Why You Should Take Winter Senior Pictures in St. Louis

Embrace the Season for Unique, Fun, and Authentic Portraits.

 

When you think of winter, your first thought probably isn’t heading outdoors for portraits. It can feel a bit chilly, and the landscape is naturally more barren. However, that shouldn't stop you from considering a winter session. In fact, there are several unique benefits to having your senior pictures taken during the colder months that you just can't get any other time of year.

Playful winter senior portrait by a Columbia IL senior photographer, featuring a girl with bold red lipstick wearing a fashionable leopard print coat while blowing fresh snow out of her hands in the middle of a snowy forest.
Cozy, rustic senior picture of a girl with long brown curly hair, wearing a maroon long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans while sitting on a plaid blanket nestled in the pine needles at the Eckert’s Millstadt Pine Tree Farm.
High school senior guy wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans, posing on a rock in front of a weathered rusty door and historic stone building at Rock City in Valmeyer IL.

#1: The Magic of Snow

Snow is easily the best part of the season. Because it’s so rare and most people avoid the cold, it provides the most unique setting for your portraits. Whether you want to walk through a quiet winter wonderland or dress up like a snow princess for a high-fashion look, a snowy backdrop creates an absolute dreamscape for your photos.

#2: Twinkling Christmas Lights

From Thanksgiving through early January, the city transforms. We can capture stunning, glowing Christmas lights in the background as homes and businesses throughout the St. Louis area decorate for the holidays. It’s a perfect way to add a festive, warm bokeh effect to your images using trees, wreaths, and holiday displays.

#3: The Evergreen Tree Farm

If you’re looking for a vibrant, unique location, winter is the perfect time to visit a local tree farm. These locations are filled with lush cedar and pine trees that keep their color all year long. It’s a fun, textured environment where you can peak around the branches or sit nestled among the greenery for a classic look.

#4: Urban Chic Backdrops

One of the best secrets for winter photography is heading into urban areas. Since these locations rely on architecture, brickwork, and city streets rather than trees and grass, your portraits will look sophisticated and full of life, without anyone noticing the plants are dormant.

#5: Cozy Winter Wardrobe

This is the only time of year you can truly rock those cute coats, oversized scarves, beanies, and stylish snow boots without over-heating! It’s also the perfect opportunity for a "contrast" look, wearing a formal prom dress in the middle of a snowfall creates a breathtaking, editorial feel that is completely unique to you. For even more styling ideas for the cold, check out my Winter Senior Session Outfit Guide.

Fun and cozy winter senior photo of a girl laying on a sled in the deep snow at Suson Park in Arnold MO, showing off her school spirit in a red Fox High School beanie and matching sweatshirt with blue jeans, brown boots, and white gloves.
Edgy urban senior portrait of a guy standing with his hands in his pockets in front of a colorful graffiti wall in Columbia IL, wearing a classic blue plaid long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.
Charming country style senior portrait by an Arnold MO senior photographer, showing a girl in a light blue jean jacket, red sweater, and white beanie standing in the snow at Suson Park with a rustic red barn and geese in the background.
 
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