Hey y’all, if you’re like me then summer has FINALLY hit! I’m completely and totally loving it! Summer is my favorite season of the year – for all the bright colors, Fourth of July, cute sundresses, my birthday, endless amount of ice cream, swim days, and SO MANY MORE THINGS. I’ll be honest though, when I started offering summer sessions a few years ago, I was pretty under prepared. I thought I KNEW what to expect – I mean every year of my life had summer. What could I not know?!

Today, I’m eager to share 5 things that I believe photographers need to know or need in their lives to make the summer months easy! Let’s get started!

1. WATER
   Obvious, but then again maybe not. Please make sure that you are drinking enough water before and during your session to keep you peppy! Having half a bottle of water on a 105* day will not be enough. Keep yourself hydrated and encourage your clients to do the same. It’s not a fun session if someone ends up with heat exhaustion! Also, I highly suggest purchasing a good water bottle to take with you to every session. One that has great closure – so it doesn’t leak any water on equipment!
2. RAIN BOOTS
   I think these are very valuable for spring, but I have found SO much use for these in summer as well. These are perfect for rainy sessions or the day after a storm. However, I’ve also used these to make myself look cute while being protected from walking in tall, scratchy grass. It helps you avoid scratches & some ticks!
3. COMFY SANDALS
   Last year, I invested in a good pair of sandal – you know the ones that aren’t necessarily the cutest but seriously SAVE your feet. Yeah, that was one of the best purchases of 2018 – not even kidding – and I’m still enjoying them in 2019. For years, I have been buying flat sandals with little to no arch support or cushion. Last summer, after feeling so much pain after a wedding day, I knew I had to do something different. So, I purchase a pair of Clarks’ Cloudstepper sandals. Yes, they sound cheesy, but I’m not kidding y’all these shoes CHANGED my experience when shooting sessions. So much more comfort on 8-10 hour photoshoot days – I can’t recommend this enough!
4. SHORT CAR RIDES DURING SHOOTS
   So, I know this one might sound a little funny, but one trick I’ve included in summer sessions (& similarly in the bitter cold of winter) is to have locations picked out in advance that might be a short drive from each other. It might be possible to walk to this new location, but I promise asking your clients to be in their air conditioned car for 2-5 minutes can be a GAME CHANGER. It’s amazing how a little bit of cool air can give them an extra pep. Obviously, you don’t want to waste time just driving around during the session, but if it makes sense to have them drive – take advantage of it. I promise this little refresh will help your session run smoother!
5. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY
   While your photos will turn out gorgeous – you have to fully know that in the summer heat, you’re not going to look like you’ve just walked off the runway. When I first started taking photos, I wanted to try to keep myself looking good throughout the session – it just made me frazzled because I couldn’t. The heat and humidity made me sweat! After that, I realized there was a difference between looking unprofessional and just working hard and getting a sweat. So, I dress for the part still, but I fully know that if I’m the one that need to stand in the rain, sweat a little more – then that’s totally okay & expected.

I hope these tips help you through this crazy WARM time of the year. I know you’ll create some great images!

xoxo,

Here’s a photo of me in those incredible Clarks shoes – seriously go get yourself a pair!