If you're planning to do your engagement session during the winter, I've got tips for getting the best outdoor winter engagement photos.
Winter Engagement Photo Outfits
If you're wondering what to wear for winter engagement photos there are a few things you want to keep in mind when picking your winter engagement photo outfits. Everything tends to be brown and gray in the winter, so you'll want to keep that in mind when planning what to wear. I always suggest wearing vivid colors since there won't be a lot of color outside during the winter. Jewel tones are my favorite because they photograph beautifully and still feel winter-appropriate. Also, layers are going to be your best friend. They'll keep you warm, AND adding layers makes you look more fashionable. It's also the perfect opportunity to wear your favorite scarf or bring along a cozy blanket and get cuddling. You'll also want to make sure that you've got the right footwear. The ground can be soggy, icy, or snowy, so you'll want to make sure you're prepared with a cute (and durable) pair of shoes or boots.
Winter Engagement Photo Locations
During the summer when everything is green and lush, it's easy to find a great spot for engagement photos. In the winter it can be a little tricker. You'll want to look for visually interesting locations that don't just rely on plants and greenery. Beautiful architecture is a great way to add visual interest to your photos in the winter, like in this Cornell University Engagement Session. If you do want greenery in your photos, look for places with evergreen trees, like the Christmas tree farm we used for this snowy winter engagement session. Another reason I love this location is the beautiful red barn, so also look for colorful buildings/architecture.
When to Plan your Engagement Session
Especially in the winter, it's important to be flexible with your session date. Depending on your location and how far you have to travel, sometimes sessions need to be rescheduled because of the weather, so you might want to ask your photographer if they have any other dates available that could be used as potential backup dates. You'll also need to keep in mind that since the sun sets so early in the winter, your session will probably need to be earlier in the day.
Winter Engagement Photos without Snow
We got lucky that it snowed the day of our session, but maybe you're looking for winter engagement sessions without snow. I would say everything above still applies (you can't go wrong with layers to keep warm, jewel tones, beautiful architecture, and colorful session locations) and BONUS it might be a little warmer out 😅. If you're looking for examples of winter sessions without snow, you'll want to check this other winter christmas tree farm session that I did at the same tree farm. You can see how big of a difference the snow makes! The engagement session I mentioned above at Cornell University is also a great example of a winter engagement session without snow.
