Creator Spotlight: How to Capture Authentic Autumn Vibes

Info @ 123RF
Oct 1
3 min read

Hey creative fam! Fall's officially here, and you know what that means: cozy vibes, crisp air, and a tidal wave of basic stock photos. But how do you capture that genuine autumn magic without your visuals screaming "stock photo sale from 2005"?

We totally get it. Sometimes, getting those warm, fuzzy fall feelings into your projects feels like trying to wrangle a squirrel on a caffeine high. That's we at 123RF.com connected with one of our absolute favourite creators, Hanna Kipel aka photahanna – whose work is pure fire—to learn her secrets for capturing authentic autumn moments.

This isn't your grandma's guide to leaf-peeping. We’re diving into Hanna's professional wisdom on nailing genuine emotion, dodging cheesy staged shots, and playing with light and editing to craft visuals that actually feel like fall. Get ready to level up your autumn content, no filter needed.

The Art of Autumn Authenticity: Hanna Kipel's Approach

Finding Genuine Emotion Over Staged Perfection

A core principle of Hanna's work is avoiding the "overdone" fall photo. She believes the most powerful shots come from patience and observation, not from trying too hard to manufacture a moment. Instead of forcing a scene, her process is about finding one.

Think about the classic shot of kids playing in leaves. While you can set them up in a pile, Hanna emphasizes that the truly magical photos happen when they forget you're there—in the middle of a genuine laugh or when they're totally engrossed in the experience. That’s where real emotion lives.

A collage: a dog on a leash, blue swing in autumn park, brick building with yellow leaves, scenic river, yellow flowers, lush greenery.

Spotting the Story in Every Scene

So, how do you find these authentic moments? Hanna’s technique is rooted in context and candidness. To get natural reactions from people, she suggests prompting them with questions that evoke real feelings, like "tell me about your favorite fall memory," rather than simply asking for a smile. People naturally light up when they're sharing something they love.

For landscapes and still life, her approach is to look for elements that tell a story. It’s less about perfection and more about capturing a feeling—a single fallen leaf on a worn wooden bench, or the steam rising from a hot mug on a chilly morning.

Tree with red berries, hand holding bucket of berries, and table with berries, coffee, and bird-patterned cloth. Natural and cozy setting.

Spotting the Story in Every Scene

According to Hanna, autumn light is a whole mood in itself. Her go-to is the golden hour, when the low, warm sun drenches everything in magic.

But she also encourages photographers to embrace overcast days. This creates a beautifully soft, diffused light that makes colors pop and lends a cozy, almost melancholic vibe. A key pro-tip from her playbook is to experiment with backlighting. This technique can create an incredible glow around your subjects, especially when framed by colorful leaves. She stresses that experimenting with different times of day will yield shockingly different and beautiful results.

Forest with sunlight rays, fluffy dog in grass, orange sunset over reeds, and river at sunrise. "123RF" text in top left corner.

Editing to Enhance the Autumnal Warmth

For creators who feel their raw shots aren't quite hitting that rich, cozy vibe, Hanna shared her editing philosophy.

Her process starts with the white balance; she notes that cameras can often render fall scenes too cool, so warming them up is an instant way to add that cozy feel. Next, she plays with the saturation, especially for the reds, oranges, and yellows, but with a crucial warning: don’t overdo it, or it will look fake.

Here’s one of her signature moves: in the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) panel, she nudges the oranges slightly towards red and adds a touch of green to the shadows. This technique gives images a natural, earthy richness. To complete the mood, she recommends a subtle vignette, which darkens the edges to draw the viewer's eye to the subject and enhance that intimate, autumnal feeling.

Split image of autumn scenery, left dim with trees, right bright with sunset and house. Text "BEFORE" on left, "AFTER" on right.

The Ultimate Advice: Live the Season First

Perhaps the most profound wisdom Hanna shared is to put down the camera and simply experience the season. She advises going for a walk without the pressure to shoot. Notice the way the light hits the leaves, the smell of the crisp air, the warmth of a coffee cup in your hands. Her belief is that when you genuinely feel those moments, you’ll be so much better at translating that feeling into your photos. It's about living the season, not just documenting it.

Your Turn: Go Capture Those Autumn Vibes!

Seriously, how good was that?! Hanna Kipel's masterclass on capturing authentic fall moments proves you don't need a crazy setup—just a keen eye and a willingness to feel the season.

Feeling inspired to pick up your camera and chase those perfect autumnal shots? Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your photography journey, there’s always something new to learn and new emotions to capture.