5 tips to deal with unexpected weather for your photoshoot

The day has finally come!

You’ve planned the whole thing – date, time, location, outfits – your dream session, down to the smallest detail. Every day leading up to the big day is gorgeous and every day after it is sunny and hopeful. But your special day is looking ominous. Clouds. Wind. And possibly rain!?

 

Should we reschedule?  We need it to be perfect! Right?!

 

Take a breath, and relax! There’s GOOD NEWS!  Clear blue skies and sunny days are wonderful to be enjoyed and excellent for all kinds of memory-making activities. However, how about a little drama or some “visual interest” to spice things up a bit?

 

How about a flip to your hair, and a swish to your skirt? Or light beams gleaming through a break in the clouds? Or even a little singing in the rain? (The song’s going to get stuck in your head now, isn’t it? You’re welcome 🤣

 

To be honest, I always get a chill and a bit of a thrill when I see the clouds gathering for a dramatic sunset! The reflection of the light as the sun glides towards the horizon makes for all those beautiful hues to add a pop of “wow!” to your photos.

 

The only time we won’t shoot is if there is lightning or an absolute deluge of rain.

 

So, what can you do to make sure that your session is a resounding success in any type of weather?  

For this beautiful family, we had prepared for a Rocky Mountains late spring day – warm and sunny! However, as predictable as the mountains are, it was 42F when we arrived, and the clouds were rolling in.

 

Aren’t they just gorgeous?

 

The clouds, and the family! LOL! Oh, and the light. Always the light.

 

But, we had planned ahead for unanticipated weather and added in coordinated outer layers for the kids, and mom and dad were happy just wearing what they had planned to wear. Must come from being a military guy ‘n gal 😉

 

In the end, we had a blast and they have a treasure trove of beautiful memories and photos to look back on them. You can see their special time HERE.

Here are 5 tips to help you prepare for the best time:

Tip #1

Expect the unexpected and be ready to go with the flow! As I mentioned earlier, the wind brings movement and drama, allowing your beautiful hair to have body and motion, and your skirt to flap and bring drama. Rain brings a whole new level of freshness, with tongues catching droplets and splashing in puddles! And along with it, the clouds bring drama and mood to the gorgeous skies with dramatic sunset lighting. 

Tip #2

Dress in layers. As you style your outfits include a layer that can be used or removed as the temps change. Being prepared means you’ll be more comfortable!

Tip #3

Choose your shoes carefully. Flats are often the best choices for interactive sessions. Sometimes if we’re going to be on fairly rocky terrain, if it does rain, having a change of shoes for in between, or even going barefoot, is a smart choice.

Tip #4

Bring a change of clothes for the kids. Even if the weather is great, they will be able to have fun and get dirty making memories, but still have something comfy to end the day in. If it rains, you especially want to have this option for them because then you can tell them to HAVE FUN – they have dry clothes waiting for them!

Tip #5

Embrace the moodiness! As I mentioned before, if there is a deluge of water or dangerous lightning, we will absolutely reschedule. Rescheduling is always an option if you would prefer, however, I love what a little sprinkle adds to a session. Dramatic clouds, gorgeous light displays, and sometimes even a rainbow!

Trust me!

If some of that sounds counterintuitive to you, or just downright bananas, I have one thing to say. Trust me!  Having decades of experience with families, I know what will make something special, or even extraordinary! I want you to make those once-in-a-lifetime (or, preferably, annual! Gotta document all the changes!) memories that will be a treasured part of your family’s story, because they tell a special story.

 

Let’s chat.