With all this rainy weather, you’re probably thinking that it’s not the best time of year for a family photo session. But what if you have an occasion that can’t be missed? Maybe there are family members in town that you haven’t seen in awhile, and perhaps it’s a milestone birthday. Inevitably, most people ask, “What happens if it’s raining on the day of our session?” Good question!

Of course I want you to have the most beautiful photos possible – but that doesn’t necessarily mean we need a beautiful sunny day! In fact, super bright sunshine is not always ideal as it can result in shiny faces, squinty eyes and wonky shadows on faces. On a super sunny day, I always seek to find some shade so that we can avoid all of the unflattering circumstances that bright sun can bring.

In fact, shade, cloud cover or even a sprinkling of showers can be a still be a lovely option for photos, and I’ve done many a family photo session under these circumstances, with beautiful results. I aim to capture the love and connection in your family, and no amount of cloud cover can stifle that!

But what about RAIN?

A super rainy, windy stormy day is definitely NOT ideal.

So there are a few options that I always offer to families. Firstly, we can change our session date. I have three (yes THREE!) weather apps on my phone and I keep a *very* close eye on them in the days leading up to your session. In general, I won’t completely reschedule a session until about 24 hours before your shoot time, when I can see the hour-to-hour forecast, but I may reach out to you to see if we can get a “back up” date on the calendar.

If the 24 hour mark arrives, and the weather looks gross for your session time, I am totally fine to reschedule, and will work with you to find a suitable time that works for both of us.

If rescheduling just isn’t an option for you (eg. you’ve got family in from out of town), we can move locations. I’ve got a few spots in my back pocket that offer some shelter, either under tree canopies, picnic shelters or building overhangs. We can also relocate to your home, if that works for you and fits with your vision of your session. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, let’s break out the umbrellas and just make it happen!

Lastly, if moving locations or dates just isn’t feasible, we can cancel. It’s not ideal, but I do understand that when you have a vision for your session and it just can’t be accomplished due to wind storms and/or scheduling conflicts, it makes no sense for us to both force ourselves to deal with less-than-ideal circumstances.

In the end, I always aim to be flexible. I know that you want gorgeous images – I do too! So I’m happy to work with you to make sure we get a collection of family photos for you that you will treasure.

Eran Sudds is a Tsawwassen photographer who specializes in fun & natural sessions for you and your entire family. She is available for maternity, newborn, family portraits and headshots at locations in South Delta, or anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Contact her to book your session!