One of the questions that comes up as we head into late fall and winter is: Where are we going to take pictures when everything is dead? 😂

By November and December, the beautiful fall leaves are disappearing, the grass isn't nearly as green, flowers are long gone and some of my favorite spring and fall photography locations look VERY different.

But that doesn't mean winter isn't a great time for family photos!

As a family photographer serving Mocksville, Clemmons and Winston-Salem, NC, I choose winter photography locations a little differently than I would during the spring, summer or fall.

Here are three of my favorite types of locations for winter photo sessions.

1. Downtown Locations

Downtown areas are probably one of my favorite choices for winter photography sessions because we don't have to depend on nature at all.

Instead of green grass, flowers or colorful trees, we can use buildings, brick, sidewalks, stairways, alleys and other architectural details to create variety.

Downtown locations also give photos a completely different look than your traditional family session in a field or park.

And because the buildings look basically the same whether it's June or January, we don't have to worry about everything looking "dead" in the background.

Downtown Mocksville and Winston-Salem both have great options depending on the look we're going for.

2. Locations With Evergreens

If you DO want your winter photos to have some greenery, I look for evergreens!

This is especially helpful when someone contacts me in late November or December needing last-minute Christmas photos.

By then, a location that was gorgeous just a few weeks earlier might be completely bare. Finding an area with evergreen trees gives us greenery in the background even when everything else has gone dormant for winter.

And no, evergreen photos don't necessarily have to scream CHRISTMAS. 😂

With the right location and outfits, they can simply give us a beautiful green backdrop for family photos throughout the winter.

3. Open Fields & Neutral Natural Locations

Sometimes instead of trying to hide winter...we use it!

Open fields, tall dried grasses, bare trees and neutral backgrounds can actually photograph beautifully during the winter months.

The colors become softer and more neutral—think creams, tans, browns and muted greens—which can create a completely different look than the bright greens of summer or colorful leaves of fall.

This is also where LIGHT becomes incredibly important.

A location might not look particularly exciting when you're standing there looking at it, but with beautiful light, the right angle and a family dressed in colors that complement the surroundings, it can photograph completely differently.

You Don't Need Green Grass for Beautiful Family Photos

I think sometimes we automatically associate outdoor family photography with green grass, full trees and pretty flowers.

But those aren't the things that actually make a great photograph.

Location matters—but LIGHT matters even more.

That's why when I'm helping a family choose a winter photography location, I'm thinking about what's going to be behind you, where the light will be at the time of your session, what colors are in the environment and how everything will photograph together.

A beautiful place to visit isn't always the best place to take photographs—and a spot you might drive right past can sometimes be exactly what I need.

So if you need family photos during the winter months, don't worry that you missed the "pretty" season.

Downtown buildings, evergreen trees and even those brown winter fields can give us plenty to work with!

If you're looking for a family photographer in Mocksville, Clemmons or Winston-Salem, NC, I'd love to help you plan a winter photography session that works beautifully for the season.

About M.Gioeli Photography

Megan Gioeli of M.Gioeli Photography is a family, senior, and branding photographer based in Mocksville, NC, serving Clemmons, Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas. She works with families and small business owners to create authentic, meaningful images while helping them feel confident in how they show up—both online and in real life.