Where to Take Fall Photos in London, Ontario

Short answer: for fall photos in London, Ontario, start with Springbank Park and the Thames Valley Parkway for easy riverside colour, and add Komoka Provincial Park or Sifton Bog if you want a more wooded, natural setting. October is the core month, with the best colour usually arriving mid-month.

Springbank Park

Springbank is London's largest park, around 240 hectares beside the Thames River, with more than 30 kilometres of trails and mature trees throughout. It is the easiest all-round choice for fall portraits, family photos and couple sessions: paved paths, lawns, the river and plenty of different backdrops within a short walk.

• Best for: families, couples, solo portraits.
• Good to know: it is busy on sunny autumn weekends — weekday evenings are quieter.
• Check with the City of London ahead if you are planning a larger group session.

The Thames Valley Parkway

The Thames Valley Parkway is London's 45-kilometre pathway network, linked to more than 150 kilometres of additional paths across the city. It gives you river crossings, parkland and long sightlines, and it means there is almost always a pretty stretch near where you live.

Komoka Provincial Park

A short drive west of London along the Thames, Komoka Provincial Park has about 11 kilometres of colour-coded trails through mature deciduous forest, meadow and floodplain. It suits couples and solo portraits who do not mind a short walk and some hills.

Sifton Bog

Sifton Bog's boardwalk through tall trees gives a very different look from the riverside parks: close, green and quiet. Check any rules for photography on site before you go, and keep to the boardwalk.

When is fall colour at its best in London?

• Colour usually begins in late September.
• Mid-October is generally the strongest stretch across Southern Ontario, varying by year with weather.
• By early November most leaves are down, which can still work for moody, muted portraits.

Because it changes year to year, check a current fall-colour report a week ahead and be willing to move your session by a few days.

How to get the best fall photos

• Shoot in the hour before sunset when the light is low and warm.
• Pick outfits in neutral, cream, rust or deep green so you stand apart from the leaves.
• Layer — October evenings by the river get cold quickly.
• Bring a thermos for anyone waiting between set-ups.

Looking for a spot for spring? See our engagement location guide. To book a fall session, get in touch or see packages.