How to look good even when it’s freezing

Family photos in the fall can be magical… or freezing.

But when picture day arrives, it’s 37 degrees, your toddler hates the cold, and you’re wondering if you should call it a day.

I’ve photographed shivering kids as well as families who arrive prepped, warm, and happy. The holy grail for cold weather family photography.

It is 1000% possible to look great in your photos AND avoid frostbite., with just a little planning. Here’s how.

What to wear for cold weather photos

Cold Weather Tip: Layering is your best friend.

If this is all you read, then you will have gotten the most valuable tip: Everyone’s outfit should include layers.

Layers can come off if the weather surprises us, and they can absolutely be built into your outfit without making anyone look like a marshmallow.

Tips for Women and Girls

I love a flowy maxi dress or skirt in photos; the movement, the texture… SO MUCH WINNING.

But when it’s cold out? You need to bring in reinforcements.

• Choose skirts/dresses that hit you at the ankle or lower. Skip anything above the knee.
• Add fleece-lined tights like these or these underneath. You’ll be warm and nobody will be the wiser.
• Add a chunky knit cardigan, duster, or even a jacket on top. Cozy, stylish, and adds texture in photos.
• Don’t forget an underlayer! A thermal underneath your dress is a fantastic way to add hidden warmth.

Moral of the story: warm burrito mom > shivering goddess.

Tips for Boys

Cold kids do not cooperate. Warm kids? Snuggly, playful, cooperative. Layers help SO much. Here’s one winning recipe:

• Start with a short-sleeve t-shirt.
• Add something comfy like a flannel or a soft pullover.
• Top with a vest* or blazer.
• Hats (especially for littles) can be cute AND functional.

*Vests can go horribly wrong; check out my vest tip below to avoid issues.

Tips for men and teens

Let’s be honest: dudes are usually the easiest to dress.

• One recipe: T-shirt + button-up + sweater or quarter-zip = perfect combo.
• Another recipe: T-shirt + lined shacket or jacket (see below).
• Feel like adding a little flair? Toss on a wool scarf or swap the sweater for a quarter-zip jacket.
• Comfy boots or shoes that can be worn with thick socks.

Tips for girls

If your daughter lives for a dress moment, don’t worry; it’s doable.

• Favor longer-length dresses to keep little legs warm.
• Underneath, use fleece-lined tights like these or these. They come in flesh tones as well as the typical colors.
• Add a cardigan, a shrug, or jacket for layering (peep the leather jacket below… perfect with her dress print!).
• Hats chosen with intention are perfect accents and frame their wittle faces so well (like this pompom beanie, this knitted hat, this fleece-lined beanie, and this cute little chunky-knit beanie).

Style without sacrifice. That’s the goal here.

Socks and shoes

You can be perfectly layered on top, but if your toes are frozen? Game over.

Socks matter more than you think: Aim for wool or thermal socks, not thin dress or trouser socks. A few quick tips to keep feet warm and photo-ready:

For girls

Choose boots that allow you to hide warm socks underneath. I love lace-up boots, combat boots, and anything that can be worn with slouchy boot socks!

For women

Knee-high suede boots are great, and even a sharp-looking hiking boot works (the latter especially well with jeans)! Skip low profile shoes that require no-show socks. Your feet will thank you.

Men and boys

Boots are great, and there are tons of stylish options! I love a good stylish sneaker, too. Pro tip: You might need to size up shoes slightly to fit thicker socks comfortably. It’s worth it.

Accessorize intentionally

Hats, scarves, even mittens can look amazing and add beautiful texture to your photos.

Just make sure they coordinate with your overall outfit. We want cozy and cohesive, not “quick kids grab your playground gloves and hats”! Here’s a great example:

My favorites:

GIRLS: I love this pompom beanie, this knitted hat, this fleece-lined beanie, and this cute little chunky-knit beanie.

BOYS: This preppy earflap hat, this slouchy hat, and this basic beanie. This textured scarf and this tartan scarf. For scarves, stick to neutrals and solid colors; no plaids with bright colors. They’re visually distracting.

MEN: This wool scarf and this merino scarf, too.

WOMEN: I love this fleece-lined beanie, a fleece beret, a wool bowler hat, and this wool bucket hat.

Cold-weather “gotchas” to avoid

Some things seem like good ideas… until you see the photos.

Overly puffy vests on kids

Seems like a good idea, but in reality? They tend to ride up, bunch around the neck… hello, tiny linebacker.

Save the puffers for adults, or choose a lightweight, barely-puffy vest that fits well and stays put. (Look for the words “lightweight” or “packable” to locate the lighter weight ones!)

Unpopular opinion: buffalo plaid sucks.

I know it’s the quintessential “fall pattern,” but I have to confess, I don’t love buffalo plaid. For many reasons.

The red is too bold, it’s impossible to coordinate other colors with it (see above), and it’s just boring. When the landscape is gold and green, you want a deep magenta-family red, not fire-engine red.

Be unique and choose another pattern. Something in the neutrals, magenta, or jewel-toned family. You’ll be happy you did!

Looking for outfit guidance for any kind of weather?

Check out the Family Photo Outfit Guide.

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Photo courtesy of CapturingJoy.com