What Season Should I Schedule Family Photos In?

I love the changing seasons! If you asked me what my favorite season is, I would have a hard time choosing just one because there is something to love about all of them. The best part is, as soon as you start to get too sick of one season, it changes, and the change is so refreshing.

For photography, fall is often a popular time for photos in Boise because the fall colors can be so pretty, but for me as a photographer, there is something to love about the photos I take in every season and each one brings something unique to the image.

So what season season is right for you and when should you schedule photos? Below I’ll give you a breakdown of the seasons in Boise and show examples of photos from each, as well as pros and cons to help you make a decision that is right for your family.

Winter

I feel like winter gets a bad wrap for photography, but I have to say some of my favorite sessions have come out of winter months. It can definitely be cold, and so proper attire and some brave attitudes (especially on the part of kids) is a must, but braving the cold can be so worth it. It is true that the trees are bare and everything is dead and brown, but in my opinion the neutral backdrop can really make the subjects pop.

Pros

• Snow! If it is snowy or snowing for your session this can make for some really beautiful pictures. The snow works as a natural reflector of light which means that it does wonderful things for skin tones and filling in shadows.

• Usually during the winter in Boise, the sun stays lower in the sky and the days are shorter, which means the session can be scheduled for mid to late afternoon or early evening and you still get really beautiful light. If you’re worried about kid bedtimes and still capturing golden hour light, then winter is a great solution.

• Clouds! Winter session in Boise often are cloudy and I love having clouds during my sessions. Clouds help to eliminate harsh light and shadows and diffuse the light to help even skin tones. I also love that it means I can shoot in almost any direction and not deal with weird shadows across your faces. Clouds also means we can schedule for just about any time of day and the pictures still turn out gorgeous!

Cons

• The cold can be especially hard for little ones to endure and still have a brave face for the pics. If you do choose to do photos in the winter, make sure you pick outfits that will keep you warm (especially for little ones) and maybe bring a hot drink for afterward. You can also make the session extra cozy with blankets and lots of cuddles!

• Unpredictable weather can cause sessions to be rescheduled. I typically reschedule for high winds or rain, but will still shoot in snow, and pretty chilly temps.

Spring

Spring is probably my second most popular season for photo sessions and for good reason! Everything is blooming and sprouting and the weather is warmer.

Pros

• Warmer weather and sunshine makes the smiles come easier.

• The landscape is filled with new grass and blooming trees or flowers

• Warm weather means dresses and fun outfits where you don’t have to be afraid to show some skin.

Cons

• Lots of green can be hard on skin tones, but this can be combatted with thoughtful posing, editing and proper outfit selection (which I can help with)

• Still somewhat unpredictable weather (April showers bring May flowers, right?)

• Spring seems to me to have a short window of time in Boise. Even though it technically starts in March, I find that most stuff is not in bloom most years until mid-late April and that can vary significantly with the weather.

Summer

Summer in Boise is so fun! Not only is the weather warm, but the myriads of lakes and rivers can make for some fun water shots and in my opinion it’s even better when you get IN the water!

Pros

• Warm weather

• Lots of full and green landscapes, as well as summer flowers

• Water can make the session fun and helps you stay cool

• Summer wildflowers as well as lavender season in July and sunflower season late summer

• Can do morning shoots to try to avoid the warmest part of the day

Cons

• Can be really hot!

• Late sunset can be difficult for golden hour pictures with littles because of bedtimes

• Bugs are out!

Fall

Last season to cover is fall. Fall is usually such a popular time for pictures because of the colors with the changing leaves. I also like the brown grasses because they tend to work really well with skin tones and as a neutral backdrop.

Pros

• Colorful trees

• Sometimes still some wildflowers

• Lost of texture in the landscape

• Oranges, browns and reds

• Fresh pictures for Christmas card photos

Cons

• Harder to schedule due to this being my most popular season

• Unpredictable weather can include wind, rain and snow!

• Muddy trails in some good photoshoot locations

Have you made a decision on which season is right for your family? Ready to book your session?