Winter wedding portraits bring about some unique challenges but a little preparation before the wedding can really pay off for getting the pictures you want and having a good time while you do it. Here are a few of my favourite tips to help you get the most out of your winter wedding portrait session:
1 Dress for the weather - Picking out a cosy coat, capelet, or shawl can help keep the winter chill at bay during outdoor photos of you with your partner or with your wedding party. Getting shots you love outdoors and being comfortable while you do it takes a little planning but it’s well worth doing. For example, instead of wearing your inside shoes out in the slush, try wearing winter boots under your wedding dress, which can easily be hidden in photos underneath the length of your dress. I’ve even seen one bride bring a special pair of mukluks to keep her feet warm during portraits, which was both cute and practical.
2 Find a spot with Christmas lights - Twinkly Christmas lights add sparkle to couple portraits and wedding party photos and help bring interest to urban winter scenes. Grab shots like this at dusk to take advantage of the last of the daylight as the Christmas lights get turned on.
3 Give yourself some wiggle room in your schedule for travel - Sometimes winter weather can make for slower driving conditions, so when you plan your timeline for the day be sure and leave a little bit of extra time for travel in case your dealing with traffic. You don’t want a little snow to make you feel rushed during your photo session.
4 Put your coat on between shots during outdoor photos - For brides who want to take portraits outside in the winter and show off the whole dress without their coats, I recommend keeping on your coat between shots. For the moments between one set up and the next, or during the moments when your photographer is testing the light or getting ready to take the photo keep your coat on and then remove it just while the shot is being taken. Bring a friend or family member to hold your coat or hand it to your photographer or their assistant so it’s ready for you when the portrait has been taken.
5 For outdoor shots, take advantage of the daylight - Most winter days provide soft even light for most of the day, so starting earlier will give you more time to make the most of the natural daylight. This might mean getting creative with your schedule and doing either a first look, or an earlier ceremony, or maybe even a break in the day between events.
6 Take family portraits indoors - Heading inside for family portraits can not only keep you are your friends and family comfortable between shots but it can also yield some great photos. Whether you take the photos at the ceremony location, reception venue or another indoor location like a museum, the family shots will go much smoother inside on a cold winter day. Family members usually don’t bring special outerwear for the family portraits and often don’t want to cover up their dressy outfits with their bulky winter coats. For shots taken at your reception venue, find a quiet spot away from the music at the party so the guests can hear who’s up next for their photo. If you head to a museum, make sure you pay attention to the museum’s policies on any fees for taking pictures in the public spaces or if there’s a maximum number of guests that may attend.
7 Take some couple portraits indoors - For beautiful natural light, head towards a large window during the daytime or use flash or video lights to create flattering light. Indoor spots like your getting ready location, ceremony location, reception location or other indoor spots like an art gallery, museum, or even your favourite coffee shop can all make for great options for couple portraits. Even if you’re set on going outside for portraits it’s good to have a back up plan in mind in case you’re facing a particularly harsh winter day since Canadian winters can be so variable.