There’s something magical about the fall season. The air turns crisp, the leaves transform into vibrant shades of amber and red, and the evenings seem to invite us to slow down. It’s the season of blankets, steaming mugs, and gathering closer with the people we love.
As a Pittsburgh photographer, I’ve seen how families light up in the fall—the colors, the coziness, the way the season almost begs us to pause and be present together. Traditions don’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s the simple rituals—the chili bubbling on the stove, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the laughter around a kitchen counter—that make the deepest memories.
Here are five fun fall traditions you can start with your family this year in Pittsburgh, each one designed to bring connection, joy, and memories worth capturing.
1. Host a Chili and Cider Night
Picture this: a big pot of chili simmering on the stove, the smell of spices filling the kitchen, and family drifting in and out, sneaking tastes with a spoon. Maybe there’s football on in the background, or soft music playing, but the real focus is the warmth of sharing a meal together.
This is one of those nights that photographs itself—steamy mugs of cider cradled in hands, laughter around the table, kids with chili-stained smiles. Whether you invite neighbors or keep it cozy with just your household, it’s a tradition that feels like the heart of fall in Pittsburgh.
2. Go on a Fall Foliage Adventure
One of the simplest joys of autumn is stepping outside and seeing the trees ablaze with color. In Pittsburgh, we’re lucky—fall foliage is everywhere. From the trails in Frick Park to the overlook at Mount Washington, or even a short drive out to Ohiopyle, there are endless opportunities to soak in the beauty.
Bring a thermos of cocoa, stop for photos under the brightest trees, and let the kids collect a handful of favorite leaves. Some of my favorite images I’ve ever captured are from these in-between moments—parents carrying little ones on their shoulders, or the wind catching hair just right against a backdrop of fiery trees. These are the kinds of memories that become family treasures.
3. Bake Together on a Cozy Afternoon
There’s a kind of magic in baking during the fall. The kitchen grows warm, the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg drifts through the house, and everyone crowds around to stir, pour, and taste-test.
Choose one afternoon to bake something seasonal—pumpkin bread, apple crisp, or even a batch of cookies shaped like leaves. Don’t stress about perfection. Sometimes the best photos come from flour dusted across the counter or little hands sneaking bites of dough. These imperfect, joy-filled moments are the ones you’ll want to remember.
4. Memory-Keeping Tradition: Create a Fall Photo Journal
Every fall, I encourage Pittsburgh families to start a memory-keeping tradition. Dedicate one afternoon to capturing your family in the season—not the posed, everyone-smiling-at-the-camera kind of pictures, but the real, in-between moments. Think muddy boots after a pumpkin patch trip, fingers sticky from caramel apples, or kids racing to jump into a pile of leaves.
Print a handful of those photos each year and tuck them into a dedicated journal or album. Write down highlights of the season—favorite meals, the costumes everyone wore for Halloween, or the funniest things the kids said. Over time, you’ll create a storybook of your family’s autumns, one that grows richer with every passing year.
And if capturing those memories feels overwhelming, that’s where I come in. Fall is one of my favorite times to photograph families in Pittsburgh because the season naturally brings out warmth and connection. A photo session isn’t just about how you look—it’s about preserving how this season felt for you and your family.
5. Movie and Blanket Fort Night
Not every tradition has to involve going out. Some of the coziest are right at home. Pick a chilly evening, drag out all the blankets and pillows, and build a fort in the living room.
Crawl inside with bowls of popcorn, caramel apples, and maybe even s’mores made in the oven. Queue up your favorite fall movies—It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is always a winner—and let everyone pile in together. These nights don’t take much planning, but they create the kind of cozy, joy-filled memories that are worth holding onto.
Building Traditions That Last
The beauty of fall traditions is that they’re less about what you do and more about how you feel while you’re doing it. It’s the coziness of a blanket fort, the joy of watching leaves swirl down a quiet street, the smell of pumpkin bread as it comes out of the oven.
Start with just one of these traditions this year. See how it feels. The magic happens when you repeat it—when your family begins to say, “Oh, it’s fall! That means chili night!” or “Time for our photo journal!” That’s how traditions are born: small moments that, repeated over time, become the heart of family memories in Pittsburgh.
Let's tell your story!
Fall goes by quickly—but the memories don’t have to. Whether you’re baking, leaf-jumping, or just soaking in the season, I’d love to capture the real, cozy moments that make it yours. Let’s plan a relaxed photo session that tells your family’s fall story, just as it is.
