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It’s cold, yeah. But that doesn’t mean you need to wait until it warms up for that family portrait you’ve been thinking about. Some of my absolute favourite sessions happen in winter. Even here in Melbourne where the weather is completely unpredictable, winter delivers some brilliant things that you simply can’t get in summer.
Here are five reasons why photographing in winter is great.
The Light
The soft winter light is magic. Because the sun sits low in the sky, the golden-hour quality lasts nearly all day. That means we can shoot at 11am, 2pm, or 3pm and still get beautiful, flattering light. In summer? You’re locked into sunrise or sunset, and that’s it.
Low winter light also opens up locations you normally can’t use in the warmer months. The middle of the day is usually pointless for portraits, but not in winter. Suddenly those spots that were blown out and harsh in July become genuinely gorgeous in June.
And the light is softer, which means skin looks naturally beautiful and the whole shoot has this warm, gentle quality.v
The Locations
Empty beaches. Families love the beach, and in winter you basically own it. No crowds, no photobombers, no random sunbathers. Uninterrupted backgrounds that you’d fight for all summer.
Parks and gardens look completely different in winter. The light combined with the tones in the gardens makes the colours really pop, giving everything this lush, rich feel.
Urban and city locations are brilliant this time of year too. Unexpected colour everywhere, and the light bouncing off buildings and streets works beautifully.
At home sessions are also fantastic in winter. Your house is a huge part of your family’s life, and including it in your portraits means you’re capturing something genuinely meaningful – the place where your family actually lives.
Sunsets
Sunset is one of the best times to photograph full stop. The light has incredible quality and the skies are stunning.
But here’s what makes it brilliant for families: In Melbourne, summer sunsets are around 8–9pm. That’s late. Kids are tired, bedtimes are getting pushed, and the whole thing feels rushed. Winter sunsets are around 5pm. You can do a proper, unhurried session without anyone being shattered by the end of it. The timing just works better for families with little ones.
Plus, having sunset at 5.30 means we can capture those just-after-sunset shots where the light is super soft. That’s genuinely my favourite time to shoot.
Bonus 1 - What if it's cold?
The biggest reason people put off winter sessions is “it’s cold.” Fair point. But here’s the thing: this isn’t a sitting-around kind of shoot. We’re moving, exploring locations, chasing light. Kids usually start rugged up and then shed layers as they warm up during the session.
Plus, being cold means families naturally snuggle in tighter. There’s genuine warmth and connection in those moments, even (or especially) when your older kids think they’re too cool for it.
My coldest session ever started at minus 1 degree and warmed up to 2 degrees by the end. We got some of the happiest, most genuine photos.
Bonus 2 - What about Spring?
Spring brings rain and wind. Lots of both. It’s the time of year when we reschedule the most, and it’s annoying for everyone involved: you book a session, weather forces a reschedule, you book another date, weather strikes again.
Winter in Melbourne? Reliably chilly and dry. You might get the odd rainy day, but it’s nothing like spring. That means your session actually happens when you book it.
