winter personal brand photography Archives

Why would I decide to write a post about how to plan for a winter personal brand session, you ask? It just seems so specific! Well, reality is, we live in an arctic climate about 5 months of the year! This is great for all the skiers out there, but not necessarily for those of us who don’t adore freezing our little tushies off! It can also be tough when you own a (mostly) seasonal business and most of your yearly business planning happens in the winter!

For most of us entrepreneurs, winter tends to be the time when we sit at our desks, put our CEO hats on & do most of our social media planning for the year! While winter can be a a productive time, it can also be a scary time for photography! But it doesn’t have to be – in fact winter personal brand sessions can be super fun! I have compiled some advice on how to plan for a fun and comfortable winter personal brand session! Enjoy!

Why Choose to Book a Winter Personal Brand Session?

If you have been reading our blogs or following us on Instagram then you probably know just how much I LOVE capturing personal brand sessions! I adore getting to know other entrepreneurs, boss ladies, and inspiring individuals! I always feel like I learn so much more from others. It is probably one of the most rewarding things about what I do! It is true that I capture most personal brand sessions in the spring and summer, when the weather is nice and warm. But lately, I have been getting a lot of inquiries from clients about winter personal brand sessions. This makes me so happy for several reasons!

First, it is true that we live in a climate that is not always conducive to outdoor photography. Sometimes, it is simply too cold to weather the weather (no pun intended!) But the winter can also be a wonderful time to stock up on some images for your portfolio, social media, and website. The weather should not be a deterrent!

Second, it is also a less busy time for most photographers. This means that our schedules are more available. We can shoot on weekends, which are otherwise fully booked in warmer months.

Thirdly, winter is a great time for some cozy Hyggelig locations. These would usually NOT work when the temperature is in the high 30’s! The cold weather is a great time for photos by the fire, in bed, or in fabulously cozy jackets! (more on that later) Trust me it works!

Alyssa of the sustainable fashion blog and youtube channel, Ms. Beltempo, always comes winter-ready! A gorgeous, thrifted, cozy jacket always looks amazing in photos!

Indoor & Outdoor Locations

Obviously one of the main concerns for a winter personal brand session is the weather. No one wants to be freezing and uncomfortable! This is why it’s important to book spaces that both work for your brand but also keep you safe (warm!) This is why I always suggest my clients book an indoor space as well as an outdoor one. Most of our packages include an hour of studio time. This combined with a quick one hour outdoor session is a great compliment to any brand. Bonus: we don’t freeze in the arctic Canadian cold! Plus it’s always a great idea to get more variance in your photos.

Dr. Sandy Van needed a neutral space for some lifestyle and some more ‘corporate’ photos. We rented a studio and also used her home and her neighbourhood for the lifestyle portion of her session.

A lot of our clients work from home. This is actually one of my fave places to take photos. I find that people are always more comfortable in their own space! Also if you work from home, this is where most of the magic happens. Why not capture your inner unicorn in the space where you are most comfortable!

Dr. Sandy Van hanging out in her bed at home! This photo was used in her social media post about the importance of sleep – always think about how you can link your location to your work / brand!

When choosing the right space for you and your brand, especially for a winter personal brand session, think about where you will be comfortable. But also make sure you choose locations that make sense for your brand! Some suggestions are: coffee shops, a studio that speaks to your brand, a favourite shop (this is cute if you work in design and frequent a particular showroom etc.) A friend’s house (some of my friends have super photogenic homes, just saying…) A local business if that you use for your won brand/ business. The list is endless! If you feel overwhelmed, never fear! As your photographer, I am there to help you to narrow down the options and make a game-plan. It’s a team effort!

Restaurants and cafes are great spaces for your winter personal brand session! They tend to be bright, beautifully decorated, and warm! Always ask for permission to photograph in any business – it’s polite! Ms. Beltempo and I made a lunch date out of her personal brand session at Oretta – the perfect combo!

Sometimes your own living room is the best place for photos! Michaela from Mint Decor has one of the most gorgeous spaces and it reflects her talent in design!

Flower shops, or local shops in general are great for winter personal brand sessions. They tend to be bright (flowers and plants need natural light), warm (big bonus), and beautiful. This gorgeous floral shop, Willem & Jools, is owned by a wonderful business woman who let us capture Stephanie Vizi (above) for her videography company!

Dr. Sandy Van needed a pretty varied photo portfolio for her wellness and weight-loss clinic. although she had a lovely space at home to photograph, we also needed a neutral space for some corporate and fitness photos. This studio was the perfect space for both!

Regardless of whatever space you choose for your session, always make sure that it compliments your brand and the work you do! Also, make sure you get permission from business owners if you want to use their space! Everyone loves a heads-up and it is the polite thing to do!

What to Wear?

This is probably the most common question for personal brand sessions in general! Winter, unfortunately, makes this decision making process a little more complicated. Not only do you want to look great (obvi), but you also have to be warm and comfortable. It’s just an added layer to the planning process! (Pun fully intended!)

Fashion Bloggers, Dominique Baker & Ms. Beltempo, know how to style up any winter session – key elements always include layering!

Don’t be afraid to go BOLD – you cannot go wrong with whatever represents your brand!

Jackets, Coats, Sweaters, OH MY!

Because sometimes it feels like we live in sub-arctic temperatures, a warm jacket is a must for any winter day! But do you really want to be captured in your everyday parka for your brand session? Sure, if your business requires it – then 100% throw on that parka and let’s go! But if your brand is not winter-specific, a winter coat that doesn’t scream “winter coat” may be a better option! One of my key pieces of advice for anyone doing an outdoor winter session is to wear a neutral jacket that is easy to throw on and off. This gives you ample opportunity to take quick shots with your coat on, and even quicker shots without.

Wearing a warm sweater underneath also helps – and looks great! Plus the versatility in that one outfit translates into versatility in your photos! I asked Ms. Beltempo, for more expert advice on what to wear for your winter personal brand session!

Ms. Beltempo divulges her winter fashion secret below!

Advice From a Sustainable Fashion Influencer

Quick Tip: Even though Katarina’s warmth and fun energy keeps me motivated and warm when we’re shooting in freezing temps! I like to choose outfits that I can easily layer on top of and change without having to take off any bottom layers. As an example – I’ll always wear opaque tights and a thin long sleeve merino top as my base, then add pants, a sweater, and a blazer. You can easily swap into a second look without too much effort by changing into a skirt and taking off the blazer. Or, even more simply, keep the pants and take off the sweater, keep the blazer and long sleeve. These small outfit changes but don’t require having to expose too much skin! Especially if you have to quickly change in a bathroom cafe!

Ms. Beltempo knows a good layer – keeps her warm and versatile at the same time!

Don’t be afraid to layer down – you can always throw on our jacket if the cold starts to kick in. Keep in mind, I don’t ever want you to be uncomfortable so I try to photograph you fairly quickly!

Ms. Dominique Baker also knows a thing or two about layering! Although it was super cold on this day – her adorable pink sherpa jacket kept her nice and cozy!

As always, our little unicorn videographer, Stephanie Vizi, layers up in style! A dress with tights and a jacket (which is easily removed) complete this cute and comfy outfit!

When In Doubt – Tea! Always TEA!

And there you have it! All the insider info you’ll ever need for a warm, comfortable, & fun winter personal brand session! And in case you are still on the fence, check out some of the cool cats below who weathered the cold & looked fabulous all at the same time! Oh and when in doubt – Tea! Always TEA!