Snowy Family Photos
After Christmas I met with this great family from Kaysville, Utah to have an extended family shoot. Relatives from Arizona braved the cold to come to Utah to visit family and have portraits made. We met in Layton with just a bit of snow on the ground. It was enough for the kids to through snow around and have a good time.
I love lifestyle family sessions because they are playful and more fun. I like movement in my photos. The family can walk together, hug, giggle together and be relaxed.
Of course I take traditional photos where you look at the camera, but my favorite shots are the ones that are more candid. For Christmas photos winter is a perfect time to take photos. Of course you'll want to be warm and we keep it short and sweet.
Tips for Winter Photos
#1 Be Comfortable
I think the main thing is to be relaxed for a photo shoot I want this to be a fun experience and low key. I'm glad the family wore boots and came prepared for the snow and cold. They also wore sweaters and comfy clothes that were not too tight or too baggy. Fitted clothes are the most flattering. Color choice matters also. They had complimentary colors of red and blue with neutral tones to blend well together. Solid colors, small patterns, and textured clothes look great in photos.
#2 Be on Time
The light right before sunset goes quickly so it's important to be on-time for the photo shoot. Usually my photo shoots are less than an hour and kids (especially younger kids) get tired quickly. I work efficiently and quickly. I also like to interact with the kids and have it be fun for them. By coming on time or even a bit early we can have a relaxed pace for the photo shoot.
#3 Stress Less
I know it takes a lot of work and planning and bribes to get family photos taken. Leave extra time to drive and plan on unexpected things happening. No shoot is perfect and kids have melt downs. It's all ok. I've been a mom for 21 years and there is always something that is crazy that happens. You'll be surprised how many shots I can get and how it works out in the end. With families I try to keep it casual and we play games and explore what's around us. Kids can take breaks and run and play in the shoot.
I hope this helps in planning a winter shoot.
Please contact me for a session!
