Why I Reschedule Sessions: My Photography Weather Policy

Why I Reschedule Sessions: My Photography Weather Policy

If you’ve lived in North Carolina for more than a week, you know: summer weather here is chaos. Storms pop up out of nowhere. The humidity is outrageous. And lately? It’s been downright unpredictable. That’s why I wanted to pull back the curtain on my photography weather policy, when I reschedule, why I do it, and what you can expect when the sky just won’t cooperate.

I’ve had to reschedule session after session this summer, and let me tell you…it’s the worst part of my job. Not the editing. Not the late nights. Not even the occasional “oops I forgot to eat today.” It’s having to stare at four weather apps and a radar, trying to guess what the sky is going to do two hours from now…while knowing it might all change anyway

I Know It’s Out of My Control, But I Still Feel It

When I have to postpone your session, it’s never a decision I take lightly. I know your schedule is packed. I know you’ve arranged hair, makeup, babysitters, work, transportation. I know you’re excited and want this to happen.

And even though I can’t control the forecast, I feel the weight of that disappointment. I really do.

When My Photography Weather Policy Kicks In

Here’s the good news: I don’t call it unless I absolutely need to. But I also won’t push through if the conditions are going to mess with your experience or your final images.

I’ll reschedule for:

• 🌧️ Rain or thunderstorm chances over 50% during the session window
• 💨 Wind over 20mph (it’s just not cute unless you’re Beyoncé (and you know I love the Beyonce wind machine under normal conditions)
• 🔥 Excessive heat (if it’s going to be dangerous or completely melt makeup/outfits)
• ❄️ Extreme cold (especially for kids or seniors in lighter outfits)
• 🌫️ Heavy fog (unless fog is the aesthetic, we can work with that sometimes!)

Please Trust My Judgment

I’ve been doing this for almost two decades. I know what kinds of light, conditions, and background chaos are going to affect your photos and your experience. When I recommend we reschedule, it’s never to be dramatic. It’s to protect your investment and make sure your photos turn out like you imagined (or better).

But What About Overcast Days?

Yes. The cloudy sky panic. Here’s the deal: overcast is not bad. In fact, some of my favorite images have come from cloudy sessions. Here’s a quick breakdown:

🌥️ Overcast Sessions

Pros:

• Even, soft light (i.e., creamy skin tones)
• No harsh shadows or squinting
• Colors pop beautifully: Greens are greener, florals are richer
• Great for close-up portraits and movement
• Sky drama

Cons:

• No sun flare or dramatic glow
• Mood can feel a little more subdued (which can be a pro depending on the vibe)

☀️Sunny Sessions

Pros:

• Golden hour magic (that glow hits different)
• Dreamy backlit portraits
• Great for outdoor fields, florals, and sparkle
• Also sky drama

Cons:

• Harsh light = squinting, shadows, sweat
• Can be harder to shoot in direct sun without strategic location/timing
• Not ideal for every outfit or hair situation

Final Thoughts

Weather is the wild card in every session. It keeps me on my toes, tests my patience, and forces me to reschedule sessions I wish we could keep. But it also reminds me how much I care about your experience. And how much better it is when we wait for the right light, the right energy, and the right moment together. So if we have to pivot, pause, or reschedule this summer…thank you for rolling with it. Your dream session is still coming. And it’ll be so worth it. My photography weather policy exists to protect your experience and your images because guessing and hoping just isn’t good enough.

Questions about your upcoming session or curious how we handle weather adjustments? I’m always just a message away. Wanna track the weather the way I do? My go-tos on IOS are AccuWeather, WeatherBug, The Weather Channel, and MyRadar. I also use local news forecasts sometimes as tie breakers.

And don’t forget to peek at a few of my galleries to get a sense of what every weather situation looks like.