Braving the elements
Well here we are, half way through March and the temperature is still in the negatives here in Ontario!
I was thinking about how my outdoor sessions are so quiet until the spring and summer months, and I got to thinking about what people might be missing by waiting to book that perfect outdoor session. When you are booking a session, everyone thinks they want that beautiful golden sun, and I’ll be honest, that sun is great. But if your time slot comes around and Mr. Sun has decided to hide out behind clouds, don’t fret! I’m going to explain why different types of weather can make your photos just as wonderful.
Rain
Ah, the dreaded rain. Everyone believes that rain is going to make for poor photos, but I’m here to change your mind! I’m going to start off by saying we are talking about light rain, not torrential downpours.
Rain can make for the most beautiful photos. It adds movement, depth, and that extra bit of zing in a photo. Rainy days can also make for the most dramatic skies, which also add a lot to an image
This is one of my favourite photos that I’ve ever taken. Here I was with this new mom and dad to be, we started our session in overcast skies and as we are on our way out, the rain started. It was one of those moments that wasn’t expected, but I’m so glad it happened.
So if your next session looks like rain, think long and hard before you reschedule. And always ask the photographer what their take is on rain! Some photographers love it!
Overcast
Those dreary days we often find in the Autumn and Winter months. I’m here to let you in on a secret, overcast days are photographers best friends. Overcast means muted light, no unruly shadows and sun in the eyes! Don’t worry if the day has been a grey one, we truly revel in it!
Snow
Snow. This one is a tough one. Does anyone like to be cold? But hear me out, snow is beautiful. Just like rain, it adds such a wonderful depth and movement to a photo. Every year, I run holiday mini sessions at a tree farm. They are popular and most years I’m lucky and get a bit of snow to add to the mix. Downside? It’s cold. So how do you get those adorable family photos without freezing your behind off? Layers. Layers on layers on layers. Don’t underestimate the power of a couple cotton shirts underneath your main outfit. Also, there is a good reason I only do mini sessions. You show up, I shoot for 15 minutes tops and you’re back into your warm car. Snow gets a bad rap, but honestly, the photos can be so beautiful.
So there you have it, 3 different weather conditions that don’t always seem appealing, but actually can make for some beautiful photos.
It’s always a great idea to have a consultation with your photographer and bounce ideas off them for different situations. Matching your creative visions takes a lot of the awkwardness out of the beginning of a session, and puts you more at ease just incase that golden hour sun does happen to hide.