How to Plan a Winter Personal Brand Session

Why would we 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. But aside from that, planning a winter personal brand session is great because it helps you prep for a busy business season during a slower time of the year. 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/ marketing planning for the year! Why not add a professional photo-session to that roster!?

Although cold, winter is actually a really great time to plan for a personal brand session, and here are some reasons why.

Why Choose to Book in Winter?

If you have been reading our blogs or following us on Instagram then you probably know just how much we LOVE capturing personal brand sessions! We adore getting to know other entrepreneurs and inspiring individuals! While, it is true that we tend to capture most personal brand sessions in the spring, summer, and fall lately, we have been getting a lot of inquiries from clients about winter personal brand sessions. This makes us so happy for several reasons!

First, winter is a wonderful time to stock up on images for your portfolio, social media, and website for later use. Second, winter is less busy for most photographers. This means that our schedules are more flexible and we can usually shoot on weekends. Third, winter is a great time for some cozy Hyggelig locations. These would usually NOT work when the temperatures soar 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 us 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!) We always suggest that our clients book an indoor space as well as an outdoor one. (This is why most of our packages include an hour of studio time.) This combined with a quick 1/2 hour outdoor session is a great compliment to any brand. Plus it's always great to get more variance in your photos. Bonus: you won’t freeze in the arctic Canadian cold!

A lot of our clients work from home. This is actually one of our fave places to take photos. We 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!

One of our lovely clients photographed in her favourite space to work in the winter - makes for a comfy spot for brilliance to happen and be cozy all at the same time!

When choosing the right space for you and your brand, especially for a winter personal brand session, think about where you will be most comfortable. Choose locations that make sense for your brand and that also speak to you as a business owner! 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 our friends have super photogenic homes, just saying...) A local business that you use for your own brand/ business. The list is endless and if you feel overwhelmed, never fear! We are here to help you to narrow down the options and make a game-plan. It's always 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 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 Burns from MB Ineriors 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 for her videography company!

Beth Yarzab needed a varied photo portfolio for her wellness & fitness business. Although she had a lovely space at home to photograph, we also needed a neutral space for some corporate and fitness photos. This gym was the perfect space for both!

Regardless of the 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 photography 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!)

Ms Beltempo is always on point with outfit selections - in any season!

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 photos with your coat on, and even quicker photos without.

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

Ms. Beltempo enjoying. a hot bevy at Oretta during her winter photo-session. Notice the fabulous layers!

Advice From a Sustainable Fashion Influencer

Quick Tip: Even though Kat & Emily'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!

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

Don't be afraid to layer down - you can always throw on our jacket if the cold starts to kick in. Keep in mind, we don't ever want you to be uncomfortable so we try to photograph you outside very quickly!

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!

Last- don't forget to bundle up and have some fun!