What to Wear to Your Winter Engagement Session

Winter is well underway here in New England, with temperatures dipping closer to and even under freezing several days of the week…brrr. We’ve already had a few bouts of snow and there are definitely promises of more storms to come. Though the weather outside may be frightful, winter sets a beautiful backdrop for engagement photos. The clean white snow, crisp light, and cozy atmosphere are a few of the facets we love about winter photography! However, we’ve experienced a handful of days where we’ve been ill prepared for the elements, so to keep you from experiencing the same fate as our nearly frost bitten fingers, here are some tips and tricks for what to wear during your winter engagement session.

Bring your full winter gear

We know that no one’s best look is his or her winter coat, but the coat is absolutely essential. Regardless of what you’re wearing underneath your coat, it’s vital to come with gloves, hats, socks, scarves, whatever keeps you warm! While we switch locations or set up a new shot, we want you to keep warm during the down time of your session. When we’re back to actively photographing, feel free to take off your layers, but make sure to have all your warm winter garb at the ready to keep your lips from turning blue and ears turning red!

Wear neutral colors

New England winters can be truly magical with all the snow, and the way snow plays with light is really a treat for us to photograph! But because of the way cameras and snow interact, we recommend sticking to a neutral color palette. Against a white backdrop, bright colors can appear even brighter and could distract from the main subject: you! Colors like tan, black, grey, white, and heather are all great options for your winter photo wardrobe.

Need color? Add just a touch!

We hear you. You can’t stick to JUST neutrals! Have no fear; a touch of color is totally acceptable. Maybe it’s your lipstick color, the scarf around your neck, or maybe even your winter hat, having a small amount of color adds a little pop to your photos without distracting from the overall look. Keep it small and intentional and you’ll be in swell shape!

Layers

Layers, beyond providing the necessary warmth to keep frozen fingers at bay, are an easy way to create a different look for your photos. Instead of a full wardrobe change, add a cardigan and a hat. Maybe bring several scarves to rotate between. Nothing is worse that trying to change full outfits in deep winter (talk about cold!) so having a few options on hand to switch up your outfit without changing completely keep you warm and stylish.

We hope these tips help you out when planning your winter engagement shoot! And as you check your weather up, make sure to scroll down to see what the “feels like” says, for a more accurate report! Wind chill is no joke in New England.