Why You Should Schedule Your Photo Shoot in the Winter

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We tend to think of the warmer months for taking family or senior photographs in Minnesota, and I can certainly see why. It’s nice out. Flowers and fall colors are pretty. But I also love taking portraits in the winter time. Really! And you might, too! Here is some inspiration for you to get you in the mood for a winter photo shoot right here in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

I always get excited when someone schedules a winter photo shoot. It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to be creative, and also photograph your children and family at a different stage - they don’t just change and grow in summer, of course. Why not capture what they look like and how they are in the winter, too?  Can you imagine a wall display of photographs that span all the seasons?

The light in winter here in the northern hemisphere is absolutely beautiful all day long.  It's like perpetual sunset.  I love the soft glow it creates.  

Winter is a beautiful time. Snowy backdrops can be so magical. The cold makes us all snuggly. Hats are adorable. What’s not to love?

OK, the cold is one thing that’s not to love. I have so much experience shooting winter sessions, that I have developed a lot of tricks to working in cold situations.

I shoot quickly. We can have you wear warm winter gear that’s nice-looking for photos (though most of my clients prefer sweaters to their winter jackets). We can wear warm coats and throw them off at the last second, then jump back into them after I fire off a few shots. We can run back inside, warm up, and then run back out again.

No matter what, my main concern is to keep people safe, comfortable and looking happy.

And if you’re wondering, “What about all those red noses…?” Well, I have some special editing tricks to deal with those. You’ll look warm and toasty in your winter photographs!  

Also, we can use the studio for half the session (there are woods and a field right by the studio, plus the urban setting outside the door).  Then you can have a full session, with lots of variety, and only spend a small amount of the time outside.   If the temps are just too dangerous out there, I can create a warm, cozy, wintry look indoors.

Another advantage to planning your photo shoot for the winter is that my schedule is less full, and you're more likely to get the date you want.  Summer and fall are prime time for photographers, and I sometimes book up to 8 weeks in advance, then.  But in the winter the lead time is usually shorter, and there are more dates to choose from.

It can be so special to capture the season for holiday cards - your photos will be up-to-date for all your relatives to see. I love shooting in Christmas tree lots and garden centers (when I’ve gotten permission first, of course). That’s another way to work with winter. I love the look of pine trees, wreaths, and poinsettias in your photos.

I’ve done senior sessions in the winter, too. We use the studio for some, and run outside for some. These sessions end up looking so unique and pretty.

I hope that gives you some inspiration to have more photos taken in the good old Minnesota winter!