With the arrival of Winter, I thought I would share my top tips for better Winter engagement portraits:
Be Flexible
Winter weather can be unpredictable. This week we’ve had icy rain, light snow, and 50-degree days with sunshine. The forecast leading up to your session can be all over the place, so it’s best to be flexible. We’ve chosen the location and time of your session based on a specific type of weather, and if that weather changes..we might need to change our plans to make sure your portraits are stunning.
Plan Multiple Outfits
With unpredictable weather, it’s best to have a few outfits to choose from. I once drove to an engagement session at the end of November with my car windows down because it was sunny and 70. Having multiple outfits chosen ahead of time that could work in various weather conditions will ensure you have something you love.
Hand Warmers
Hand warmers help keep you warm while we shoot your engagement session outside. You can use them for much more than just your hands! I keep them in my coat pockets, I stuff them in my socks, and I’ll even place them in the pockets of my leggings to help keep me warm all over. The weather was freezing for Emily & Ryan’s November wedding (seen below). The temperature stayed around 20 degrees all day. I ended up sticking some of my hand warmers around Emily’s bouquet to help keep her hands warm as she held her flowers for photos.
Dress in Layers
Dressing in layers is the best way to keep yourself warm during your wintertime portraits. Your feet are often the first to get cold, so layering socks is helpful. If you want to wear a dress, wearing a few layers of stockings will help keep you warm!
Top It Off With Peacoat
Peacoats are the best for wintertime portraits. They’re timeless and will help keep you warm your entire session. A classic wool peacoat is a must for your Winter engagement portraits.
Avoid White
If you are lucky enough to have some gorgeous snow for your engagement session, I recommend avoiding wearing white- this way; you’ll stand out against the background.
Miscellaneous Tips
– Bring tissues. Your nose will likely run, and having this hand is so helpful.
– Moisturize your hands leading up to your session. Hands can get very dry & crack during Winter, and moisturizing them leading up to your session can help prevent them from looking too dry in your photos.
– Treat yourself to a warm cup of cocoa or coffee after your session!
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