Outdoor Family Photography Weather Tips for Southern New Mexico
One of the questions I hear from families planning an outdoor portrait session is, “What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?”
It's a good question, especially here in Southern New Mexico. We can have beautiful sunshine, wind, clouds, rain and sometimes a dramatic change in conditions all within a fairly short period of time. At White Sands National Park, weather can change dramatically throughout the day, and the mountains around Cloudcroft and High Rolls can feel completely different from Alamogordo below.
After years of photographing families, couples and maternity clients outdoors, I've learned that a less-than-perfect forecast doesn't necessarily mean we won't have a beautiful session. Sometimes clouds give us gorgeous soft light. A little wind can add movement. Snow can completely transform a mountain location.
There are also times when the weather really does become a concern.
These outdoor family photography weather tips will give you a better idea of what I watch for before your session, what you can do to prepare, and how we'll handle it if Mother Nature decides to change our plans.
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Wind at White Sands: When It Works and When It Doesn't
If you've spent much time in Southern New Mexico, you already know that wind can be one of our biggest weather challenges.
For portrait sessions at White Sands, I prefer winds to stay around 10–15 mph or less when possible. Once we're getting above about 20 mph with stronger gusts, photographing becomes much more difficult.
It's not that every bit of wind is bad. A gentle breeze can actually be beautiful. It can create movement in a dress, give hair a little life and add something to the overall feeling of a photograph.
Strong wind is different.
Hair can continually blow across faces, clothing may not stay where we want it, and blowing sand can make the session uncomfortable. The National Park Service also warns that high winds at White Sands can create blowing sand and reduced visibility. Spring is particularly known for strong winds in the area.
That doesn't mean I have an automatic rule that says a certain wind speed always equals a canceled session.
I've had clients who simply didn't have another day available. During one maternity session at White Sands, the wind was strong enough that you could actually see the gypsum blowing across the dunes. Her husband was only home for that day and would be away for work for the next month, so rescheduling wasn't really an option for them. We talked about the conditions and decided to go ahead with the session.
The wind is definitely part of these photographs—you can see it moving her hair and gown and blowing the gypsum behind her—but we were still able to create beautiful portraits. It's a good example of why I don't automatically cancel a session just because the weather isn't perfect. If conditions are safe, sometimes we work with what New Mexico gives us.
Clouds Aren't Bad News for Your Portraits
I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions about outdoor photography.
Clients see clouds in the forecast and immediately worry that their photographs aren't going to be beautiful.
Overcast skies aren't necessarily a bad thing at all.
Clouds can act like a giant natural softbox, creating beautiful, soft light. We don't have the same harsh shadows or squinting that bright overhead sunlight can create, and skin can photograph beautifully in that softer light.
An overcast day can even give us a little more flexibility with timing. Most of my outdoor sessions are scheduled for the hour before sunset because that's when I normally get the beautiful light I want. With enough cloud cover softening the sunlight, we may sometimes be able to begin a little earlier.
So if you wake up on the day of your session and don't see a perfectly blue New Mexico sky, don't panic.
Clouds don't automatically ruin a portrait session.
What About Rain and Storms?
Rain can be a little trickier.
One thing I've learned about White Sands is that rain can be surprisingly localized. It may be raining in one area while another part of the park is still workable. Sometimes a small shower moves through and we're able to simply wait it out.
Sometimes waiting out a passing shower pays off. During this White Sands maternity session, we had rain in the distance—and were even treated to a rainbow.
A large storm is different and may require us to reschedule.
The National Park Service identifies July through September as monsoon season at White Sands and warns that storms can build quickly. Its current weather information also notes that late-afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common during the summer rainy season.
And there is one condition where the decision becomes much easier:
If lightning is nearby, we don't continue the session.
No photograph is worth putting anyone at risk. Lightning can occur in the desert even when rain isn't falling directly where we are, so safety comes first.
How I Handle Weather Decisions Before Your Session
I don't like making unnecessary weather decisions too far in advance because New Mexico has a way of reminding us that a forecast is still just a forecast.
If the weather looks questionable, I'll normally start communicating with you the day before your session. We'll look at what is being predicted and talk about possible options.
Then we keep watching it.
Most of the time, I'll make the final decision on the day of the session, when we have a much better idea of what the weather is actually doing.
If you're local or coming from one of our surrounding communities, rescheduling may be the best answer when severe weather is expected.
If you've traveled hundreds—or even thousands—of miles and this is your only opportunity for a White Sands session, the conversation can be different. As long as conditions are safe, I'll explain what I'm seeing and what challenges we may have, and you can decide whether you'd still like to give it a try.
That's one reason I don't believe in having a rigid weather rule that applies to every family and every situation.
Hot Weather and Summer Family Photos at White Sands
Yes, Southern New Mexico gets hot.
Summer daytime temperatures at White Sands average in the mid-to-upper 90s and can climb above 100°F.
The good news is that I'm not scheduling your portrait session in the middle of a hot summer afternoon.
I plan my White Sands sessions around the best available natural light, which usually means we're beginning approximately one hour before sunset. Besides giving us much prettier light, that also means we're avoiding the hottest part of the day.
One of the interesting things about photographing at White Sands is that the dunes are made of gypsum rather than the typical sand you may be used to. Even on some of our hottest days, I've found the sand itself stays surprisingly cool under your feet. I frequently have clients go barefoot on the dunes for their portraits, and it's one of the things that surprises people when they experience White Sands for the first time.
Even so, the air temperature can still be very hot, and staying hydrated is important.
I recommend bringing water with you. We don't photograph terribly far from where we park, so you can also leave an ice chest with cold drinks in your vehicle and have something waiting for everyone when we're finished.
This is especially important when children are part of the session.
Cold Weather, Snow and Mountain Portrait Sessions
Cloudcroft and High Rolls give us an entirely different environment.
Mountain temperatures can be considerably cooler than Alamogordo, and during the winter we may even have the opportunity to photograph in the snow.
Snow doesn't automatically mean we have to cancel.
The locations I normally use for snowy sessions are accessible areas such as maintained parks. I'm not asking families to go off-roading into the mountains just to get a photograph.
Road conditions and everyone's safety still come first. If getting to the location isn't safe, the photograph can wait.
When we can safely photograph in the snow, though, the results can be beautiful.
When Young Children Are Part of a Cold-Weather Session
Cold weather changes my priorities a little when small children are involved.
Adults can usually tolerate being chilly longer than young children can. Once a little one gets really cold and uncomfortable, asking for one more smile isn't going to accomplish very much.
So I'll usually try to get the children's portion of the session done as efficiently as possible.
Warm layers that can easily be removed for photographs can help, and having coats or blankets nearby gives children a chance to warm up between photographs if needed.
This is also where I'd rather work with the child in front of me than follow some predetermined timeline. Every child handles the cold differently.
What Should We Wear When Weather Is a Factor?
Weather should definitely be part of the conversation when choosing what your family will wear, but I don't think you have to sacrifice the look you want just to prepare for the forecast.
For cooler sessions, layers can be incredibly helpful. Jackets, coats or blankets can keep everyone warm between photographs and then be removed when we're ready to shoot.
For warmer sessions, lighter fabrics can make everyone more comfortable. And if wind is in the forecast, remember that loose clothing, long hair and flowing dresses are going to move with it.
Sometimes that's exactly what we want.
I've photographed beautiful flowing dresses at White Sands where a little breeze helped create the movement that made the photograph. The difference is between a breeze we can use creatively and strong wind that we're constantly fighting.
For family photographs, I also recommend coordinating colors rather than trying to make everyone match exactly. But that's a much bigger subject than weather alone, and one I'll be covering separately in a future guide about what to wear for family portraits.
Keeping Kids Comfortable During an Outdoor Family Session
Parents sometimes worry that their children won't cooperate during an outdoor session, especially when it's hot, cold or windy.
My biggest piece of advice is pretty simple:
Keep them comfortable.
Make sure they've eaten before the session. Bring water. If it's cold, keep their coats nearby. If it's hot, have cold drinks waiting. And don't worry if we need to give a little one a moment.
Children don't always care that we're racing against the perfect sunset. 😂
That's okay.
Some of my favorite family photographs happen when everyone relaxes a little and lets children be themselves. We'll work efficiently when weather is a factor, but I'm not expecting a small child to suddenly stop being cold, hot or tired because there's a camera in front of them.
What If We Really Do Need to Reschedule?
Sometimes weather wins.
If you're local or live close enough to return another day, we'll look at our options and try to find another time when severe weather makes the original session impractical or unsafe.
For maternity clients, I sometimes have another option available. Depending on the situation, I may be able to add some studio time before or after the outdoor portion so we can still create additional photographs when Mother Nature isn't cooperating.
Family sessions are a little different.
If you've planned your entire session around family photographs at White Sands, moving everything into my Alamogordo studio isn't necessarily going to give you what you wanted.
You chose White Sands for a reason.
That's why I'd rather communicate with you, watch the weather and make the decision that makes the most sense for your family and your situation instead of automatically substituting one type of session for another.
If you're visiting from out of town and don't have another day available, we'll talk through those options too. If conditions are safe and you still want to try the session, we may be able to move forward. If we both agree that the weather simply isn't going to allow us to photograph safely or successfully and there's no reasonable opportunity to reschedule, I will refund your session.
Traveling to New Mexico for White Sands Family Photos?
This is especially important for my out-of-state clients.
I photograph many families and couples who make a White Sands portrait session part of their visit to Southern New Mexico. If you're traveling here specifically for your session, please let me know what flexibility you have when we're planning.
If you're here for several days, knowing that ahead of time may give us another option if severe weather develops.
If you're only here for one evening, we'll know that too.
Weather at White Sands can change quickly, so I don't want you spending your entire trip worrying about every forecast update. I'll be watching it as we get closer to your session and communicating with you if I see something that concerns me. The National Park Service also recommends checking current conditions because weather in the Tularosa Basin can change dramatically during the day.
Outdoor Family Photography Weather Tips: When I Start Watching the Forecast
If there's one thing I hope you take away from these outdoor family photography weather tips, it's this:
We don't need a perfectly clear, perfectly still, 72-degree evening to create beautiful photographs.
Clouds can give us gorgeous soft light. A breeze can create movement. Snow can transform the mountains. Even a dramatic New Mexico sky can become part of the story of your photographs.
There are certainly times when wind, storms, lightning, heat, cold or unsafe road conditions mean we need to change our plans. When that happens, we'll work through the options together.
But don't let a few clouds in the forecast convince you that your session is ruined before it even begins.
Sometimes the weather we didn't plan for gives us something beautiful that we couldn't have planned at all.
Ready to Plan Your Outdoor Portrait Session?
If you're dreaming about family portraits at White Sands, a mountain session near Cloudcroft or High Rolls, or another beautiful Southern New Mexico location, I'd love to help you plan it.
You can explore my Scenic Portrait Photography sessions to see more outdoor family, couple, engagement, senior and individual portraits and learn about available session options.
And when your session gets closer, I'll keep an eye on the weather. You can focus on getting your family ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About Weather and Outdoor Family Photos
What happens if it rains on the day of our outdoor family session?
A little rain doesn't always mean we have to cancel. At White Sands, I've seen rain in one area while conditions were completely different somewhere else, and sometimes a small shower passes quickly enough that we can wait it out.
If a larger storm is moving through, we may need to reschedule. If lightning is nearby, we won't continue the session because everyone's safety comes first.
Is a cloudy day bad for family photos?
Not at all! Overcast skies can actually create beautiful light for portraits. The clouds act like a giant natural softbox, giving us softer light with fewer harsh shadows and less squinting.
On a heavily overcast day, we may even have the flexibility to begin your session a little earlier than we normally would.
How windy is too windy for photos at White Sands?
I prefer winds around 10–15 mph or less when possible. Once winds get above about 20 mph with stronger gusts, hair, clothing and blowing sand can become much more difficult to work with.
That doesn't automatically mean we'll cancel, though. I'll look at the conditions, talk with you about what to expect and consider whether you have another available day before we make that decision.
What should we wear if the weather is cold or windy?
Layers are one of the easiest ways to prepare for changing weather. Coats, jackets or blankets can keep everyone warm between photographs and can often be removed when we're ready to shoot.
If it's windy, remember that loose clothing, long hair and flowing dresses will move. A little movement can photograph beautifully; we just don't want everyone to be uncomfortable because of the conditions.
What happens if we've traveled to White Sands and the weather is bad?
I work with many clients who travel to Southern New Mexico and don't always have another day available. If the weather looks questionable, I'll normally start communicating with you the day before and we'll continue watching the conditions.
If it's safe to photograph but the weather isn't ideal, I'll explain what we may be dealing with and let you decide whether you'd still like to try. I've photographed sessions in less-than-ideal conditions when a client has traveled a long distance and simply didn't have another opportunity.
If conditions become unsafe or we both agree that the weather just isn't going to allow us to have the session you came for, I can refund an out-of-town client's session rather than requiring you to reschedule for a day when you may not be able to return.
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