What if it’s rainy or cloudy on the day of my photo session?

When I became a family photographer, I didn’t realize how much time I would spend looking at weather reports. I have spent a lot of time analyzing the weather patterns in the Long Island area. As a result, I’m well versed in how to manage rain, and to still give you wonderful family photographs that you’ll love.

Checking the weather forecast on the days before your session

I use a range of weather apps to keep an eye on the weather a couple of days before your session. Two days prior to your session, I send a confirmation email. There’s not much point checking the forecast earlier than that, as weather patterns seem to shift dramatically across a week. A day that looks sunny in a week’s time often turns out to be a wet one, and vice versa. Two days before, we have a better sense of how the weather might actually be on the day. Even at two days before the session, the weather can still shift dramatically. If there is rain in the forecast, we begin the process of creating a back up plan for your session.

I don’t reschedule sessions until late afternoon on the day of your photo session. This is especially true for beach sessions. I can’t tell you how man times there was rain in the forecast and then at 3 pm, the rain clears out. If you can be flexible and hold out, it is worth waiting to reschedule. Often times, the most magical sunsets occur on days when cloudy or rainy skies are predicted.

family in blue and white on the beach cloudy skies close up of baby girl in mom's lap

Adjust the start time to avoid rain in your family photography session

On the day itself, I use an app with a radar that shows the weather for that day. Of course, weather can be unpredictable, but if I eed to adjust the start time of your session to avoid the rain, I will do so. If there is rain throughout the day, we will switch to a rain date. I leave room in my calendar for this very reason. Because beach sessions need to be scheduled around sunset, sometimes it means we have to switch to a rain date because the option to start earlier is not available.

dad with toddler bou and baby girl in blue and white grey cloudy skies on background hugging boy holding boy in air

Grey, overcast skies are a photographer’s dream

Grey clouds are actually very flattering for portraits, so an overcast day isn’t an issue and is actually ideal for photographs!

If you look through my website, you’ll see how few photographs include bright blue skies. This is because even on a sunny day, we’ll find some gentle shade – it’s much more flattering for portraits. With some shade, we don’t need to worry about squinting eyes or awkward shadows on faces. It also gives us lots of backdrop options, as I don’t have to find locations that work against bright skies and sunshine.

mother seated on sand with baby girl who she is embracing and toddle son she is kissing overcast sky

Choose an alternate location

There is always the option to choose a location that provides shelter from the rain. Greenhouses and nurseries are great options as is your own home. If we were supposed to shoot on the beach, we can always starts earlier at a different location that provides some shade.

Postponing your session

If you’re really set on outdoor photographs and you don’t like the idea of photographs on a wet day, we can of course simply postpone your session.

Weekends tend to be booked a few months ahead, but I usually have availability midweek. I’ll work with you to find a new date and time that suits.

toddler girl in vintage style blue and white dress with arms up on a cloudy day at the beach and little boy seated in sand laughing

family seated on the sand at sunset embraced pink purple and orange soft sunset sky baby laughing

Worth the wait

This family’s session was scheduled on a week with rain in the forecast. We waited until last minute and decided to switch to the next day due to rain. On the day of the rain date, there was also rain predicted for the entire day. We waited until 3 hours before the start time and the weather cleared up. It was predicted to be cloudy and overcast, but it ended up being the most magical sunset of the season. As much as I would love to be able to predict with certainty what the weather will be, it is not possible and sometimes, you have to just roll the dice and take a chance. I am so glad we went ahead with the session on this day because the evening was simply beautiful. This is an example of how important it is to remain flexible with the timing of your session.