Why Take Winter Engagement Photos?
So many couples get engaged in the winter but wait to take engagement photos until the weather is nicer. I’m here to tell you not to wait. Cold weather or not amazing engagement photos can be captured during the winter months. There are even some key benefits for taking winter engagement photos. Living where U’m based in Michigan it’s tempting to believe that summer is the only ideal time to get photos done and don’t get me wrong I LOVE SUMMERS IN MICHIGAN, and we do have one of the best backdrops for summer photos. But there are a lot of benefits to getting engagement photos done in the winter.
· AVAILABILITY - Often photographers have more availability to take on couple sessions because busy season is over. There are some photographers who don’t book winters at all, but many do, and many are feeling their most creative this time of year because they aren’t in wedding tunnel vision.
· HONOR WHEN YOU GOT ENGAGED – Now not everyone gets engaged in the winter, but a lot of people do! Between all the holidays, vacation time away from work, winter truly is engagement season. Taking photos in the same season as your engagement also means that you can get the ball rolling on things like save the dates or “hard launching” your engagement.
· VARIETY – Taking winter engagement pictures allows for seasonal variety. Most people get married in the warmer months. This means you are already going to have beautiful spring/summer/fall photos from your wedding and likely family photos in the years after. Mix it up and go for photos in a winter wonderland. When you look back at them or display the photos you will have a more robust variety to choose from.
If you’re reading this and thinking hell yes! There are a few important things I would suggest you remember. Do as I say not as I do!
What to remember:
A jacket and gloves for in between takes or even for in the photos. This is exactly what we forgot for this engagement session which is hard to believe when it’s 17 degrees out with wind. From now on, as the photographer, I always make sure I have an extra coat and blanket in my car for just this. As someone who got their own engagement photos taken in the winter it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of outfit planning and getting to to location on time to remember something as simple as a coat!
Another amazing item to bring with you that likely won’t make it into the photos are hand-warmers. They make a variety of reusable and disposable hand-warmers. When so much of an engagement session is showing off the ring on your hand it’s important that you can warm those hands up in between shots. The only ice we want on your hand is your ring!
To keep your whole body staying warm I recommend bringing a warm beverage or two to share. Bring it in a cute thermos and even incorporate it into your photos. Everyone has seen the champagne toast pictures, what about sharing a hot cocoa or a hot toddy? Winter picnic anyone? It’s a whole vibe.
Lastly, schedule in a cozy place to warm up after. You can have your photographer come with for some more variety or have the place just to yourselves. See, I like to think of photoshoots as a form of foreplay or more tamely just the start of the date. You’re going to spend all this time getting close and affectionate with your partner, why cut it short when the camera turns off? Extend the fun. Have a plan of a fun place to go after the shoot to spend some quality time together. Maybe is drinks and dinner, maybe it’s a hotel to heat things up, or maybe it’s back home but with time set aside to snuggle up.
So, have I convinced you? I know there was a lot of talk of cold weather and shivering BUT you’re going to have so much fun. Your love story and winter engagement will be captured, and you will get something different than all the people who wait for the warmer months. And if you’re still worried about being cold, skip the outdoors. Have a home session, rent and Airbnb or VRBO, take pictures in front of the fireplace. Faux bearskin rug anyone? The options are endless.
Want to see more of Court and Jorie’s winter engagement? Click HERE
