Winter
Style
Guide
How to dress your family for the quiet, luminous beauty of a New England winter session.
Winter light is unlike anything else — soft, diffused, and extraordinarily flattering. There are no harsh shadows, no squinting in the sun. Just a quiet, even luminosity that wraps around your family and makes every image feel still and timeless.
Your Winter Color Palette
Winter portraits call for a palette that works with the season's stripped-back, luminous quality — not against it. Deep jewel tones, evergreen, burgundy, and rich navy anchor your look with elegance. Ivory, frost, and silver provide the quiet contrast that lets faces come forward. Avoid fighting the winter landscape with competing brightness; instead, let the stillness of the season be part of the image.
What to Wear
Winter is the season for your most elegant, intentional looks. The diffused light is so flattering that richer, more considered outfits truly shine. Layers are essential for comfort and add wonderful visual depth. Think quality fabrics, deep jewel tones, and textures that feel luxurious — cashmere, velvet, wool, and brushed cotton all photograph beautifully in winter's quiet light.
Winter is your moment for a beautiful, layered look. A midi or maxi dress in burgundy, deep forest, or dusty rose under a tailored wool coat or cashmere wrap is stunning. A fitted turtleneck tucked into a flowing skirt layers warmth with elegance. Velvet is extraordinary in winter light — a velvet dress or blouse in a deep jewel tone will photograph with a richness that no other season can match. Knee-high boots complete nearly any winter look beautifully.
A well-fitted wool or cashmere sweater in evergreen, midnight navy, or warm grey is both practical and polished. Layer it over a collared shirt for a classic look. A tailored peacoat or structured overcoat adds winter elegance. Dark chinos or trousers in charcoal, navy, or warm grey keep the palette rich. Chelsea boots or clean leather shoes finish the look with understated refinement. Winter is the one season where a more dressed-up approach always feels right.
Winter is absolutely magical for little ones in cozy, special outfits. A velvet or smocked dress in burgundy, forest green, or dusty rose over a fitted turtleneck or thermal is both warm and breathtaking in winter light. A knit cardigan, a little wool coat, and knee-high socks with Mary Janes or boots round out the look perfectly. A simple hair bow, headband, or delicate hair clip adds a charming, polished finish.
Dark dress pants or cord trousers with a fitted turtleneck or a collared shirt under a cozy sweater look wonderfully polished in winter portraits. A classic wool vest or a little blazer over a striped tee can be charming for older kids. For toddlers, a knit romper or a simple sweater and trouser set in ivory, navy, or evergreen is sweet and timeless. Boots or clean leather shoes add the finishing touch.
"Winter light is my secret weapon. It's soft, even, and extraordinarily flattering — it makes skin glow and colors come alive in a way that harsh summer sun simply can't. Don't be afraid of the season. Bundle up, trust the palette, and know that the images we make on a quiet winter afternoon will be some of the most beautiful you've ever seen."
Do's & Don'ts
Winter sessions reward planning and intentionality. A few key guidelines will make the difference between images you treasure and a session cut short by the cold.