You are dreaming of the beautiful Lapland landscapes, covered with a thick layer of snow, the ultimate winter wonderland. But beyond the dream... How should you dress for a photoshoot when temperatures drop below -20°C?! No panic, Marion to the rescue! Here are some tricks to fight the cold. 1. The Onion technic : You've probably already heard it, to fight the cold, the onion technic is the best! The trick is to favor several thin but warm layers, rather than one thick layer. This applies to ALL parts of your body. 2. Thermal layers : The first layer is the most important. Especially for your photoshoot, since this layer allows you to wear pretty clothes on top. Your first layer must be skin tight, with a thin and warm material. Merino wool is wonderful. Your thermal underwear must include: A long sleeve thermal tee-shirt A thermal legging (underpants) A pair of socks 3. The mid-layer or "photo layer" : This layer is the least important, so you can wear pretty clothes over the thermal layer for your photoshoot. I advise: Pants or jeans. If you're feeling extra fancy, a skirt or dress with warm tights. A nice sweater. A beanie or headband to protect your head from the cold. If temperatures drop below -20°C on the day of your photos, you can wear a choker (scarf) or layer a thin beanie under your hat. Wool gloves for photos, and mittens for the in-betweens. Sports mittens are not very pretty, so for photos, nice gloves or wool mittens are great. If you don't have nice gloves, you can borrow some from me for the photoshoot. Wool socks over your first pair of socks. (I insist on these wool socks, it's essential!) The best wool socks are those knitted. This is why Finns knit a lot... Water-repellent shoes, with a warm material and one size above yours. It's important that your foot is not tight in your shoes, even with your two pairs of socks. If your foot is tight, you will sweat, which must absolutely be avoided to fight the cold. I advise the shoe brands Sorel or Luhta. 4. The outdoor layer : You will put on and off this layer many times during your photoshoot. Often ski clothes have fluorescent colors. The photographer's worst nightmare! It's really not flattering and very difficult to edit. Some fluorescent details are not a problem since they can be retouched on Photoshop. The whole garment shouldn't be fluorescent. If you have nice ski clothes, then it's perfect! 5. What about children? Adults are more tolerant to the cold. If an adult is cold, with some courage, it should be fine. On the other hand, a cold child is a crying child, and that's quite normal! The same onion tactic applies to children. It's important for them to have a waterproof protective layer, they will play in the snow during the photoshoot. If you want some family photos with fancy outfits, dress your children with several under layers before putting on a sweaters. We will be quick to remove the coats and take the photos, and then put them back on real quick. Create a game out of the situation : If children are getting cold, it's time to move! Penguin dance, race to the fastest, snowball battle, slides, everything is good to keep children active. 6. Take warm breaks : On this point, a big congrats to my couples who came to say yes in Lapland! If you want to wear an outfit unsuitable for the cold, keep the car close with the heat on. Do not hesitate to tell me if you are cold, we will find a solution. (The car, a building, a campfire...) For more tips about wedding outfits, check this blog post : https://www.lefevremarionphotography.com/post/winter-wedding-photoshoot-outfit-guide 7. Hand & feet warmers : The best little object to carry around. These warmers will save your feet and hands. You can find them here in Lapland, in supermarkets and pharmacies. You can also prepare a stock in your suitcase. Place them inside your gloves and shoes before the photoshoot. To keep the Christmas spirit intact, be mindful and throw them in a trash once used. 8. Lapland with a baby? Although possible, I do not recommend this trip with a baby. Most Safari providers do not accept babies. However, if you decide to travel to Lapland with your baby, plan a hooded jumpsuit. When temperatures drop below -15°C, the baby mustn't have one centimeter of skin exposed. Getting burned by the cold is real! The best way to keep baby warm is to wear him/her against you, in a baby carrier under your coat. If you'd like some outfits ideas for your photoshoot in Lapland, I invite you to look at this Pinterest board filled with good ideas : https://pin.it/3B1ZdKI With all of these tips you should be ready for the freezing cold. See you soon for a photoshoot in Santa's country! 🤍 Marion

Lapland is THE destination for Christmas. Its magical atmosphere, snowy landscapes, the reindeers, it's all there! Who says Christmas also says family holidays. You would like to get nice memories of your holidays in Lapland, but clearly a photoshoot with children when it's very cold, scares you! With these few tips, your family photoshoot will go smoothly. 1. Belly full, everything is good! Make sure kids have been eating before the photoshoot. Often with the hustle and bustle of travel, meals are a bit scattered. The #1 cause of kids getting cranky during photoshoots, is hunger. If you can't eat a meal before the shoot, bring snacks to give to the kids before and during the shoot. Make sure to have water, and/or even better, a thermos of hot chocolate! 2. Sleep Like us, children are in a bad mood when they are tired. A quiet moment or even a nap before the photoshoot is a great idea to have them in great shape. 3. The cold It's imperative that children are covered and dressed for the cold. It's not only a question of well-being in order for your photoshoot to be successful, but above all a question of safety, especially for very young kids who cannot express themselves. Often young kids can't manage to keep gloves or mittens on their hands. To prevent them from falling, you can buy beautiful wool and long socks to pull up to their armpits, and have the jacket on top. I guarantee they won't manage to take those off! 😂 You can consult my clothing guide for detailed advice : https://fr.lefevremarionphotography.com/post/how-to-dress-for-a-photoshoot-in-laponia With all of this said, kids will always be kids, and it's fine to have meltdowns. They happen very now and then! We will find a solution to calm your kids, and get back into it!

From clothing to posing, here are 6 tips for your pictures with a professional photographer. 1. Have fun! More fun you'll have, more the pictures will look genuine. The purpose of a photo session is to get great pictures, but it's also a great opportunity to have a good time with your loved ones. You can talk to each other, laugh, run, play, fool around. I guaranty that 99% of the greatest pictures will be the ones full of fun. If you have a solo photo session, talk to the photographer, dance around, this is a moment for yourself. 2. Think positively. It can be difficult to feel at ease during the first photos, you might start to think negatively and loose your confidence. Breathe, don't panic and follow your photographer's instructions. You can ask some advices, communication is key. 🔑 Giving yourself a pep talk before your photos can really help to boost your confidence in front of the camera. 3. Trust your photographer. Trust yourself and the photographer. If there's something looking wrong, the photographer will kindly tell you. The goal is to create the best images possible for you. The photographer have your best interest at heart. She will guide you throughout the photos, you don't need to be a model to get great pictures! Always tell your photographer if something is wrong, you should feel relaxed and happy. If you have preferences (we all have our likes and dislikes) that you want your photographer to be mindful of, communicate those. Your photographer is here to show you how beautiful you are. 4. Be yourself. Your pictures should represent YOU, just the way you are. Don't feel like you need to act or be someone you're not, be yourself! If you're silly, be silly. No photographer will ever judge you. So don't be scared be out there. ✨ 5. What to wear? You'll feel most confident wearing your favorite outfit. It can be a piece of clothing, a hairstyle or makeup. Wear what you are most confident and comfortable in. Check with your photographer if there is a theme or a preferred color palette for your pictures. You can also plan a few outfits for the photo session. Neutral colors and denim usually photograph very well (white, light blue, cream, powder pink, beige, browns, etc...). Flawy fabrics also have a wonderful effect in photos. Avoid small geometric patterns and florescent colors, it can create a weird effect in the photos. If you have a family or a couple photo session, color coordinating your outfits is a really great way to get beautiful and cohesive pictures. You can learn more about how to dress for a photo session in Lapland here ; https://www.lefevremarionphotography.com/post/how-to-dress-for-a-photoshoot-in-lapland 6. Photos with children. It is difficult for children to keep focus during the entire photo session. Best way to have relaxed parents and laughing kids is to play and interact with the children. Creating small games or activities is the key to success for your family photo session! If a kid is in a bad mood, we can take a brake, the photographer is here for you and won't go anywhere. See you soon for your photo session! 😃 Marion

Winter weddings are stunning! Lapland is such a magical place to get married, renew your vows or simply host a honeymoon photoshoot. The snowy trees, the immaculate landscapes, the cold... oh wait, yes, THE COLD! Lapland is as beautiful as cold. Depending on the month of the year, the average temperatures in winter are ranging from 0°c to -30°c. Here is a winter wedding outfit guide I put together to prepare for your photoshoot. 1.The brides : It's probably obvious, but it will be cold ! Spaghetti straps dresses are so pretty, but you'll freeze if you're not prepared... It doesn't mean you have to wear a long sleeves and high neck dress. You just need to plan a bit more. Wear white or skin color thermal leggings under your dress. Or even ski pants. You'll handle the cold way better with your legs covered. If your dress allows it, wear a thin and warm top under it. Have a jacket or a coat. There is some really beautiful bridal options. Or why not wear a boho plaid over your shoulders! It will keep you warm and it looks wonderful in pictures! Wear appropriate shoes. Leather boots are a great option, again, it looks wonderful in pictures ! If you wish to wear more refined shoes, you can change them after the photoshoot if your ceremony is indoor. Consider wearing some nice wool mittens. They look great and will keep you warm. Put some hand warmers in your gloves and feet warmers in your shoes. You can definitely have some photos without any of those winter attires, many of the brides I've photographed have done it. The photos are stunning. For your makeup, prefer to use waterproof options. Otherwise, the water in your makeup will freeze, or run all over your face within minutes. Choose a local makeup artist and talk about your concerns. It will guaranty that you get appropriate makeup to the weather. I have been very impressed by the bridal makeups and hairdos done by Marianne at "Color and Cut Living Room". The groom(s) : Grooms have it a bit easier than brides... Because suits are usually made of layers, they are a lot more protected from the cold. Even though, It's good to purchase a beautiful coat to wear on top of the suit if needs be. Formal shoes usually have flat and smooth sole, they'll be extremely slippery on the snow. Be mindful of that when purchasing the wedding shoes. No one wants to break their leg on their wedding day. Same as for the bride, the groom can wear thermal underwear under his suit as well as hand and feet warmers. Flowers : Flowers are such a huge factor when it comes to making your wedding day feel extra special. If you elope in Lapland during winter, be sure to choose robust blooms. Because of the extreme temperatures, delicate blooms will quickly fade. Talk with your florist about your ceremony location, they will advise you on appropriate blooms that can stand those extreme temperatures. I often work with Kukkakauppa Ukonhattu in Rovaniemi.

1. Ownership One of the reasons photographers do not deliver unedited photos is that they could be compared to negatives, the photographer have full rights over them. Even when a photographer is commissioned, the clients always pay for the final product. 2. Brand Value You've spent some time choosing the right photographer for your project. You chose your photographer because you like the style, the angles, the felling that the photos convey. That's what makes the photographer's brand. And so, delivering unedited images would be damaging to the photographers brand as there is no guarantee those image will never see the light of day. This could strongly hamper the photographer's reputation. 3. Files size and accessibility Raw files are HUUUGE. They would use an insane amount of storage space. Raw files also can't be opened with a regular app or program. You would need an editing software to be able to open them. The photos need to be processed into jpgs to be accessed easily. 4. They just don't look good Honestly, they don't even look good. They are like a canvas without paint on it. That's a shame to hire a professional photographer to end up with amateur looking photos. If there are some adjustments needed on some of your edited photos, more often your photographer will prefer to re-deliver adjusted images rather than give the unedited photos. 5. How to make sure you end up happy with your photos Choose a photographer with a style of photos that you truly like. Don't pick the fist photographer to come, analyze portfolios and communicate your expectations for your final photos with your photographer.