Engagement Session – Lyza and BJ

Lyza and BJ’s cold and snowy engagement session with winter photo tips!

At 8am on a February morning with the thermometer reading just above zero, Lyza and BJ put on their tough people pants and ventured out into the snow for their engagement photos. It was cold for sure, but it was so beautiful. Engagement photos in the winter are a real catch-22. On one hand it’s uncomfortable and harder to function through the shoot. On the other hand it’s beautiful. Shooting in the snow makes colors just pop and skin tones look amazing. Of course the temperature was the main concern for the day. Yes, my camera worked fine and handled the cold well. No, my flash did not agree to the terms of the day and I said fine. I don’t need ya. I have sunlight filtering through pines and a blanket of snow for reflection.

Lyza and BJ were both such troopers. That’s some real Wisconsin people right there. BJ didn’t even have a jacket with, Lyza dropped hers into my handy dandy wagon like it was an afterthought. They got all cuddled up, they stood on the snowy trails, they walked and laughed like it was just a normal day to be out for a stroll. Not everybody can pull that off.

Which brings me to my words of wisdom for this post. Potentially something I may add to my blog posts this year…

For anyone who may be looking at getting outdoor winter portraits done:

1. Know your tolerance. Yes, we are in Wisconsin and we’re tough. But if you can’t stand being out in the cold for more than 5 minutes you really need to be aware of that limit. No matter how good your photographer is (and I’m pretty darn good) if you can’t at least fake being comfortable, your photographer cannot make you look comfortable.
2. Schedule early. We tend to assume that after Christmas there are a few months of calm. That may not be true for you OR your photographer. We did this session at 8am on a Sunday because it was literally the only weekend day and time we could make it work in January/February. We did reschedule from an earlier January due to temp (and there was wind that day which would have made it unbearable). Personally my kids have had basketball tournaments every Saturday but one and bowling meets every other Sunday.
3. Determine your goal and be flexible. I’m not talking touch your toes flexing here. I’m talking calendar/weather/motivation/wardrobe. If your goal is that you want pictures for your birthday/anniversary in January, you may or may not have snow and you might have to be bundled up. (Or just come to my studio!) If your goal is beautiful snow pictures with your family, we can schedule in January but we might have to keep pushing it back just waiting on a blizzard. And it may not come! So know your goal, know what is important to and how much you’re willing to adjust your expectations, and COMMUNICATE that with your photographer!

Alright, I’m sure you’re just here to see Lyza and BJ out in the snow. Oh! Also, her ring had some color in it and gosh do I love that colored stones are becoming more popular in rings!