Winter is officially here, and for those of us living in Northwest Arkansas, winter means two to three snow storms in a year. Having only a few really good snow days per year helps make them much more special, and one thing I love doing is offering snow day mini photo sessions. Snow day sessions are such a fun way to create and document an event that will probably become one of your core memories.
Is it just me, or is winter your least favorite season too?
For me, winter suuuuuucks (it’s cold, it’s ugly, it’s rainy and muddy … the list goes on and on), but despite that some of my favorite memories from when I was growing up are of snow days. I grew up in Texas, so down there we had even fewer snow days than I do now living in Northwest Arkansas. I absolutely loved making snow people and snow angels and staying home from school and reading by the fire and drinking hot chocolate. Those memories are so vivid compared to the monotony of the rest of winter. The feelings and emotions I have while remembering snow days from my childhood are what I want you to experience every time you look at the photos from your snow day session – even if it’s five or ten or fifty years down the road!
This year for the first time (and going forward for future years), I am creating a special offer for clients to reserve a snowy mini session in advance that will be on hold until we get a snow day. A mini session with me is 20 minutes, and it is perfect for snow days because who really wants to be out in the cold taking pictures for a full hour? (I mean, I would lol, but I don’t want to torture my clients like that). And at the end of the winter season, if anyone still has a snowy mini session on hold they will be able to trade it for a regular full hour session at no additional cost. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me.
P.S. this is your sign to put a snow day session on hold with me
Click here to send an inquiry today!
So, if you’re wanting a snowy session this year, here are five things you can do to prepare:
1. Find a photographer in your area (and if you live in NWA – here I am, you found me!) who offers snow day sessions or snow day session holds. Look through one of their albums from a previous snow day session to make sure you like the way they edit the snow – those photos can have a very different look than photos that are not snowy.
2. When choosing your outfit(s), think: layers. Oftentimes, our warmest winter coats are bright, neon colors. I know mine is. Unfortunately, those colors don’t always photograph well. Especially with multiple people wearing multiple different colors and styles. By dressing in layers you can achieve a more neutral color palette while still staying warm. Here are a few examples: thermal underwear (long Johns) underneath jeans and a cozy, solid colored knit sweater and a knit headband to keep your ears covered. Thermal socks and warm boots are a must – if your feet are warm, the rest of your body will feel warmer. For colder temps add a medium weight jacket (they are typically easier to style/match than the warmer jackets, and with extra layers underneath they can be warm enough to get through a photo session), gloves, or a scarf.
3. Find a way to keep your hands warm. I love everything about my refillable hand warmer – it’s better for the environment than the disposable ones AND it’s aesthetically pleasing. Win win. I always keep it in my pocket during cold weather sessions since I don’t like to wear gloves while operating my camera. I’ll link a similar one from Amazon here (this is not an affiliate link, it is just for your convenience). Another option would be to bring hot coffee or hot chocolate to your session. Imagine the steam coming off your hot drink and catching the sunlight – sooooo beautiful!
4. Trust your photographer when it comes to the location of your session. The spot I love to use for snowy sessions isn’t one of the places I use for normal sessions, and yet it is absolutely gorgeous when it snows. If the photographer you find for your snow day session is anything like me, they have already scouted out the best spot to make your snow day photo dreams come true!
5. During your session, keep moving. No matter the weather, I always like to incorporate movement when I’m posing or directing my clients; on snow days this serves the dual purpose of creating beautiful photos and keeping you warm. So don’t be afraid to start the snowball fight or (gently) tackle your partner into the snow bank. I promise your photographer will love it and that your photos will turn out adorable.
So there you have it …
So there you have it, five tips for a successful snow day session! If you’ve ever had a snow day session in the past, what are some of your best tips? Drop a comment, I’d love to know what advice you have! And if you live in Northwest Arkansas and are interested in reserving a snow day session with me, you can click here to fill out an inquiry form, and I will get back to you within 24 hours!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook to get updates on future blog posts, see sneak peeks of my amazing couples, and so much more! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
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