Most family photographers in the Midwest shy away from outdoor sessions in the winter months because hey, it’s cold, gray, and totally drab outside. I live in Indiana and I GET IT!
We all love snow and how gorgeous snowy family photos look, but hey, most of the Midwest is not covered in a beautiful blanket of thick white snow all winter. In fact, it’s usually just brown, drab, and snow-less for many of those winter months.
I have clients who come to me who for whatever reason, be it they are moving back to Japan like the Mizuno family below, or are having a family reunion and they only have the option of a winter family session.
Below are 4 tips for styling and shooting the most glowy and beautiful family session in the WINTER!
1. FIND A SUNNY DAY!!
Ok, this one might not always be possible, but whenever I have a winter session, I wait for a sunny day, because it transforms EVERYTHING! Golden hour light in the winter is usually softer and oh so dreamy! You will be amazed at how warm your photos really look even if it is only 30 degrees outside!
2. PICK A LOCATION WITH TEXTURES
So here in Indiana, we don’t have many evergreens and everything is pretty much dead and brown in the winter. That’s perfectly fine though because if you can find a location with natural grasses and textures, your photos will have depth and beauty even in the winter! Find a location with layers in the background, not just a wall of trees, because you want to create visual dimension and use trees to filter that sunlight as it sets.
3. CHOOSE A COLOR PALETTE THAT COMPLIMENTS YOUR LOCATION
Outfit colors and coordination are VERY IMPORTANT to creating lasting family winter photos! Because of the lack of greenery, flowers, or life the winter, we need to help bring that to life with colors in outfits. I use a styling service called Style & Select to help my clients style their session! Here is the color palate I used to style the Mizuno family:
These colors compliment the tan grasses in the background without blending in with them. It’s also important to choose 1-2 people to have patterns so that the outfits have variety.
For the mom, I used a chunky knit cardigan from Chicwish and the terracotta dress from Böhme. For the kids, I used a boys green bomber jacket and a girl’s furry vest from H&M and both of the kids have leather boots from Freshly Picked. The girl’s dress is from Lali Kids.
4. LAYER FOR WARMTH
The last thing you want is for a family to look cold in their photos! While it’s ok to take off the winter parka for the photos, opt for cardigans, cute jackets, and layers that help keep everyone warm while still looking fashionable.
When you think of layers, visualize different textures for each family member. For instance, the mom here has a chunky bubble cardigan, while the daughter has fur on her vest and the son has a sleek textured bomber jacket. Adding variety in texture helps create more depth and visual interest in the photo.
Ok, so what are you waiting for?! Get out there and schedule a family session this winter and be amazed!!
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