Want a pro tip about scheduling your engagement session? Think about doing it in the winter! Yes, we know outdoor photoshoots in the cold are not always fun. But take it from two experienced wedding photographers: engagement photos in the winter rock! You just have to know how to get the most of your portrait session. Fortunately, we have some helpful tips for planning a winter engagement photoshoot that will ensure you that the images you receive will make braving the cold more than worth it!
Why Do a Winter Engagement Photoshoot?
Before we talk about what you can do to make sure your winter engagement session is a success, let us quickly talk about why you should even do your portraits at that time of year. We get into the reasons in more detail here. But here’s a quick rundown:
- Winter wonderland portraits. Pictures of you and your future spouse against a white, snowy background are absolutely stunning.
- More romantic images. The cold weather means you have to snuggle in close to keep warm, which means pictures with lovely intimacy.
- Easier wedding planning. Getting your engagement pictures taken in the winter gives you plenty of time to use them in save-the-date cards.
- Unbelievable sunrises and sunsets. The low angle of the sun means the sky lights up with dazzling colors at dawn and dusk.
Tips for Planning a Winter Engagement Photoshoot
Sold on the idea of scheduling your engagement photo session in the winter months? Then here are four ways to ensure that you get the stunning images that you’ll be expecting:
Aim for January
Obviously, snow is the holy grail for any awesome winter engagement shoot. That can be a tricky thing in and around Washington DC. If you’re longtime residents like us, then you know how unpredictable winters are here. Some years, we get blizzards. Others, not a flake falls.
The best way to increase your odds of having a winter wonderland setting? Play the averages. The Washington DC metro area gets the most snow in January and February, with the former getting slightly more days of snowfall. So pick a date in January and keep your fingers crossed!
Schedule your engagement session at dusk or dawn
We mentioned this above, but it bears repeating: winter sunrises and sunsets are GORGEOUS! The colors really are the stuff of dreams. And even if you don’t get a stunning sunrise or sunset (it happens, unfortunately), night engagement photos against a backdrop of snow are hauntingly beautiful.
Watch the weather forecasts
A week or so before your engagement session, start checking local weather forecasts to see whether snow is likely on your photoshoot date. If it is, great! If not, don’t worry. See if any snow is expected sometime around then. If it is, get in touch with us. As long as we’re available on the new date, we will move your session around.
But what should you do if we’re in for a snowless winter? Again, don’t panic. We’ll still create engagement portraits that you’re going to love. The romance, intimacy and connection will be no less present just because there is no snow on the ground.
Dress warmly
Ok, this one is pretty obvious. An outdoor photoshoot during the winter is going to be cold. There’s no getting around it. So rather than living in denial and wearing something that’s going to be uncomfortable, embrace the experience! Bundle up in warm clothes to make sure that nothing distracts you from what matters most: enjoying romantic moments with your future spouse.
What Should I Wear for Outdoor Winter Engagement Photos?
After reading that last part, you are no doubt thinking, “But aren’t warm clothes bulky and unflattering? I want to look stunning in my engagement photos.” And you know what? You’re right! Warm winter clothes are not what most people choose when dressing to kill.
Not to worry, though! You don’t actually have to freeze to look great during a winter engagement photoshoot. Here are a few great tips for ways to dress for the weather and to stun in your portraits:
Add layers underneath
A favorite of everyone who grew up in a cold weather climate (like Pete the Minnesotan)! Wearing long underwear or other thermal clothing under your outfit will keep the heat in without adding lots of bulk. In fact, probably no one will even be able to tell that you’re even wearing it at all!
Bring a coat or heavy sweater
The reality of any engagement session is that there is a fair amount of standing around between shots. And that is when the cold can really get you, even if you have warm layers on under your outfit. The solution? Have a coat or thick sweater handy to throw on when your engagement photographers are setting up the next shot or fiddling with their cameras.
Buy cute accessories that look good in photos
So you have extra layers and something very warm to put on while waiting, but what about your head, face and hands? Easy! Buy a cute hat, scarf or gloves. The best part about bringing accessories like those? If they look great on you, you can leave them on throughout the engagement photoshoot!
Wear heavier shoes and carry your heels with you
Winter engagement photo sessions often mean tromping through snow and slush. To keep your feet warm and dry, show up wearing comfortable shoes (even boots if need be). Bring your dressier shoes separately and only put them on when your engagement photographers are taking full-length photos of you. And who knows? The behind-the-scenes shots of you wearing boots with a dress might just turn out to be some of your favorite memories from the session!
Pick bold colors
With all these options for staying warm, the only thing left to do is select an outfit that is going to have you looking your best. Our advice? The same as we give for engagement photoshoots during any other time of year: wear what is comfortable and has you feeling most confident about how you look. But when it comes to winter engagement photoshoots, we do add one other little tip. Go for bold, bright colors. You want to stand out against a white snowy background, and the wrong tones can make you blend into the scenery too much.
Contact Us for More Information!
We hope that you enjoyed this glimpse of what your own gallery will look like if you book us for an outdoor winter engagement photoshoot. We also hope it has piqued your interest about our services! If so, go ahead and send us a message here.
Planning a destination wedding? No problem! Though we are based in Washington DC, we obviously travel for weddings and engagement sessions. That has taken us to countries in Asia, Europe and various cities within the US.
Recent Comments