Here’s how I drove 88 miles through a Poconos snowstorm for FL clients who needed a dedicated photographer. A one-hour family session during their weekend getaway turned into a real-time decision about commitment, timing, and showing up when options are low. Storm Fern arrived early, roads went unplowed fast, traffic was advised to stay off the roads, and postponing wasn’t guaranteed to make things safer, or possible at all. This is what dedication looks like when comfort steps aside and responsibility takes the wheel.
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How This Shoot Landed on My Calendar
Delaney and her husband, Ryan, found me while driving from Florida to the Poconos. They were already on the road, planning a short winter escape with their three dogs and hoping to document it while they were there.
So, they had Saturday to arrive and decompress, Sunday as their main full day, and Monday already leaning into departure mode. Sunday was the only realistic window for photos.
Winter Storm Fern
Storm Fern wasn’t a light snowfall or a cozy backdrop kind of storm. Instead, a large, long-duration system that impacted a massive portion of the country, with widespread travel advisories and significant accumulations across the Northeast. In our area, totals reached well into double digits by the end of the day. Here we were:
This kind of storm changes the rules quickly. Roads that are normally manageable become unpredictable. Local roads lag behind highways when it comes to plowing. Hills and curves, which the Poconos has no shortage of, turn into problem zones early.
Sunday morning looked like the best window before conditions deteriorated further. Waiting until Monday introduced new variables: more accumulation, overnight refreezing, ice under fresh snow, and access issues that might not improve at all.
We aimed for a 10:00 AM start. The idea was straightforward: one hour of shooting, mostly indoors, plus a contained backyard. Enough time to make meaningful images and still get everyone back safely before things escalated.
Snow started falling around 6:00 AM, earlier than I expected. By the time I left, two hours ahead of my normal drive time, roads already had about 3–4 inches on them. That’s a lot when plows haven’t been through yet. Slower speeds, extra space, careful braking, especially downhill. Intersections and curves became points of focus.
Why Being a Dedicated Photographer Mattered
I texted Delaney when I left, letting her know it was already bad and I was moving slowly. She hadn’t experienced a snowstorm like this before, and understandably, she started to worry. She checked conditions, suggested postponing to Monday, and tried calling me.
I didn’t see/respond right away because the road glued my eyes on it. When I finally stopped for a little break and checked my phone, I was already close. Turning around would have meant giving up the most navigable part of the day and betting on Monday being better, which was far from guaranteed. With more snow forecasted and ice likely overnight, Monday could easily become worse.
I let her know I was on my way, no matter what. This is where the phrase “dedicated photographer” stops being abstract.
I realized something while driving: there wouldn’t be many photographers willing to do this. Not drive into the area, not navigate unplowed local roads, not shovel themselves out if needed. And that’s not a judgment, just a reality.
These clients were already there, and their time was limited. If this shoot was going to happen at all, it needed someone who could handle the conditions calmly and responsibly. I wasn’t being stubborn, just the right fit for the moment.
Driving Through Empty Roads and Unplowed Hills
Traffic advisories were active, and it showed. Roads were nearly empty. Snow softened everything, visibility dropped, and the world felt smaller and slower.
Some stretches felt almost cinematic, long pale corridors of snow disappearing into low visibility. Others were narrow, winding roads flanked by trees heavy with snow. The drive itself became part of the story.
Inside, Outside, and Everything Between
I still arrived on time (oh, those moments when clients text me “There’s traffic, running late”…)
The first priority wasn’t photos. It was easing nerves and resetting the mood. Storms carry energy with them, and it’s important to slow things down once everyone is safe and inside.
The house was warm, the fireplace going, and the dogs immediately curious. Boy, how much I love meeting dogs! Down on the floor, hugging, rubbing, licking… That contrast between the storm outside and the calm inside became a natural theme for the session.
We started by the fireplace with more traditional portraits. Stiff posing? More like giving the couple a moment to settle in and feel comfortable.
The dogs quickly made themselves part of the frame. One watched hands closely, clearly expecting snacks. Another sat calmly, observing. The third moved carefully, guided by sound and familiarity, since he is blind.
As the session loosened up, we shifted to the couch and floor. Less direction, more interaction. Dogs moved in and out of the frame, people laughed, fooled around, and responded. These moments are where personality shows, and where pet photography becomes honest. Not obedience-based, not performance-driven, but real relationships unfolding in real time.
For this shot, I tasked them with a hardly possible: call the dogs’ names while kissing!
We moved to the dining table for a coffee break. Mugs, mini-muffins, and three dogs who were suddenly very invested in baked goods.
One of my favorite moments from the session happened here. The couple leaned in for a kiss, mugs in front of them, muffins centered on the table, and a dog popped into the frame between them like a self-appointed chaperone.
Next came one of the quieter sequences. Wrapped in a blanket by the sliding glass door, the couple watched the snow fall outside while the dogs hovered nearby.
This is where winter shines. Soft light, muted tones, and stillness. The dogs’ ages were especially evident here. These weren’t puppies losing their minds in snow. They were thoughtful, curious, and taking it all in at their own pace.
We stepped outside briefly for a couple-only moment on the front steps. Snow continued to fall, coating everything evenly.
Behind the glass, one of the dogs watched closely, clearly unimpressed with being excluded. That visual contrast added humor and warmth to what could have been a straightforward romantic moment.
(Can you find the second dog in the photo?)
Then we let the session get messy, in the best way. Running, throwing snow, dogs moving through fresh powder. Laughter came easily. The backyard became a place to play.
These frames carry motion and sound, even though they’re still images. Snow in the air, red cheeks, movement everywhere. This was the release after the build-up.
The return indoors is always my favorite part of winter sessions. People come back in energized, slightly damp, cheeks flushed, smiles relaxed.
By the fireplace again, the tone shifted to calm satisfaction. The storm continued outside, but inside, everything felt settled.
The Drive Home Through Worsening Conditions
The drive back was harder.
Conditions had worsened, and my navigation system decided to reroute me onto extremely local roads that hadn’t been plowed for miles. Hills and curves stacked on top of each other, traction came and went.
It took another couple of hours, but I made it home. Delaney had asked me to confirm I was safe, and I did.
Why Clients Can Count on a Dedicated Photographer
Over the years, my mindset has carried me through a maternity shoot in harsh Alaskan winter conditions, working with fire on set, swimming with whale sharks, shooting in underwater caves, and standing at literal edges to get the image that tells the story best.
Unlike those daring stunts, I wouldn’t call today’s story about pushing limits for the sake of it, but more so about responsibility and judgment. This shoot mattered not because it was big, but because it was small and still required commitment.
A dedicated photographer isn’t defined by words. A dedicated photographer is someone whose clients don’t have to wonder whether they’ll show up when things get inconvenient.
P.S. Once I publish this blog, I’m out for an outdoor maternity session by the Poconos waterfalls. My recent winter couples photo session inspired an offbeat CT woman. Will do this mindfully.
P.P.S. That maternity session was a blast! I’ll see if I get time to blog about it. A sneak peek cold off the press:
