A text from a recent senior session made me laugh.
It came from a senior mom who said “Looks like a big storm tomorrow. Should we cancel? Freaking out here.”
My reply was simple “Don’t cancel. See you there. Got your back.”
We went during those few magical moments right after rain in Colorado. There were plenty of clouds but they were stunning. Everything was wet. Green. It turned out to be one of my favorite sessions this year.
Front Range weather sounds scary until it becomes your best friend.
This might be obvious if you’ve been living in this area for even five minutes. Front Range weather behaves however it wants to behave. There may be sunshine in Colorado Springs in the middle of the day, but you’ll have hailstorms in Pueblo two hours later. You might get snow in Colorado in October and beautiful days in December.
An outdoor senior portrait session on the Front Range demands acceptance of this reality from the beginning. I accepted it years ago and my shooting skills improved because of it.
Sometimes some of my all-time favorites have come from weather days that aren’t ideal. In reality, overcast skies make your photographer smile because the clouds essentially serve as a giant softbox, and light falls equally on everything. Not one spot of harsh shadow anywhere. Not squinting into bright sunlight. Everything just feels soft and beautiful and absolutely glowing.
A little wind gets those dress skirts swaying. The wet streets from rain cause reflections that are absolutely cinematic. And even an ominous stormy sky in the background of your senior portrait session in Cañon City makes for an interesting background that the perfect clear skies can’t capture.
But first things first – let me ease your mind about what I’m going to do in each situation.
This section was created to explain myself because I understand that weather conditions can freak out my clients, especially the parents who planned this session for months.
Overcast or lightly cloudy skies – we work with it. It’s great light and we’re gonna take advantage of that!
Rain showers – we wait them out. That’s exactly why buffer time is built in!
A quick coffee break, some conversation, then as soon as the skies clear we hit the road. There’s nothing like post-rain light in the world!
If it’s going to be pouring for the entire duration of your session, with zero end in sight – we switch plans. I know plenty of awesome indoor locations in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Cañon City that can deliver stunning images. Window light, cool architectural details, cozy interior. It’s just as much fun and creative to shoot indoors.
If it’s a legit blizzard and dangerous weather – we reschedule without hesitation. It will happen free of charge, with zero fees, and with zero stress involved. There’s no way that I could ever ask you to put your life on risk for our photo session.
This is what I’ve learned after all my years of outdoor photography in Southern Colorado. Those who are flexible about weather usually end up having the most incredible sessions.
Once you stop being too concerned with perfection, something just clicks into place. And that something becomes obvious once the session begins.
I’m really flexible. I’m open to all suggestions. Come in, and if the location isn’t right due to the weather, we’ll discuss it and come up with a new plan. I’ve taken spontaneous photoshoots in gas stations, historical sites, parking structures where the light was just amazing reflecting off the concrete walls. Some of these photos I still use to this day.
Communicate with me. That’s it. If you’re looking at the weather report and getting worried, shoot me a message. We’ll talk about it and come up with a solution together. It’s much easier for me to know your concerns a few days before than to see you stressed when you walk into the session.
It’s my job as a senior portrait photographer in Colorado Springs to make sure everything else, including the weather, is sorted out for you.
So keep an eye on the clouds. Then text me. Got it covered.
Flexible, weather-proof senior portrait photography in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Cañon City. Anytime, anywhere — let’s create something special.
