5 Essentials for Beautiful and Sensational Colorado Winter Maternity Photos
Winter maternity photos in Colorado are the most magical types of pregnancy sessions. Snow is already magical. Add a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress to it and it is off the charts. So, if you’re expecting in the spring, please don’t discard the idea of a maternity session. Because, if you ask me, you won the pregnancy photo lottery.
And to be completely honest, you probably won’t be as cold as you think. Here in Colorado, we rarely have days that are especially cold. Also, in pregnancy, you tend to run warmer than regularly. Snowy wintery sessions do mean a little more effort than regular maternity sessions. It takes more effort to walk. That brings up your core temperature even more.
A successful snowy maternity photoshoot can be tricky. Here are five essentials to having a successful Colorado winter maternity photo session.
Essential #1: A Breathtaking Winter Photoshoot Location
If you ask me, you might as well go big or go home. If you’re going to go out into the snow for a session, pick a location that will take your breath away. The Rocky Mountains are absolutely amazing in the snow. And, if you think you need to go up I-70 to get those amazing views, you don’t. There are many amazing locations near the Denver metro area and Northern Front Range.
If you want to stick close to home, remember that snow changes locations drastically. And, if there aren’t features that will stand out in the snow, you don’t really want to shoot at them during the winter. Snow covers everything. So, if you just have low brush and a wide open field, there really won’t be any interest in your photos. You want an area that at least has trees. Add in a variety of viewpoints with a forested area, some mountains, and water and you’ve got a winner. Although you, as the mom-to-be are the focus of a maternity session, you don’t want to be the only thing in the frame. That results in a very one dimensional photoshoot session.
Essential #2: A Beautiful Photoshoot Dress
There are so many factors to take into account when choosing a dress for your photoshoot. I recommend looking at my post, 7 Simple Ways to Choose a Fabulous Maternity Photoshoot Dress, for more. For this post, I'll focus on color. Color becomes very important in winter sessions, because Colorado winters lack color.
With color, you always have to two big choices, color or neutral. There are specific ways I recommend when it comes to a winter session.
Color
When choosing colors, keep in mind the colors dominant in a snowy landscape. Those colors are green and blue. Green is one of the few colors that tend to stick around after snow (think pine trees!). Blue is also common in a snowy landscape. Snow has a bluish color. Dress colors that complement, match, or are similar to green and blue produce a cohesive look.
Red
Red is complementary to green and will make you pop. You can go with a more classic red, like a burgundy or another deep red. Or you can go more modern with a fire engine red. Don’t forget that pink is just a lighter version of red.
Yellow
Yellow is a complementary color to blue and a closely related color to green. I would proceed cautiously with this one though. Yellow will bring out any discoloration in snow and could possibly make the snow look dirty. The only exception would be if you’re going to be near water or have a lot of blue sky in your photos. Then the yellow would go well with the blues present in both of those components. I would also stick to very bright yellows and stay away from muted ones.
Green
Green will give you a more monochromatic look. Especially if you're surrounded by coniferous trees. A darker green would go well with the trees. I would stay away from more yellow greens though.
Blues and Teals
Closely related to green and matching to the blue in the snow, blues and teals can be great colors. You really can't go wrong with any shade.
Additional Considerations
A photographer's editing can affect the impact of colors in compositions. I highly recommend asking your photographer what colors go well with their editing. Even if you look great in a color in the real world, in photography the editing can make or break that look.
Neutral
Neutrals can do what colors can do above, just in different ways. You can create a monochromatic look that could look ethereal or timeless. Or you can pop in the composition.
White
White will create a monochromatic look that is very ethereal in quality. You, as the mom-to-be, become part of the snow. This can be very magical and is especially powerful in falling snow. In order to achieve this, you must wear white or a grey that is very close to white. Anything that adds warmth (e.g. beige) won't give you an ethereal look.
Beiges and Browns
Beiges and browns might not give you an ethereal look. But they will give you a monochromatic look that is timeless. Beiges and browns are common colors in the wintery landscape. This is due to the deciduous trees branches. Any beige or brown will give you this look
Darker Grays
Gray is also a common shade in the wintery landscape. So a darker gray will give you a monochromatic look as well. Gray will also give your images a timeless quality
Black
Blacks will make you pop in a white and muted landscape. So, if you're looking for a pop, and want a neutral, black is the way to go.
Essential #3: A Seasoned Maternity Photographer who also has a Sense of Adventure
I am always of the opinion that, if you’re going to pay for photos, you might as well pay for something worth while. You do get what you pay for with photography. A seasoned photographer and business owner is going to charge what they’re worth. They are also going to charge what they need to keep their business in business.
Going with a cheap photographer does mean three things. You may have photos that look horrible. You may only have one or two good ones. Even bad photographers luck out sometimes. Your photographer will also be out of business quickly. This last one may not seem too important, but what if they are out of business before you get your photos?
It's even more important to go with a seasoned photographer for winter sessions. You really need someone who knows their camera well enough to shoot in the snow. Snow is very difficult to photograph in. As the photographer, you cannot rely upon your camera at all to shoot correctly. I could go into all the details as to why that is the case, but that is for me to know and for you to not worry about. That is as long as you go with a seasoned photographer.
You also want someone seasoned, because the location can make or break a session. This is always the case, but even more so in the snow. This is because snow has a way of drastically changing a location. If the photographer doesn’t know what to look for in a location in the snow, your session could be a flop.
Essential #4: The Snowy Warm Essentials
You may see some maternity sessions with moms-to-be wrapped up in winter coats and warm layers. That is always an option. But you probably see more sessions without all of that. But don’t be fooled. You still need to bring the snowy warm essentials. You’re going to be outside for a long period of time getting those photos. You'll want to bundle up between photos. So bring your coat. Bring your snow boots. And bring anything else that you might need to keep you warm.
Essential #5: An Accurate Weather Report and Plan B
The key to a successful session in the middle of a Colorado winter is knowing your weather. And always coming up with a plan B. There is a delicate balance between the right amount of snow and too much. I am never a proponent for risking your life in the name of photos. So keep your eye on the weather report and make sure that it is safe to do your session that day. I like to use Weather Underground. Make sure you look up the location of your session and not where you are location. Weather changes drastically within a few miles in Colorado.
Winter maternity photos are absolutely wonderful. They are some of my favorite to photograph. If you follow the tips above, you should have a great snowy winter maternity session in Colorado.
Sara Herkes is a maternity, newborn, family, and senior photographer based in Longmont, CO. She serves the the Denver Metro Area, the Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Front Range and captures your pregnancy amidst the Colorado wilderness. Learn more about her services here.
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