Having your wedding photos shot outside requires that you seriously consider your wardrobe since it’s hard to lose yourself in a romantic moment if your fingers and toes are freezing. You’ll need to plan ahead for ways to stay warm that make sense in the environment and allow you to feel unencumbered. Impractical footwear, such as high heels, can slow down the energy and make the pictures feel stale — slip into a pair of boots before heading out.

Another of my top tips for navigating pictures during the winter is to have a plan that allows you to get inside to warm up at a moment’s notice (even if that’s just a nearby car or your Maid of Honor waiting off camera with a big blanket). 

Hand-warmers are an inexpensive way to get more time outside. During the cold season I always make sure they are in my camera kit.

If you take nothing else from this post, remember this: if you are taking pictures both inside and outside, always shoot INSIDE first! After the noses turn red, it can take hours to return completely back to normal. 

Any florist will tell you that most flowers will be severely damaged if they are in the cold for too long. If the ceremony hasn’t yet happened, it’s important to keep your flowers inside until after you have walked down the aisle. This is easy to forget!

Relatedly, don’t forget to have the groom remove his boutonniere before putting on an overcoat. Many times I’ve seen the boutonniere get crushed.

Anytime of year you have to consider your daylight but in the winter the sun goes down early so you’ll want to consult with your photographer to make sure you are planning the timeline to take advantage of the best light. Don’t forget to factor in a treeline or mountain range because unless you can see the horizon, the virtual sunset time will be even earlier.

I personally LOVE to shoot in the winter. All that white makes for such a gorgeous background. Let me know if you have any specific questions about shooting in the winter.