It’s a winter wonderland in Alaska this time of year, which makes for awesome frosty portraits! But staying stylish in frigid temps takes preparation. Here are five simple ways you can help your family stay warm and enjoy your winter portrait session.
Plan in advance.
The more time you allow yourself to plan your outfits, the less stressed you’ll be, plus it gives you time to have everyone try on their outfit to make sure everything fits, just in case anyone had a growth spurt since last year. I recommend laying outfits out together to get a sense of how they look next to each other. This also ensures you’re not missing anything, address items that need mending and find items you’d like to add.
Dress appropriately
This is especially important for small children and those who aren’t fond of the cold. If they stay warm they are more likely to enjoy the session and be smiling. Dress in layers for warmth and plan footwear that is appropriate for the season, such as boots that go above the ankle and wool socks to keep snow out. If you’re wearing a long dress or jeans I highly recommend thermal leggings underneath and waterproof boots. Don’t rule out cold weather attire either! Insulated bibs and ski gear come in a range of pretty colors and patterns these days and are designed to keep you warm.
Incorporate cold-weather accessories in your outfit
Beanies, vests, mittens and scarves are a great way to add visual interest to outfits and retain warmth. A down coat with a fur lined hood is also a great accessory to play with during your session.
Hand warmers are a must!
Air activated hand warmer packets can be tucked in pockets to keep your fingers warm in between shots. I use these ones and usually get them started just before I pull out of my driveway to head to a session so they are ready to use when I arrive. There are also toe warmer packets with self adhesive that can be added to your boots to prevent cold tootsies.
Consider bringing a heater
Bringing a small portable camping heater that can be put on a sled is a great way to warm up between shots without heading back to your vehicle. It’s also handy to warm up the inside of a jacket if it’s been taken off for a shot.
I do my best to keep everyone moving during sessions in cold temps and many clients are surprised at how quickly I’m able to create beautiful portraits. I dress to stay out in the cold for several hours, so if you need a warm up break be sure to let me know, otherwise I’ll figure you want to push through. I also bring a sled to winter sessions so we have somewhere to put coats or extra blankets so they don’t get snow on them.
If you’re ready to put these tips to use in a winter session, shoot me a message and let’s get something scheduled!