One of the biggest stressors for all my portrait session clients is the weather. What happens if rain is in forecast? What if it’s super cloudy on the day of our session? It’s going to be 20 degrees, now what? In this post I’ll break down all your weather related concerns and how you can prepare.
My weather strategy
Accurating predicting and planning for Colorado weather is one of the trickiest parts of my job– while I do my very best at monitoring the weather, I am not a meteorologist. I will keep an eye on the weather the days leading up to your session but ultimately it is your responsibility to reach out about any weather related concerns that you see and give you worry. From there we can chat about options and determine if the weather is something we need to reschedule for.
Usually I like to make the call as late as possible without inconvenience to you because the weather here can change so rapidly. (There’s been times when heavy rain has been in the forecast a few days out and then day of it’s beautiful and sunny). It’s super important that you let me know if you’ve made any arrangements for your session that you need ample reschedule time to plan for (ie. hair and makeup that cannot be rescheduled).
Weather by season
There are lots of different weather related concerns and usually they fall within the different seasons. For more in-depth info on each season in Colorado, check out this blog post.
Spring: Windy conditions and higher chances of rain
Summer: Warmer temperatures and afternoon showers
Fall: Colder than expected in the mountains
Winter: Cold temperatures and likely snow
The different weather concerns
The biggest concerns most folks have about their session is rain. But in Colorado wind and snow are also all fair reasons to be wary. There aren’t any set metrics for when we reschedule and when we don’t but my usual guidance is:
- Rain: Over 40% chance and over .05 inches
- Wind: Over 15mph winds
- Snow: No reschedules unless unsafe driving conditions
Rain
What to expect:
Afternoon thunderstorms, especially in the summer, are common in Colorado. They usually roll in fast and clear out just as quickly. Rain is definitely a fair concern, but it also makes the colors and foliage pop and look so gorgeous and lush.
How to prepare:
- Bring clear umbrellas — they look fantastic in photos and keep you dry.
- Waterproof makeup
- Be flexible with timing. Sometimes a 20-minute delay can mean we get to shoot with magical post-storm light.
What we’ll do:
If it’s a light drizzle and you’re game, we’ll embrace it (some of my favorite romantic shots are in the rain!). If the forecast is showing a heavier rain amount (more than .05 inches an hour) we can reschedule or move your session indoors.
Wind
What to expect:
Wind is part of the Colorado experience — especially in the foothills, mountain passes, and even urban settings like downtown Denver. Gusts can pick up without warning, and while a light breeze is dreamy for flowing dresses, strong winds can be a little more chaotic and is actually my number one reason for rescheduling.
How to prepare:
- Opt for hairstyles that can handle a breeze. Updos and braids hold better than loose curls.
- Bring extra hairpins, hairspray, and a brush.
- Consider your outfit — lightweight skirts, flowy fabrics, and long veils may need some extra attention.
What we’ll do:
I’ll keep an eye on the wind conditions leading up to your session. If wind is above 20mph, we’ll talk about rescheduling. But if it’s just a bit breezy, I know all the tricks for using the wind creatively instead of fighting it and it can lend to some incredible, epic photos.
Clouds
What to expect:
Cloudy conditions are often a fear for my clients but this is actually my favorite condition to photograph in. The clouds diffuse the light in a gorgeous way, there are no harsh lines or shadows from the sun. Cloudiness is not something I reschedule for.
How to prepare:
- Relax and trust! You are getting some of the most flattering light for your portraits!
- Bring an extra layer, without the direct sun it might be a bit chillier than expected
What we’ll do:
The only adjustment we might need is to move your session a little earlier in case it gets darker earlier than expected on a sunny day. (But usually this is only by 30-45 minutes).
Snow & Cold
What to expect:
Colorado snow can show up anytime between October and May — sometimes even earlier or later. The cold can be biting, especially in the mountains. But this is another condition that I don’t reschedule for unless the road conditions are unsafe to drive.
How to prepare:
- Monitor the real-feel temperature, it can often feel much colder
- Dress in layers and bring hand warmers.
- Bring a wrap, jacket, or shawl.
- Pack boots to walk between locations and switch to cute shoes for photos.
- Consider booking a longer session to accommodate warming up in between shots
What we’ll do:
If the roads are unsafe or the snow is too heavy, we’ll reschedule. But if there’s a light snow or snow already on the ground, we’ll go for it. Snow in the winter months of Colorado is kind of a given! And snowy sessions can be straight out of a winter fairytale. I’ll help you stay warm and safe while making the most of those dreamy snowflakes.
Smoke
What to expect:
Fire and the smoke it brings is a pretty uniquely Colorado challenge to consider when photographing. It’s highly unpredictable based on wind patterns and can unfortunately obscure the mountains in some locations. However, expect some gorgeous, bright orange sunsets that are truly out of this world.
How to prepare:
- Check the smoke forecast at Airnow for most accurate smoke maps
- Be flexible, if a mountain view is your top priority we might have to pivot to another location or time
What we’ll do:
Smoke is one of the hardest things to reschedule for since haze usually sits for several weeks before blowing out. I’ll do my best to find a location that is smoke free but sometimes we have to just work with what we’ve got. If you have any health conditions that make you especially susceptible to smoke, definitely let me know!
Heat
What to expect:
Summer sessions, especially on the Front Range or in lower elevations, can be hot. Think upper 90s or even triple digits. People often think Colorado isn’t that hot, but even if the temperature isn’t reading hot the sun is so intense, you definitely will feel otherwise.
How to prepare:
- Check the real-feel, the bright sun can make you feel hotter than the temperatures read
- Stay hydrated and bring water bottles.
- Choose breathable, lightweight fabrics.
- Schedule your session during golden hour when the sun is lower, and the heat is less intense.
What we’ll do:
Since most of my sessions happen around golden hour when the sun is dipping anyway, heat is usually not a huge concern. If you have any health conditions that make you especially heat adverse, let me know and we can chat about rescheduling for extreme heat.
Unplannable Situations
What to expect:
There are some conditions that are completely out of our control and don’t show up in forecasts (think foggy overlooks or freak hail storms).
How to prepare:
- Overlooks and mountain passes always run the risk of being fogged out, be prepared to move to a lower elevation for your session or just embrace the moody, foggy vibes.
- Hail or suprise wind gusts aren’t uncommon– we might need to pop into the car to wait things out
What we’ll do:
We’ll do our best to track the forecasts, but ultimately Colorado weather is going to be unpredictable. That’s just the exchange for epic mountains and stunning scenery. If there’s a chance for weird weather and you still want to proceed with your session, consider a two hour so we have some more wiggle room if we need to pause.
The bottom line
Pro Tips for You:
- Set weather alerts on your phone for our most accurate location
- Make sure you’re looking up the specific town we’ll be shooting at and not just Denver.
- For mountain locations that don’t have a weather station nearby (think high elevation passes), check out CO Trex for weather conditions.
- Pack an extra pair of shoes, water, a jacket, and anything you might need for a plan B.
- Stay positive and roll with the punches. Some of my favorite photos have been in less than “ideal” weather conditions!
I’ve built my approach around flexibility and creative problem-solving. I always watch the forecast leading up to your session and will be available if any adjustments are needed. If conditions are unsafe or would compromise the experience, I’ll work with you on a backup plan—whether that’s rescheduling your session, shifting to a different location, or adapting our timeline (perhaps sunrise instead of sunset).
Bottom line? You’re not alone in this. We’ll roll with whatever Colorado throws at us and still create something beautiful together.
Did you find this post on inclement Colorado weather helpful? Check out some other resources:
Best time for portrait sessions in Colorado
Best photography locations in Colorado
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