Winter couple & maternity session in the mountains of Switzerland
G reached out a few weeks ago, as he wanted to gift a maternity session for his girlfriend. He was looking for someone that works in the outdoors, whose pictures have a natural feel to them. Of course, I was in! Now back to when the 3 of us started chatting, it was still autumn and golden leaves all around. We were hoping to get some of that cosy autumn feeling, incorporating their van in the pictures. But the weather decided otherwise: a week before the shoot in November, heavy snow fell in the mountains, closing a lot of moutain roads, and we had to pivot to another location.
How to find a location that works for your winter couple session in Switzerland?
A lot of mountain roads and mountain passes in Switzerland close at the end of October, or as soon as the first snow arrives, which can be a bit tricky. Luckily, there are always backup locations that stay accessible the whole year. With G & N, we still had to walk in the snow for about 20-30 minutes to get to that spot, which was part of the fun in my opinion! But if you need something 100% accessible, make sure to let your photographer know about that. Someone local will usually know the area pretty well, and will advise you honestly on where to go and what to expect.
Creating a unique experience for your couple session
Every relationship is unique, and I love to ask my couples what would make the experience more tailored to them. For G & N, it was about including their van first, sipping on some coffee, and building a fire, as G had been part of the Scouts when he was younger. The van option fell through, but we kept the fire and coffee idea. I absolutely love how the pictures turned out, and how fun it was to create that scene with them, as the sun was setting.
When is the best time to book a winter couple session in Switzerland?
This session took place at the end of November. To maximise your chances of having the snowy landscapes of your dreams, I would advise you to book between December and February.
To get a variety of pictures, and because there’s nothing I like more than blue hour in the mountains, I like to plan my sessions to start a bit before sunset, so that we get both golden hour light, and blue hour vibes afterwards. Plus, it’s usually quieter at that time, since people tend to leave earlier. There really is a special vibe when you’re still out, and there’s no one around.
What to wear for a session in the snow, and how to stay warm?
Layers, layers layers.
If you’re wearing trousers, you can add thermals or even tights underneath. If you’re wearing a skirt or a dress, you can buy some thick tights that look sheer. You can find them online basically anywhere now, but here’s a link for you.
Think of how you would picture a really cosy time: you could wear a knitted jumper, maybe a big scarf? It all depends on the vibe of the session, which is something your photographer can definitely help you with!
Your outer layers are part of the show!
Grab your fancy coat and earmuffs, they can add definitely be part of the outfit. It wouldn’t make sense to be in a swimsuit in the snow anyway, would it? Think storytelling: wearing a cute version of what you would usually wear makes total sense.
My secret accessory: handwarmers & bodywarmers.
There’s no magic formula: snow is cold. If you want to survive it and have a good time, a little extra help doesn’t hurt. That’s why I always bring handwarmers and bodywarmers for my clients, for both sessions and elopements. These are small pouches that get warm when exposed to oxygen, and that stay warm for HOURS. You can have them for your hands, or even some adhesive ones to stick wherever you need them. It makes a world of a difference.
(and now you know how I don’t lose fingers when I shoot in the snow)
More pictures from this session to inspire you!
