Cold Weather Sessions: What To Know And How To Prepare
Just because it's getting colder outside doesn’t mean you can’t create some beautiful outdoor photos with the ones you love.
In fact, the colder months is a time I wish more people would sign up for sessions because it’s a great season for some really fun, cuddly and romantic photo ops!
Yeah, it can be chilly, it can get windy, but you know what else it gets? Freaking beautiful!!
Think about it… you’re all bundled up in cute layers, snuggling in for cozy hugs and kisses, playing around in the seasonal scenery! Honestly, my favorite kind of sunset is a beautiful warm winter sunset. Those golden rays bouncing off glittering white snow… I’ve been dying for some Minnesota white wintery sessions since the past 2.5 years in Virginia’s milder climate kept me from them.
Ok, so cold weather sessions aren’t for everyone. If you’re not a fan of the elements or late fall, winter or early spring scenery then I won’t try to convince you. But if you’re on the fence or diggin’ the idea of a cold weather session, here are a few things to consider:
How low can I go? Temp-wise, that is…
I’ve got a temperature cut-off for safety, fun and making sure my equipment works. When it’s colder than 25°F I’ll postpone outdoor session bookings or ask you to reschedule for a warmer day. Some months are just straight-up cold as heck for weeks, while others have a little fluctuation in the forecast, so keep that in mind when thinking about booking.
Which cold weather month/scenery is best for your photos?
For obvious reasons, this may not be completely accurate. These are my best guesstimates and predictions based on a little bit of internet research, plus my own lifelong experience as a Minnesotan.
Mid-Late October - There’s a good chance you’ll capture those blue skies, bright sunshine and golden sunsets! Peak autumn colors like neon yellows, pinks, reds and oranges may be in full swing, and closer to the end of the month they’re definitely starting to die down. Cooler overnight temps makes any greenery droop, leaves dropping means more bare trees while some still hang on to less vibrant colored leaves. If you’re really wanting that peek autumn vibe, don’t wait past October!
November - Those bright colors might be gone, but this is when we tend to have those gorgeous muted amber, deep oranges, tans and browns in the landscape. Let’s not forget that even when deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, evergreens like cedar, pine and spruce trees keep the greenery going! November skies have about a 40% chance of being clear to partly cloudy, but overcast days will create a moody darker quality to your photos. Temps average between a low of 28 and high of 42°. Could be rainy, could be sleeting, could be snowy!
December - By now the leaves are gone, trees are bare and we see the dark browns of bark, taller pale yellow grasses, and deeper greens of the coniferous trees. Average temps are between 15-28°. You can count on it most likely being partly cloudy to near constant overcast. Will it be partly cloudy and dry ground? Will it be gray cloud cover and wet ground? Will it be bright and snowy? We won’t know! But we can always keep an eye on the 14-day forecast to plan for the weather conditions that’ll create your perfect photo shoot scenery!
January/February - These months are a bit tricky for a MN photographer. It gets COLD cold and sometimes crispy crunchy with icy snow. Then there are those few wonky days of 30-40° weather that makes people do weird things like put on shorts and t-shirts, like it’s suddenly summer. Hahaha! The skies are much the same for these months with only 20% of the days being clear to partly cloudy here in the Twin Cities.
Fun events, holidays and activities to book a shoot around.
Got family coming into town around Thanksgiving? Make it a special occasion to get everyone in photos together so you can remember the best of times. Or maybe you do a Friendsgiving! Gather them around a tree to decorate, get some fun group shots of the kiddos with their best friends!
Newly engaged? You don’t have to wait months and months to take those engagement photos outside. If you’re excited and want to make the announcement with sweet pics, let’s do it asap!
Got a cozy Christmas or other holiday celebration planned? Let me tag along with you to a Christmas Tree Farm, capture you putting up lights or hanging out in a fun holiday yard display, or walking through twinkling lights in the trees… Let’s capture the excitement of the season, outdoors!
Wintery wedding? OMG yes, pleeease! Let me be the one to capture you in some romantic photos of your elopement or big day! There’s no shortage of amazing backdrops for winter weddings.
Or maybe just a regular family or couples session! Let’s make it fun plus generate a little body heat!! Bring a sled, make snowmen and snow angels, have a friendly snowball fight, cozy up at a bonfire, go ice skating on the pond or lake, do a little winter hike through the woods, or simply capture you having fun in your own backyard!
How to stay cute and warm at your session:
Please, please put your safety above all else by dressing appropriately for the weather. ALWAYS bring a jacket, even if you don’t plan to be photographed in it. You’ll need it to stay warm while walking around to different locations between capturing photos.
Wear warm under-layers. Still want to wear a flowy dress? Put on some thicker sweater tights or leggings underneath, whether they can be seen or not. Same goes for pants! Slip on some tights, leggings or thermal pants under your jeans! You can also wear a thermal shirt under the shirt you want to be photographed in. Make sure to get tighter fitting under-layers if you don’t want to look bulky.
Add outer layers. Wear a nice vest or jacket that you want to be photographed in. Add a beautiful knit scarf, a warm hat with pom on the top, some cute winter boots, cozy leg-warmers… and voila, you have a great photo shoot outfit!
Bring warmers! Pop some hand warmers into your mittens or gloves and toe warmers into your footwear.
Cold weather skin and hair tips:
Rosy cheeks and noses. Any skin exposed to the elements can fall victim to a little redness or splotchiness… especially if you’re sensitive. Sure, I can work a little editing magic and dial down the redness, but too much can make your skin look weird, so just know you might have a little pink going on. You may be able to prepare for this while doing your make-up with concealer or heavier foundation.
Chapped skin and lips. Make sure you moisturize your skin with lotion and your lips with balm so you don’t look ashy or flaky… men, too! Even just a little dab will do!
Windy days, rustled up hair. To keep it from flying around your face in photos consider wearing it all up or at least in a half-updo, try a cute side braid, use a stronger hold hairspray if you wear it down, or simply wear a hat.
Eliminate static! With the air being so dry, static is on the rise… and so is your hair! Try spraying a static guard on your winter wear (hat, coat, scarf), don’t over-blowdry your hair, use hair oil and/or styling products that reduce static and keep it under control.
Memory-making doesn’t stop just because it gets colder, so don’t miss the opportunity to capture you and your loved ones together this season! Now that you know what to expect with a cold weather session, I hope you feel more confident in deciding if it’s right for you.
You’re always welcome to email me with any questions about doing a cold weather session or to leave a comment here on the blog. Let’s help you plan your perfect session!
