Sometimes a photoshoot will start off a hiccup. Whether that’s realizing as your packing to leave that you forgot to charge your battery, forgot to iron the dress you were supposed to bring, forgot to bring the speaker, getting stuck in stop-and-go traffic as you're driving over, (all of which I’ve experienced🤦♀️), or in this case, facing the threat of an oncoming storm. Click Here for my main tips in this post:)
Weather is probably one of the most frustrating things about being a photographer. It can be unpredictable and inconsistent, and it completely alters the outcome of a photo session. I’m always keeping an eye on the weather, rescheduling as soon as possible if needed so my clients don’t have to abandon the curling iron in the middle of getting ready.
**slight caveat: I think weather can mean different things for different photographers. Some photographers with a moody, emotive style might love and embrace cloudy days and windy sessions- but for me personally, my style is very bright, warm, and sunny, so I often reschedule if I see too many clouds in the forecast.
Leading up to Madi’s session, the weather wasn’t too bad- some clouds, a little chilly- but nothing we couldn’t work with. We decided to move forward with the shoot. However, as the day wore on, clouds continue to blow in and soon the sky was completely gray… and then came the rain. Rain is difficult to work with for senior sessions because you don’t want hair, makeup, or outfits to be ruined. We went back and forth trying to make a decision about rescheduling, but ultimately chose to move forward with the session, pushing it back 15 minutes for the rain to clear up. And oh my- I’m so glad we did!!!
Tip: Communication with clients is KEY!
There's no right or wrong way to communicate with clients, but the important point is to COMMUNICATE WITH THEM! I believe that my business is stronger and more effective because I strive to take the time to keep my clients in the loop at every stage of their session. From the first point of contact to the last, it is important to show kindness, respect, and understanding as you guide clients through their photo journey.
When it comes to communicating about weather and the possibility of rescheduling- here are my tips:
The day of the session, check the weather. (The weather channel I’ve found to be the most accurate) but don’t reschedule until 3-4 hours before the session. Weather is so unpredictable and more times than I can count I’ve rescheduled only for it to be a swoon-worthy evening + sunset. So let clients know you wait until just a couple hours before the session, so you can see how the weather will shape up.
It might also be a good idea to communicate how the look and feel of the photos will change with the weather ( No clouds/Sunny= happy + bright, windy= emotive + free-spirit (aka, hair is impossible to tame;) , cloudy= often darker, moodier ) I showed Madi examples of more emotive-type portraits I’ve taken in the past, and she loved the look- which is why we decided to move forward with photos. Lay out all the possibilities for your clients and let them make the decision based on the knowledge you share. Some clients are totally fine with darker, moodier photos and even rain, while others may have a specific, sunny vision in mind. It all comes down to priorities. By giving your clients the option, it shows you're putting their priorities first.
P.S. Let me know if you'd be interested in more tips on client communication, because there's loads more I could write about on this topic!!!
Our first location was Manito park, about a 45 min drive from Post Falls. It was completely sunny. The lilacs were in full bloom, and the surrounding foliage was lush and green. What a blessing!!! We had such a good time walking around the park for a bit, taking photos, and enjoying the beautiful sun.
Soon, the clouds started rolling in, so we knew we needed to book it over to our second location in Post Falls. We chased the sun as we drove, praying we would avoid the rain. Things were looking good when we arrived- there were some clouds, but the rain was holding off!
You can’t have a dynamic + stunning sunset without clouds, and boy did the sky deliver!
It truly was the most incredible, beautiful night as the sun dipped below the horizon in the distance and gave us a glowing, DRAMATIC sunset. One of the best I’ve ever been privileged to photograph with the most warm tones, vibrant colors, and orange light. After about 10 minutes, it started to sprinkle and then rain even harder as the sun went down, but we kept going, taking photos with a dramatic look and feel to them. If you look closely in the photos, you can see raindrops in the background!
What a wonderful evening! I love the look and feel of these photos. To me they feel happy and energizing, dramatic and bright. Madi's loving, bubbly personality made it so easy for me to snap away and capture a variety of photos that felt like her.
Overall, I’m grateful we decided to move forward with the session- and it just shows that taking chances really does pay off sometimes! Generally I’m a “better safe than sorry” type of person, but I’m grateful this session was the exception.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! I hope these blog posts provide value to you. I'm always here for you if you have questions or want to chat photography.
FUN PHOTOGRAPHY FACT: The first selfie ever taken (1839) was by a man named Robert Cornelius, a chemist and photography enthusiast. He set up a camera in the back of his family's store and ran into the frame to take his own picture. And honestly, with a 10-minute exposure time, I'm guessing he was the first to experience 'Do I look good yet?' in real-time!
<3 Malia
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