What Do We Do When It Rains?

October 05, 2012 • Leave a Comment

I love being a photographer in Washington State. We have plenty of beautiful parks, mountains, trees, rocky beaches, lakes, and other natural beauty. Yet we all know the downside to working in the Northwest: rain. We usually get plenty of it. Knowing this, one of our most frequent questions from clients is, “What do we do if it rains?”

First, let’s dispel the myth that we need sunny weather for photos. In reality, I tend to like cloudy weather better than direct sunlight. Why? Because sunlight casts harsh shadows that can hide faces and make editing harder. Clouds, however, disperse and soften the light. So while rain can be a problem, a light sprinkle can actually be better than a blazing hot day. Take a look at this photo from a wedding we did last year. Could you believe that it was actually rainy that day? Though it wasn’t the beach weather the bride had wanted, it made some great photos!

So we’ve learned that sunny weather isn’t always the best. Now what are our choices for rainy days? What do you do when you get up on your wedding day and it looks like we’re facing another Noah’s Ark story? Here’s some ideas:

Put on some rain boots, break out the umbrella, and have some fun! Rain can make for really cute puddle-jumping photos of the kids, and romantic kissing photos under the umbrella.
Find shelter under trees. Washington’s forests can leave you comparatively dry while keeping the outdoors feel of your photos.
Use a gazebo or covered picnic area. This is something to consider when you choose a park for your location. A good photographer can make even a small space work.
Retreat to your own house. While this may not be everyone’s ideal situation, at-home photo shoots are often a lot of fun and quite memorable. They also make kids feel more comfortable for the camera!
Ask a church or school if you can use their property. It helps if you’re a member, teacher, or student there. Always make sure you have proper permissions before choosing the spot!
Go to a downtown garage. There are some cool ones with bright graffiti and some minimal urban ones in downtown Tacoma. Garages make great backdrops!

What’s your favorite idea? Do you have one we didn’t cover? Leave a comment below to let us know!

Keywords: bad, door, family, out, outdoor, photo, photography, rain, session, snow, weather

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What Do We Do When It Rains?

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