Cold hands, runny noses, wet feet - wintertime can be tough when it comes to photoshoots, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, they can be some of the most fun and memorable shoots. Below are my top 3 easy tips for making sure your next winter shoot is a success with both great photos and happy kiddos!

Tip 1: Bring a Spare Change of Clothes

During Summer shoots a little bit of mud and dirty sneakers are easy to come back from - but in the winter once someone has soggy socks or a wet fleece, it quickly turns into a “game over” scenario. I encourage clients to make sure they have extras of socks, gloves/mittens (or two!), base layers, and warm hats for each member of the family (parents get cold toes too after chasing the little ones around in the snow!). Bonus points for packing hand warmers!

Tip 2: A Thermos of Hot Cocoa Can Change a Mood

I’ve yet to find a kid who balks at hot cocoa. Especially when it’s transported via thermos and poured into a steaming mug just for them. Not only is hot cocoa an instant mood enhancer, the steam rising from the cup in front of snuggled up faces is always a show-stopper image! Not into the extra sugar kick? Try bringing a thermos of hot tea - often it’s just having something warm for the hands that distracts kids from a sour mood swing.

Tip 3: Embrace the Season!

The best part of winter is all of the fun activities you can explore out your back door. Sledding down the local hill, ice skating in Ketchum, snowshoeing on the many trails around the Valley (check out the BCRD for their comprehensive list!), building a snowman wherever you please - the options for adding some winter flavor to your photoshoot are endless! I often suggest getting the more “formal” photos done first (if that’s something you’d like). Then switching modes to playtime - this let’s the family get comfortable and have some fun which often leads to the best shots! Not sure exactly what you want? Or have a vision you’d really like to bring to life? When you book a session with me I always encourage folks to come in (or meet over the phone) for a pre-session where we can plan and create your perfect shoot together!

Ready to make your winter photo shoot a reality? Let’s talk! You can either book a session online here or send me an e-mail at dev@devkhalsaphotography.com to talk about what you’re looking for in a shoot!