Hot, Hot, Hot! (A few tips for warm weather shoots.)

 Summer is heating up! Between the heat, humidity and the wildfire smoke from Canada, it's hard to get motivated to take pictures out of doors! All through the long Wisconsin winter, we dream about the lazy summer days, but, of course, there are so many things to do when summer finally arrives that the days fly by! 

One of those things we do is visit family. Whether it's a reunion, a birthday or anniversary or just a flying visit, any time the family is together is a good time to take pictures.  My favorite family photos are the repeat kind, where I get to photograph the same kids, year after year. I had a session last week with a family that I photographed last in 2018. My, how the children had grown!  It was a hot, sunny day but the children were troopers and grandma will soon have some new pictures to put on the wall.  We took the pictures down by the lake in Kenosha, because they wanted to get some Kenosha landmarks in the pictures. It was a few degrees cooler than inland, but it was still very hot! When the days are hot and sunny, I have a few tips to help outdoor shoots go more smoothly.

• Try to schedule the shoot in the morning or late afternoon. The overhead sun at noon is uncomfortable and the light is harsh and unflattering. Temperatures start to go down at about 5pm and the sun doesn't set until 8:30 or so in the summer.
• Suggest light colored, comfortable clothing. Save the dress-up clothes for the holidays!
• Check the weather forecast a few days ahead, and again on the day! Be prepared-severe weather can blow up quickly! Have a plan B.
• Look for shade.  Wherever possible, position your subjects in the shade of a building or tree. It helps avoid squinty, watering eyes and it can be several degrees cooler in the shade. Remember, daytime temperatures are measured in the shade, so when the meteorologists say it will be 85°F at noon, you can assume it will be much hotter in the open! Grass is cooler to sit or stand on than paved surfaces. 
• An inexpensive collapsible diffuser is a great tool to filter the sun and give a nice even exposure. If there is no one to hold it for you, they are light enough to hold in one hand.
• If there is no shade to be had, position your subjects with THEIR backs to the sun. I love a backlit portrait and it's better that I be the one to squint! A well-positioned reflector can help to fill in the shadows.
• Hydrate! Make sure everyone has water to drink. 
• Keep it short and work fast. A maximum of 45 minutes to an hour is ideal, especially if walking is involved. Very young children have a short attention span anyway and will soon become cranky if they are hot or tired. 

As photographers, it's easy to get caught up in getting the perfect shot but it is our clients that matter most. Being considerate of your clients' comfort is just good business and a positive experience will bring them back for more.