7 Must-Have Fall & Winter Wedding Photography Ideas

Cold-weather weddings are just around the corner, and we can’t wait! If you’re on the hunt for all the tips, tricks, and inspo when it comes to fall and winter wedding photography, we’ve got you covered! Trust us, it’s a whole different ball game in the snow than it is for our spring and summer brides! Read on for everything you need to know! And while you’re at it, bundle up brides! Check out our bridal jackets and sleeves to pair with your stunning gown!

How Much Should You Spend On Wedding Photography?

A lot goes into how much brides spend on their wedding photography. That being said, the typical cost of a wedding photographer is usually around $2,500-$4,000. There are a few ways you can cut costs though to make sure you get a good deal! Here are some of our favorites:

• Get married during the off-season months
• Find a wedding photographer in your area so you don’t have to pay travel fees
• Get married on a weekday
• Look into photographers who are younger or have less experience (at your own risk!)
• Check out their wedding packages to get a lower rate
• Skip any videography services if it isn’t important to you
• Talk to your venue to see if they have any wedding photography services you can hire
• Ask for referral discounts
• Pass out disposable or Polaroid cameras to guests to cover parts of your wedding

Check out our recent blog to see more ways to get Off-Season Savings For A Winter Wedding!

How Many Photos Do You Usually Get From A Wedding Photographer?

PC: AMW Studios | Zark Goosen Photo

How many photos you get from your wedding photographer usually depends on how much of your wedding day they covered, the package you purchased from them, and the size and length of your wedding and shot list. If it isn’t already listed on their website when you’re browsing, talk to any wedding photographer you’re considering hiring about how many photos you can expect to receive from them. They’ll be able to give you an estimation that should be printed in your contract with them of how many photos they’ll send you!

Typically, a bride can expect about 50 to 100 wedding photos per hour of shooting. Of course, this depends on various factors such as the type of shoot, how many people are involved, and what you want to achieve. The best thing to do is just to talk to your photographer about your expectations and what they usually do!

Do Wedding Photographers Own Your Photos?

Yes, wedding photographers generally do own the copyright to the photos they take of you since it is their artistic work.

This means that your wedding photographer has the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the photos, and may also be able to sell or publish them. However, when hiring a wedding photographer, you will get a personal use or printing release that gives you permission to do certain things with the photos, like making prints, creating albums, and sharing on social media.

Likely, though, there will be some small strings attached to the release including things like not altering the photos in any way and tagging your photographer in any social media posts you make. It’s basically just their way of protecting their work, making sure they get credit for it, and marketing their business.

How Long Should A Photographer Stay At A Wedding?

PC: Melissa Macdonald | Adilene Garcia

A photographer can stay at your wedding for as long as you want! Just know that the amount of time they spend shooting will probably affect the price! Most likely, your photographer will have you and your partner choose from a few different wedding photography packages with different timeframes, so you’ll know well ahead of time how long your photographer will be there and can plan your wedding day accordingly to make sure you get your most important moments captured.

While some brides only feel the need for professional photos of their bridals and ceremony captured, others want their photographer there for the whole day. It’s totally up to you! Talk things through with your partner and whoever is helping to cover the cost and do whatever is best for your budget and personal preferences!

How Do I Make My Wedding Photography Look Professional?

The best way to make your wedding photos look professional is to hire a professional! That takes all the stress off your hands and delegates the responsibility of capturing your special day into the hands of someone who is trained, trusted, and does this every day! As long as you make sure that you’ve found someone whose photos you like, has a professional-looking website, social media platforms, and a solid contract, your photos should turn out great! Trust us, once you have your wedding photographer chosen and booked, you have nothing to worry about! No stress here!

7 Fall & Winter Wedding Photography Ideas

Use Your Surroundings To Your Advantage

PC: Unknown

First up in winter photography ideas: seek out gorgeous vistas. Snowy mountains, blue glaciers, red rock canyonlands, and moody forests make for fairytale-worthy stills.

If you’re still in the venue-search phase of planning your winter wedding, consider what works best for your season. For example:

• National Parks with dramatic contrasts. Think Yosemite, Zion, and Yellowstone.
• National Forests. Think Mount Rainier’s surrounding forests in Washington, Bridger-Teton in Wyoming, White Mountain National Forest in Maine, and the areas around Banff in California.
• Mountain towns like Telluride, CO; Park City, UT; Asheville, NC; and Coeur d’Alene, ID.
• Private ranches, lodges, Christmas markets, winter festivals, and historical sites that are surrounded by stunning natural scenery.

If you don’t have access to a destination-worthy backdrop, you can still evoke “wintery wonderland” vibes with a row of trees or a snowy hill outside of your venue.

Time Your Wedding Photography Session With Golden Hour

One of the best things about fall and winter is the unique lighting. Sunshine may be rare, but the effects are spectacular. These are our tips for working your golden hour:

Golden hour is actually much longer in the fall and winter. (You never have to worry about too much direct light washing out your photos.) You need to time your session earlier in the day, but you’ll have more flexibility with the session.

Just like golden hour in summer, you can also time your photos for early in the morning rather than the evening.

In the fall, take advantage of all the beautiful colors if you’re in a wooded area! For the winter, utilize the dramatic contrasts between snow and light. Plants may be dormant, but they make beautiful texture and visual interest to photos.

Alternatively, use clean backdrops if you don’t like dead stuff. All-white vistas look spectacular with golden sunlight.

Pro tip? Bring layers to put on between shots! Your photographer will be happy you aren’t freezing your tushes off.

Have Fun With Cold-Weather Accessories

PC: Beauridge Photography | Christian Reyes

Another way to have fun with fall and winter wedding photography is with accessories. Starting with your head-to-toe bridal ensemble, get inspired with:

• Dramatic bridal veils
• Statement capes and overskirts
• Faux fur shrugs
• Stunning scarves and pashminas
• Harvest-inspired or snow-kissed flower crowns
• Sparkling hair pieces and jewelry
• Wide-brimmed boho fall hats
• Gloves

Beyond outfits, winter photography gives the opportunity to use chic and playful props, like:

• Sleighs and sleds
• Happy pets like pups and horses
• Garlands and lights
• Architectural details like arches, mirrors, frames, and canopies
• Holiday details like wreaths and ornaments

Looking for more advice on How To Accessorize Based On Your Wedding Dress? Read our blog now!

Come Up With A Shot List For Your Wedding Photographer

PC: Life and Style Photography

One great way to make sure you get exactly what you want out of your wedding photography session is to compile a list of must-have shots for your photographer ahead of time! This can help save time during group photos so your photographer can direct things and make sure they get everyone. It also ensures that the photos of you and your partner during your bridal session or important moments throughout your wedding are captured the way you want them to be.

Giving them an outline of the day’s schedule will also help your wedding photographer make sure they are where they need to be to capture these moments for you. Trust us, don’t be scared to want certain things and give them all the info!

You can also look into poses that you and your partner like! Colder temps offer the perfect excuse to snuggle up for photos. Some of our favorite couples’ poses include:

• One partner behind the other in an embrace
• Face to face with foreheads touching, eyes closed
• The lift or dip-kiss
• The forehead or top-of-head kiss
• The face cradle: one partner holds the other’s chin in their hands
• Leading one another through snow or foliage
• Holding hands looking at a vista
• Head on a shoulder

Look to your wedding photographer for guidance and support during the poses. Depending on your personality, the session may feel natural or awkward. Your pro can help capture your authentic style and demeanor while elevating the look and feel of your portraits.

The Knot also has a great article outlining the perfect wedding photography shot list!

Communicate Your Wedding Photography Aesthetic

PC: Marcel Grabowski

Are you a sucker for a blurry photo moment? Love candid-looking photos? Want your wedding day captured on film? These are all great things to talk to your photographer about! We would encourage you to search on Pinterest for some photos that you love and share that board with your photographer! You can also look for photographers who specialize in certain types of wedding photography and check out their portfolios and social media platforms to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want. Trust us, when it comes to wedding photos, it’s always better to over-communicate and shop around to make sure you’ll be happy with the finished product!

Add Visual Interest With Falling Snow

If snow is falling softly outside your ceremony or reception, head outside to get some one-of-a-kind portraits. The resulting images are delightfully cozy. 

Weather not cooperating? Ask for soft snowflakes post-production. A falling snow filter looks elegant and natural in most landscape and snowy portraits.

Show Off Your Wedding Dress In The Snow

It goes without saying you should use snowy conditions to show off your wedding gown. The surroundings add all kinds of dramatic effects: shimmery light, depth and dimension, visual storytelling, and of course, contrast. A white or ivory wedding gown looks divine with an all-white backdrop. A shimmery or lace wedding dress adds dimension and texture. A black wedding gown takes center stage with its statement hue.

10 Best Dresses For Fall & Winter Wedding Photography:

• Selena by Maggie Sottero
  • Check out similar styles Selena Lane and Selena Vida!

• Twyla by Rebecca Ingram
  • Twyla Detachable Sleeves
  • Twyla Detachable Train

• Zander by Sottero and Midgley
  • Zander Detachable Sleeves
  • Zander Veil

• Elizabeth by Rebecca Ingram
  • Elizabeth Detachable Cap-Sleeves

• Casey by Maggie Sottero
  • Casey Veil

• Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram
  • Alexandria Detachable Sleeves
  • Alexandria Veil

• Aspen Marie by Sottero and Midgley

• Leilani by Maggie Sottero
  • Leilani Detachable Cap-Sleeves
  • Leilani Detachable Lace Sleeves

• Lucy by Rebecca Ingram

• Monica by Sottero and Midgley
  • Monica Detachable Cap-Sleeves

Loving these fall and winter photography ideas? How about a round of applause for these dresses? Amazing, right?! We’re so ready for you to book your bridal appointment at one of our Authorized Retailers to find your dream dress and send us your wedding pics!

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Tips For Setting Your Wedding Budget