Styling tips and more to make the most out of your next winter photography session
I spent a long time despising the winter months. Living in the Northeast, winter starts around mid December and carries on through most of April, making it the dominating season of the year. Everything dies, your car windshield is perpetually frozen, and running the trash out 25 feet at night suddenly feels like a major skiing expedition.
But then.
The birth of my first child in January did what it does to most mothers – so many of my perspectives changed, including my feelings about what ideal weather actually means and how to make the most out of each day and the moments they are composed of. This is a viewpoint I carry with me in my photography, and now some of my favorite sessions of the year occur between these still months.
Check out my tips below to see if an outdoor winter session is for you and how to make the most out of it.
Layers Layers and more Layers.
I assure any client that is down for a winter shoot to not be afraid of wearing a coat. While wardrobe choices absolutely impact the outcome of your shoot, the first priority is to make sure you are comfortable. An uncomfortable party member is obvious, so if your toddler is refusing to take their coat off – that’s okay!
- If someone wants to wear a coat (or you have a child that you know will refuse to take it off), there is nothing wrong with wearing a subdued colored jacket. Try to avoid bright/neon colors or loud, distracting patterns, and opt with petti coats or black/neutral/pale colors.
- Wear layers! Compression shirts/pants are skin tight and help retain warmth and form underneath a heavy sweater (bulky, cable-knit, pull overs), and cute knit and gloves only add to the coziness of a winter shoot.
- Try to avoid thick scarves (they tend to hide your face) and coats/clothing with big logos.
- Hot hands/USB hand warmers are a total life saver (and usually something I bring along with me). Keeping your toes and fingers warm during those especially frigid days really with adding comfort.
- Be aware of your footwear. Heels can be hard to maneuver with in snowy conditions, so if you aren’t confident with them (or aren’t okay with getting snow on your toes at some point), opt for a pair of winter boots in those natural environments to ensure maximum comfort.
Stylize based on your Location
Urban shoots are ideal if you want to keep your dress as casual as possible. Buildings help insulate against any wind chills, sidewalks/roadways are typically clear of snow for choice footwear, and access to open establishments give a reprieve from the chill. If you’d rather go for more classic styling during the winter months, let your photographer know and pick a location boasting architectural charm.
Communicate
Know what your limitations are. I want you to be able to make the most out of your session, no matter what season we are in. Let me know of any concerns you have ahead of time or any poses that are a priority to you, but set realistic expectations. While I always have a general framework for how I approach any of my sessions, everyone is an individual. I like to around and with each personality to create natural and authentic imagery. I never want anything or anyone to feel forced or pushed into a certain aesthetic or ideal.
I typically cancel outdoor shoots for poor weather conditions (in the winter: impassable snow storms, black ice road conditions, and bad wind chills – a sunny 21 degree day with zero wind chill feels significantly warmer than a 40 degree day with wind!).
Embrace It.
Seriously – it makes a tremendous difference when you just accept that it’s cold. Drop your shoulders, take a deep breath, and change your mindset. Cold is a feeling, and it is so incredible that we are alive to feel it.
My winter sessions typically have a more direct flow to minimize our time in the elements, but my general philosophy and vision for my photography remains the same. Blankets are typically in my arsenal and there is no shortage of snuggling, connection, and movement to keep you as warm and joyful as possible.
Sessions typically start with coats on while we stage our shot. After our staging is done, we’ll take coats off quickly, grab the shot, then put coats right back on.
I also like to pick locations where we are close to local establishments or vehicles to warm up in between shots.
Winter Photography Sessions are Unique
Not many want to brave the cold this time of year for family photos, but there are SO MANY benefits.
- No sweating
- More appointment availability
- A memory to cherish
Feeling ready? Let’s do this.
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