A Fall Family Photo Session in Gatineau Park
In the words of LM Montgomery; "I'm so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers". Truly, the autumn season in Ottawa and especially Gatineau Park has a very, very special place in my heart, and I just LOVE every excuse to shoot up in the hills in the fall. There are truly so many spots that you can choose to go in Gatineau Park (and they all are stunning!), but my personal favourite to shoot at is Mackenzie King Estate. The property was the country home of former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who owned the property for close to 50 years and served as Canada's 10th Prime Minister. It is about a 20 minute drive from the heart of downtown Ottawa, and just under 10 minutes from the quaint center of Old Chelsea village - making it perfect for a day trip to go see anytime of the year, but seeing it in the glory of full fall foliage is the best way to first see the property.
Tips to make the most of a fall session in Gatineau Park is first to make sure you come wearing neutral or earth toned colors. The vibrance of the tree colors is going to be a huge feature of your photos, so avoid bright colors or patterns. Also, be sure to layer up, as it often is much cooler in the hills than in the city. Bring extra sweaters, scarves, and blankets to keep warm and they can even be props to snuggle up with during the session! It's also important to note that during the Fall Rhapsody (which runs late September to late October), Gatineau Park is extra busy, and all the parking lots fill up fast! Access to the P6 lot at Mackenzie King Estate is limited, so you may need to park at P7 but there is also a handy shuttle from downtown Ottawa or the Museum of History that can be taken advantage of!
Other amazing spots in Gatineau Park to consider for a fall photo session include; Pink Lake, Meech Lake (Blanchet Beach), SugarBush Trail (Gatineau Park Visitor Centre) or Old Chelsea Picnic Area.
This year I got to take Rosanna, Victor and their two girls on their very first trip to Mackenzie King Estate and show them around during our session over Thanksgiving weekend! Hazel and Mila were full of bubbly smiles as we frolicked through the leaves, climbed through the ruins, danced in the pine needles and threw some leaves in the air. They also were the perfect assistants for me while we had Mum and Dad get cozy together for some shots together as well!
As you can see, this session was full of nothing but smiles, warm hugs and making some truly great memories. We had such great weather and despite the somewhat busy parking lot as we wandered around, we got lots of spaces to ourselves for our shots! I had such a great time shooting with the Henter family and glad I got to be apart of their family plans for the long weekend!
