Family Winter Photoshoot Tips

Morning all, hope everyone is doing well now the weather is turning colder, which I don’t actually mind especially at the moment as it means the kids in our neighborhood stay indoors more. We’ve had a lot of problems with them which this past week resulted in a little dispute with two of the parents, as we’d confiscated three balls off them after they kept kicking it (we now have proof it’s on purpose) we’d asked them nicely not to and then warned them on another occasion if they kept doing it, the ball(s) would be taken, well we took them and their mums didn’t like that and started a very loud argument with us, putting us at fault. They were very disrespectful and not understanding as they knew they were doing it and didn’t show an ounce of caring that it could damage a person’s property, which it has as they’ve broken our fence and left over 11 football marks on the windows. To be honest, the parents need to learn some manners and teach their kids them as well, as they wouldn’t like it if it was being done to them. Other than dealing with that, the only thing that’s happened this past week is over the weekend I accidentally sliced my finger “trying” to help with peeling potatoes, it still today does not look pretty.

Anyway, on with this week’s post…as I mentioned above the weather is getting cooler, feeling more like winter then autumn and with that comes the perfect opportunity to capture beautiful family photos. Have you put off booking a family photo session before because the weather has taken a cold turn? Well, there’s no need to let a cold snap put a damper on capturing your family as they are right now. If you’re thinking about doing a Winter photoshoot this year or want to plan in advance for next year — Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a fun winter family photography session without runny noses and popsicle fingers.

Winter is filled with photographic opportunity. With shorter days and cooler weather, the winter months allow us to get creative when it comes to our family photos. Nature puts on a show with beautiful snowy landscapes, and you have the perfect excuse to put the kids in adorable beanies and mittens. These fun photo ideas will be perfect when the time comes to make your winter family photo book.

Plan As Early As Possible

Typically, you’ll want to be thinking about your winter photoshoot before the winter season. While early winter is ideal, when there might be a pretty snow dusting without having to worry about a blizzard canceling your shoot (depending on where you live), you probably want to start planning before then, at least by mid autumn/fall, if possible.

Color Palette Suggestions

When planning your family photo session, consider the color scheme. Winter offers neutral colors, and maybe even white snow, so you can play with a variety of color palettes. From deep reds and greens for a Christmas card vibe to soft pastels for a dreamy look, the choices are endless. Remember to coordinate the colors to achieve a cohesive look that complements the season.

Stay Warm

Seems like a no-brainer right? And yet a surprising number of people don’t think this one through when it comes to dressing for photos. Get some warm winter gear if you’re choosing to do your shoot in December or January. You don’t want to wear your dresses and formal clothes at such a photoshoot. Always make sure everyone has plenty of layers (that they can remove if they warm up). When dressing your family for photos in the snow, you have to think of coats, boots, mittens, and hats as part of the outfit—anything to keep you cozy and warm! Layers look amazing on camera and kids are SO cute in hats.

A Winter Wonderland

If it snows where you live, you have the perfect opportunity for a winter photoshoot. Snowmen and Christmas lights are the perfect at-home backyard backdrop for family portraits. Get outdoors with your entire family and bring your shovels! You can all make a snowman together to be included in the picture, or just lie down and make some fun snow angels. You could go sledding or even have a snowball fight. The background of pale snow can look great with bright-colored outfits. The joy of a winter’s day will bring the family to life and of course that will make for great pictures. While you could just as easily line the kids up for a quick series of portrait, there’s nothing quite like getting amongst the outdoors together. It makes for more authentic reactions and also keeps the kids entertained for longer. Another great idea is to bring pets into the picture. Bring the beloved dog or cat to play too.

Or Cozy Up Inside

If you can’t brave the cold, the home is filled with creature comforts and more than enough backdrops for family portraits. Like with the previous tip, we recommend taking photos while in activity as this produces the most natural photos. This could be putting up Christmas decorations together or baking a delicious wintry treat in the kitchen. Even taking a few snaps as you snuggle in front of the fireplace and watch a holiday movie would make welcome additions to the family photo collection. Wear matching tartan pajamas in true Christmas card fashion or your comfortable winter onesies. And don’t forget to get a snap of those over-top hot chocolates.

Coordinating Outfits

It looks really cute when all family members are wearing coordinating outfits. This does not mean that you all must look identical. You could all match one item of clothing in a certain color, or wear a similar article of clothing in different colors. For example, a photo with all of you wearing red scarves with your respective outfits can bring in a vibrant, Christmassy vibe. Or you could all wear turtlenecks in various shades!

Be Flexible

The great thing about booking a winter family session is that most photographers are not as busy as the autumn/fall season. For winter sessions, you really, really want that golden light. Since everything is dead, that light adds a little something to your images. Winter weather can change so quickly, giving yourself an hour or so wiggle room with the sunset helps on those cloudy days. But if you’re the kind of family who has to plan way in advance and rearrange lots of scheduled things to plan for one evening– this might not be a good option for you. Snow photos are more about looking at a 10 day forecast and saying, okay….Thursday looks like it could be a good option. Let’s tentatively plan for that!

Have A Plan B In Case Of Inclement Weather

If you’re doing your shoot outdoors, be sure you have an additional indoor location you can use. (However, if it’s snowing and everyone is agreeable and it’s safe to do so, winter photos in real time snow look amazing!). Talk this through with your photographer, to see the procedure if you have bad weather – not just if you need to move to an indoor location, but also if roads are closed due to snowstorms, etc. This is especially important if you’re under a time crunch for your photos, such as having them for Christmas cards or a Christmas gift. The last thing you want is an unforeseen glitch that can send this lovely event you’ve so carefully planned right into a tailspin.

Plan For The Little Ones

Adults – yes even the grumpy ones who are forced to be there – are generally cooperative. Little boys and little girls are a whole other breed. Convincing them to agreeably play along can sometimes be an intimidating task, even for the most patient of parents. While this isn’t always the best parenting hack, for this situation, whatever it takes for you to get your children to cooperate, do it. It will mean bribery, for certain. Prepare a large slathering of treats (and some toys). Think through the timing and how long you can realistically get your children to cooperate (pro-tip: take pictures with kiddos first).

Have Fun!

Having fun is the most important part of your session. If that means wearing certain clothing, picking a particular location, or incorporating props… DO IT! A winter themed family photoshoot is the perfect time to let loose. This will make your winter photos all the more magical.

Winter family photoshoots are a beautiful way to capture memories that last a lifetime. I hope these tips helped…even incorporating just a couple of them can go a long way to give you outstanding results and pictures you’ll treasure forever. So, embrace the season, coordinate your outfits, and get ready to create some magical moments!

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading today’s post, I hope you all have a lovely week and stay warm, for now, though I shall say see you later!