There's this moment that happens once a year that I really love. It usually happens in early fall - sometimes August, sometimes as late as September. It's the moment we get our first real rain after our long, glorious dry stretch of summer. The smell of the water on dry concrete. Seeing reflections in puddles. The way the air feels so fresh clean after the clouds have cleared. Anyone who has visited here in July or August knows that our summers in the pacific northwest are truly amazing (and I do love our summers). But the rain? To me, rain feels like home.
If you've lived here for a while, you know that rain is inevitable in the pacific northwest. It's not always possible to reschedule a photo session, so here are a few ideas to help you plan.
Embrace the Elements
First of all, I like to wait until the morning to make any decisions for the day. Especially in the rainier months (November, I'm looking at you) I try to ask families to keep some flexibility in their schedule as we might need to shift the timing of our session slightly. Sometimes it will be dry in the morning before a storm system moves in, or often in the afternoon the clouds part and we get lucky with some sunbreaks.
In the session below we watched the weather carefully and luckily, we had a break in the rain during the afternoon. The family didn’t mind a few light sprinkles and even came prepared with some clear umbrellas that made for some fun sword play mid-session.
A light rain is usually no big deal to shoot through and cloudy skies can add lovely atmosphere to images. I'm open to stomping in puddles so put cute rainboots on the kids, grab your raincoats, and let's go!
Shift the Session Indoors
If the forecast calls for heavy rain all day, we may need to shift the session indoors. I absolutely love to capture the beauty of family life where most of your family memories are made - inside your home. We can plan an activity such as making a pancake breakfast, or just choose keep things simple. Either way, I'll direct you and your family to interact with each other while I capture authentic family moments.
Plan an Activity
If you're up for some adventure, we could mix things up and head indoors for at least part of your session. A favorite family location like a coffee shop, museum, or library can make a great backdrop. Ferry rides are a great option too. The trips to Vashon or Bainbridge are less than an hour and there is a lot of indoor and outdoor variety once you’re on board.
So there you have it. I hope this helps you to feel confident to get out and take your family photos no matter what the forecast throws your way.
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