Boston’s photogenic fall
Planning a trip to see New England’s famous fall foliage? Our expert can show you how to capture it in style
If you stand in the center of Boston at just the right moment—say, right at the end of September—you can almost see the seasons click from summer to fall. The wind turns crisper, while the sun dips below the Prudential Center just a little earlier. And for locals, it’s a welcome experience, because it means that fall foliage season is just around the bend—and for photographer Saba Alhadi, it’s the busiest time of year.
For the past two decades, she’s been showing visitors around her city through PhotoWalks, her tour company that combines walking tours with photography lessons—and this time of year is her favorite. “My father had a great passion for fall foliage,” she says. “We took numerous family trips to New Hampshire when I was young just to see sweeping views of the trees with their vibrant fall colors. Those memories left a lasting impression on me.”
Alhadi’s career includes stints as a teacher and travel agent—still helping people plan dreamy trips, just without being there to show them the way. But one day, looking down the cobblestoned streets of Beacon Hill at the crimson, burnt orange, and fiery yellow leaves, she had an “aha!” moment.
“I took my teaching background, my travel background, and my love of photography, and combined them to create PhotoWalks. It’s the first and only photo and history walking tour in Boston.”
There are several areas of Boston that she recommends, but none as iconic—nor as Instagram-worthy—as Beacon Hill, where the 19th-century brownstones make the perfect backdrop for photos.
A cultural guide to Boston
“Everybody goes to the most photographed street in Boston, Acorn Street, but I take my clients to Garden Street. It’s steep, it has tall, honey locust trees, and in the fall—oh my gosh. The tiny little leaves are bright yellow.” However, Alhadi says that Back Bay shouldn’t be ignored, either. “That’s because the beautiful weeping willow trees in the fall turn yellow, and then on a windless day, they beautifully reflect the Storrow Lagoon.”
She also recommends visitors take a walk down Commonwealth Avenue, where “all the trees create a canopy above, and on a good year, the green leaves turn yellow, gold, and orange.”
As for how to capture it all, Alhadi shoots on a Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera. But you don’t need anything fancy to take a good photo—a newer smartphone will do it justice, or a digital camera.
Join her tour to learn the basics of composition, from the rule of thirds to the most photogenic times of the day (spoiler: it’s always golden hour, that time right after sunrise and right before sunset).
If you want to be close to the action, Alhadi suggests booking boutique hotel The Newbury. What makes it so special, she says, is that it “faces The Public Garden”: Ask for a room with a park view so you can see the changing leaves. For a less extravagant stay, Alhadi says the Boston Park Plaza, which is just down the block, gives those same spectacular views.
If you prefer to wake up right in the heart of Beacon Hill, book into The Whitney Hotel, which is two blocks from Garden Street and a short walk from Acorn Street, providing easy access to early-morning strolls without the crowds.
In Beacon Hill, head to Tatte Bakery for coffee and baked goods to fuel up for a morning adventure. Snake your way to Storrow Lagoon, but stop at The Paramount on the way for a decadent brunch or lunch option (the bagel sandwiches are a must).
For a truly special end to the day, make a reservation at No. 9 Park, arguably the best restaurant in Boston, which comes with the added benefit of both State House and Boston Common views.
If you like a little culture with your flora, Alhadi suggests visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a personal favorite. “It’s like taking a trip to Europe,” she says. Come for the manicured lawns, stay for the art (check out the Last Seen podcast for the fascinating story of the heist that took place here). Another must: a stroll down at least part of The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile route connecting museums, churches, meeting houses, and other historic markers throughout the city.
And, if you can, snag a spot on one of Alhadi’s tours, which will not only show you the best spots for fall foliage photos in Boston but also teach you a thing or two about the city along the way. And maybe leave you with a new skill, too. “My tours are eye-opening experiences for clients because they learn about the city but also how to confidently take their photography skills to the next level,” Alhadi says. “And these skills last a lifetime.”
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