DIY Fall Photos- Apple Barrel Bath

I love a good photoshoot. Here is how you can recreate a similar photoshoot of your own.

Step 1: Location
Choose a space with natural, indirect light. I used our wood shed on the side of the house- the wood gives the photo backdrop texture & depth

Step 2: Set-up & Style
I used 2 bunches of baby's breath I picked up at the grocery store, the galvanized tub I bought 8 years ago from the hardware store that usually is used as an ice bucket for drinks when I host large parties & a bag of apples. I filled the tub with luke warm water & apples. I also kept Hayden's look sweet & simple. She wore a solid colored ruffle swimsuit which she's been wearing all summer & a headband. If kids aren't comfortable in what they're wearing, it's really hard to get a good photo. Also by keeping it simple the outfit doesn't distract & helps pull all the elements together.

Step 3: Contain & Entertain
My last step was to add Hayden. I will always love "let kids be kids" when photographing them, so I just let Hayden play with the Apple. I did ask her to pose with her feet out of the tub, but for the most part I just snapped away while she splashed around with apples. These were taken with my iPhone 12 Pro.

Step 4: Editing
The originals from this photo shoot are great, but I edited them in the Lightroom app to get a more polished look. I use a preset (overlay) I bought on Etsy to start my process & then I edit the lighting. Editing the light controls like contrast, highlights & shadows can change the entire mood of a photo. You can also find light controls in your iPhone photo app when you edit. The one control I stay away from is Exposure- try to get your exposure right in the original photo- otherwise photos can become blown out (too bright) or too grainy.

Do you like to DIY your photos or do you leave it to the professionals?