots of photo ops so we can take the same photo year to year to see how much the kids have grown. As the kids get older, they are able to participate in more things.

We also tend to dress the kids in overalls or plaid shirts and jeans. This makes for super cute photos and it feels very “Fall.” Our group also likes to bring along pumpkin flavored treats and hot coffee (Kahlua is optional.)

 The first year we went to the pumpkin patch with friends, our babies were 7-10 months old and we were able to prop some of them up on the pumpkins, which were wet and much colder than we anticipated. There was a lot of crying and some of us brought strollers, which ended up being a hassle. Not all of us brought food for the kids, so some ended up being cranky. But, we got some great photos and had a lot of laughs!

The second year, the kids were now walking and running and it was nearly impossible to get a group photo of them! We were able to take them to the corn pit, and it was fun to see them pouring kernels on each other and exploring with their hands. They were also old enough to pick out their own pumpkins and walk around the patch.

This year will be our third year and we are excited to bring our newest family member to share in our family tradition. Based on my experience, here are eight tips I’ve put together to take great pumpkin patch photos.

Tips for Great Pumpkin Patch Photos

  1. Time of Day. Only you know your child’s happiest time of day. Our toddler is almost always in a great mood first thing in the morning, so we like to get to the pumpkin patch as early as possible. We also get great light that time of day.
  2. Bring Snacks. Sometimes a grumpy kiddo just needs a little snack to perk them right up. I like to bring pumpkin bread (either homemade or from Starbucks) and pumpkin bars from Trader Joe’s for festive treats. Many pumpkin patches also serve warm apple cider, which would be a fun option.
  3. Use Their Photo Props. A lot of the larger pumpkin patches have signage and wooden cutouts that are meant for photos. We are a big fan of kitchy stuff, so we do as many photos ops as possible. Even if you think they are cheesy, it’s really nice to do photos every year with the same props to show how big your child is getting and it emphasizes the annual tradition.
  4. Wear Rain Boots. The fields are always a bit mucky (especially in the Pacific Northwest) and the last thing you want to deal with is your child complaining about wet feet (or experiencing wet feet yourself.) It can be chilly, so keeping everyone’s feet warm is a good idea.
  5. Wardrobe. We like to dress our toddler in overalls and a plaid shirt for a farmer look. It works well with his rain boots and we are okay if he gets these clothes really muddy/dirty because it makes the photos look even more authentic. It’s also cute to dress babies and younger toddlers in pumpkin costumes for a few photos. Otherwise, I’d avoid the color orange, or your child will blend in with the pumpkins.
  6. Bring Your Own Props. Wagons of all kinds always look cute in pumpkin patches. You can either load pumpkins in the wagon and have your child pull it or you can set your child in the wagon with the pumpkins. It would also be cute to bring a Raggedy Anne or Andy doll.
  7. Explore the Activities. We usually get fun shots of our toddler playing in the corn pit, riding in the tractor, doing the corn maze and other activities. Sometimes we go back out into the field after our toddler has burned off some energy.
  8. Have Fun! There’s no point in taking photos at a pumpkin patch if your family is miserable. There’s nothing wrong with calling it a day and trying again some other time.

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All the tips you need to take great pumpkin patch photos.

Marcie is a mom to a toddler and a newborn and writes about her adventures on her blog Marcie in Mommyland. She believes in traveling and getting out and about as a family as soon as possible and sharing her tips and tricks with other families!