photos in the Snow

It's October, which means that photographers are reveling in the colors of the leaves here in Upstate New York. There are few places quite as beautiful as Upstate New York during the fall months.

But, since I schedule things months in advance, I'm already thinking about winter. There isn't much we can do about the seasons except for embrace the change, right? And while many "instagrammable" photos are set in golden fields or on sunny peaks, I would argue that winter is a great time for unique, beautiful, and intimate photos.

As a person generally averse to cold, I will not pretend that taking photos during the most frigid time of the year is always more fun than shooting on a balmy spring evening. But, there are some distinct and lovely advantages to the winter photoshoot. A few things to consider:

Beautiful Winter Light - If you associate golden hour with summer, you are correct. The "Golden Hour" that photographers pine for is typically a spring, summer, and autumn occurrence. However, that doesn't mean that winter doesn't offer its own beauty. Direct light is not ideal for portraits--harsh sunlight tends to create unflattering and/or obfuscating shadows on the face. But the low winter sun is gentler and clouds will diffuse the light, kind of like as softbox over a studio light.

Coziness - What's better than cuddling with your loved one over a cup of tea or hot chocolate and a book or a movie? Not much. And that is quintessentially winter! So lean in. Photos taken on the leather couch of a cute coffee shop or in front of a fireplace are absolutely lovely. And photos taken in your home are both low-stress for you and forever unique. There may be a few couples taking photos at that botanical garden or atop a high hill, but no one else will have photos in your home at this point in your lives. And when we're outside, its all that much easier to be physically close to your loved one when you're not sweating under the hot sun.

Snow - Not only is the snow beautiful and fun to play with during shoots, it serves as a natural light reflector! And icicles can look amazing as part of a backdrop.

Of course, there are always disadvantages to the winter wonderland shoot. You won't have to contend with mosquitos in January, but there are nonetheless a few things to think about:

It's Cold (Duh) - People tend to tire quicker from frolicking in front of the camera when it's really cold or really hot (understandably so). I recommend that we plan for a part indoor-part outdoor shoot so there is some time to warm up. Or, if we switch from outdoor location to another outdoor location, there is time for a nice pause in a warm car.

"Bulky" Clothes - If you have a sleeveless chiffon dress that you were dying to wear in photos, it obviously might be a little harder rock that during the winter. This is not to say that I have worked with many a client who have bravely bared their arms or legs for the sake of the photo. But it's going to be a little uncomfortable until you get your jacket back on! Beautiful coats and boots look great in photos. As long as you don't have your heart set on a specifically light outfit, a nicely crafted winter look will be great.

Snow - Double-edged sword, that snow. Fresh snow, woodsy snow, and powdery snow look great in photos. Dirty snow, less so. (Unless you want to go for a Julia Fox by Juergen Teller dirty-snow-is-cool look... I'll never be against experimenting with inspiration from Juergen Teller.)

This is all to say.. if you're on the fence about winter photos, consider this a "go for it" vote! There are pros and cons to any season, and a little cold should be no reason to hold you back. With the right planning everything can go seamlessly and you'll leave with not only beautiful photos but all your toes and fingers.