Spoiler Alert: There are multiple seasons that are the best season for family photos. In Iowa, we are blessed with all four seasons which means the temperatures can fluctuate rapidly (not always great). I’m going to break down the pros and cons of each season (specific to Iowa), and then you can let me know which is your favorite season in the comments below.
Also, there’s a seasonal cheat sheet at the bottom of the post. I’m also including examples of sessions in the past year with the temperatures highs and lows for that specific session date.
Best Season: Spring
The Spring Pros
- Beautiful greenery – The earth is starting to come alive after winter with greenery which always makes a nice backdrop to photos.
- Spring colors and flowers – There are many flowering trees, tulips and bright flowers popping up all over. There really are some beautiful colors to enhance your family photos.
- Cooler temperatures + not humid – We have emerged from the frozen tundra, but an Iowan spring still hovers from the 40s-60s with a few warm, sunny days.
The Spring Cons
- Variety of temperatures – I know I mentioned it as a pro, but dressing for 50 degree weather is very different from 68 degree weather. It’s hard to plan outfits that fit that vast range. My suggestion is to plan for layers so you will be covered regardless of the temp the day of your session.
- Golden Hour starts to get later – By end of April, golden hour starts around 7-7:30pm which starts to creep into bedtime routines. Golden hour offers beautiful light, and it is something to take into consideration when planning your family photos.
- Rainy season my cause rescheduling – No one wants to be drenched in their family photos. Sometimes you can rely on the 10 day forecast and sometimes a pop up shower happens right before the session.
Golden Hour
The last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise are coveted by professional photographers. Referred to as “the golden hour” or “magic hour,” these times provide the perfect light to capture stunning photos.
Definition by Adobe
Examples of various temperatures on these session dates. We chose to do Theo’s session at a greenhouse because of the cold and the high wind gusts that day. While we were blessed with a warm day in the middle of the week for Rylie’s session to be outdoors.
Best Season: Summer
The Summer Pros
- Plenty of Golden Hour and sunshine – Less rain in the forecast and a lot more sun means more opportunities of planning sessions further in advance.
- Everyone is tanned from the summer – This is a perk for that sun-kissed glow and living in the fresh air all season long.
- Beautiful locations and backdrops – More locations are accessible and in their prime during the summer season. The plants are matured, there’s wildflowers everywhere and you don’t have to worry about mud as much.
The Summer Cons
- Hot temperatures + humidity – The summer can bring the heat causing sweat stains and red faces that we desperately want to avoid in family photos.
- Golden Hour is later around 8pm – As the days grow longer, the golden hour gets later. Families with older kids may like this time slot better, but younger littles/toddlers may not do as well if they are past their bedtime.
- Scheduling conflicts – Summers are full of vacations, sports and “out-of-routine” activities. This can make it difficult to plan a photo shoot as well as the photographer’s vacation time.
I don’t currently have recent examples of true summer, but my early September sessions tend to feel like summer still. The session temps below ranged from 70-88 degrees.
Best Season: Fall
The Fall Pros
- Foliage – The leaves are changing from green to yellow, orange and red. It’s a beautiful time of year here in Iowa and for good reason.
- Nicer temperatures – The weather is starting to cool off from the summer heat of August. Planning outfits for this time of year allows a wide variety of options.
- Perfect timing for holiday cards – This is the season people start to think about the annual holiday family card. Especially if your kids are little, this will accurately portray the stage they are in as they grow so quickly.
The Fall Cons
- Golden Hour starts to get earlier around 5pm – The days are getting shorter and the sun starts setting closer to 5pm which may mean dealing with hungry toddlers or trying to get off work a little earlier to make it to the session location.
- Busiest session season – This is a photographer’s busiest season as so many people desire fall family photos. It may be difficult to schedule your photos or your photographer may be booked solid.
- Short peak foliage window – There is usually a 1-2 week window of peak colors in October, but depending on the weather the colors may turn more quickly. It’s difficult to know when exactly you’re going to see that window and plan a session.
As you can see, the temperatures start to drop from early to late October by roughly 20 degrees. But it’s perfect fall attire weather.
Best Season: Winter
The Winter Pros
- More neutral backdrops – The winter brings the brown grasses and leafless trees, but those make for beautiful neutral backgrounds. Also, the use of evergreens can add green into photos even in the winter.
- More session availability – This is the slowest photography season especially for outdoor portraits. You may have luck booking a photographer who is usually booked solid.
- Beautiful light for portraits – The winter offers soft light and overcast days that are perfect for portraits and headshots.
The Winter Cons
- Freezing temperatures – Iowa gets COLD in the winter. It may be a session where everyone wants to stay in coats (or even indoors). Plan your attire accordingly.
- Golden Hour is EARLY around 4pm if not earlier – The sun also sets very early in the winter months so you really will want to decide if overcast or golden hour is what you are looking for.
- Can’t count on there being snow – If you are looking for a snowy session, you may need to tentatively plan and then wait for the forecast to align. Unless it is January or February, you can count on the snow sticking around for a few days.
Brenda’s extended family session had snow, and it was pretty cold that day for the kids. Jen was a trooper for her headshots and braved the frigid wind, and her portraits are stunning.
Speer Maternity Session – November 28 – The only day in a 10 day window that was above the 40s. We got extremely lucky with the weather that late in November.
Review of the Seasons
All of the seasons have their pros and cons, but any season can be a great season for family photos. Which is your preferred season? Which season intrigued you? Comment below and let me know.
Pin this graphic below for when you plan your next family photos.
