A photo session in the fog

For Valentine’s Day, Amandine had planned everything: a surprise couple photo session for Cyril, on the beach and in the dunes of the Opal Coast, at sunset. On the day, the fog invited itself along. Here’s the story of a session that didn’t go to plan at all… and produced photos they love.

Everything was planned, absolutely everything

Amandine dreamed of couple photos on the beach, in the dunes, in the golden light of sunset. We prepared everything together, absolutely everything: the place, the time, the outfits, the running order.

But here’s the thing: February and March aren’t exactly months with reliable weather. Even though it had been fairly fine in the days before, on the day they came, the fog rolled in. Thick, heavy, dense and cold.

A moment of doubt

I’ll admit it, I panicked a little. Amandine had booked this day, and they were coming all the way from Lille, partly for me, even if it was also a chance to enjoy the coast. And there I was, facing this white wall, asking myself:

“Shooting at the end of the day in thick fog: a good idea that isn’t?”

In the end, we decided to go for it.

Cyril’s surprise

Cyril only found out at the last minute about the surprise shoot Amandine had booked for him. In these cases, there are two possibilities: either he loves the idea and plays along, or, shy and uncomfortable, the session can become tricky.

So I threw myself into it. I played the confident pro, even though the fog made me doubt and pushed me out of my comfort zone. And very quickly, the magic happened.

A soft, light-hearted story

In the end, the result tells a real story, soft and light-hearted, far from the sunset we had imagined. The mist erased the horizon, softened the colours and made the beach feel like the end of the world. Their pale jumpers, the wet sand at low tide, the rocks, and the two of them in the middle of this vast white setting.

Amandine and Cyril loved it. They laughed, played, jumped, danced and didn’t see the time go by. The photos are gorgeous, and they love them. So do I.

What if the weather doesn’t play ball?

On the Opal Coast, the sky changes quickly. Here’s what this session taught (or reminded) me about photo sessions on grey days.

Fog is not the enemy

The diffused light of fog is very soft: no harsh shadows, no squinting into the sun. It creates an intimate, almost cinematic atmosphere that puts the couple at the centre of the picture.

Focus on movement

Walking, dancing, messing about, running on the sand: movement warms you up (literally) and brings the photos to life. It’s often in those moments that the best fits of laughter happen.

Choose outfits that stand out

Against a grey or white background, light, cream or natural tones are perfect, and soft fabrics like knitwear add warmth to the picture. Bring an extra layer too: by the sea, the damp of the fog is quickly felt.

Trust

A session is about more than the weather. If you’re at ease together and you get on with your photographer, the photos will reflect who you are, whether the sun is shining or not.

What about you?

Thank you to Amandine and Cyril for playing along despite the fog. Do you also dream of a couple photo session on the Opal Coast? Discover my couple sessions or write to me: sun or mist, we’ll tell your story.