Am I being ridiculous, writing this blog? Do other people think about things like this?? As a Washington engagement photographer with seasonal allergies, though, this is a topic that feels relevant. Especially since my insurance is being stupid about approving me for allergy shots right now…

Anyhow. Spring, summer and fall in Washington state are GORGEOUS and getting to do engagement photos outdoors during that time of year is such a treat for me. The Puget Sound at sunset? Mt. Baker during golden hour?? I lived away from Seattle and the West Coast for 15 years and now that I’m back home, I refuse to take it for granted. Unfortunately for me, I’ve developed a very exciting allergy to tree pollen in my adulthood. And Western Washington’s beautiful natural scene also makes for a pretty eventful allergy season!

Fortunately though (in a weird way), I grew up allergic to just about everything outdoors. I didn’t realize this was a good thing for me until I married my husband and had our first allergy season together. While my allergies definitely bothered me, I knew what I needed to be doing to minimize pain and suffering: washing my hair every night, keeping my pillowcase clean, keeping the dog OUT of our room and away from me with his coat of pollen…

My husband, on the other hand, had not been taught the same things I was taught! On top of refusing to take allergy meds until WAYY into the season, I would catch him doing yard work, rubbing his sweaty, pollen-covered shirt all over his face, showering but not washing his (pollen-coated) hair, and then rubbing his face into your pillow all night. It was painful to watch, especially because he was completely in denial at first. SO here’s me sharing some of what I’ve learned, in the hopes that your allergy season engagement session will be magical and summery and joyful (and not puffy and snotty and red-eyed.)

You’re going to have to accept that you have seasonal/environmental allergies

I’m assuming you’ve already hit this step if you’re here. For some reason, my husband had a really difficult time accepting that he had allergies the first season and it was genuinely the most frustrating thing I’ve ever experienced. “So I’ve noticed that your eyes are red and puffy, your nose is running, and your throat is sore” “yeah I have a cold” “it sounds like seasonal allergies” “I don’t have allergies” “I have zyrtec?” “I don’t need medicine” etc, etc. Anyhow. If you haven’t accepted this yet, now is the time.

Go take an everything shower

The fun thing about tree and pollen allergies is that when you go outside, it sticks absolutely everywhere. Including, but not limited to your hair, skin, clothes, dog, etc. If you’ve just noticed it’s allergy season, if you’ve been outside at all since your last shower, especially if you’ve been up in the mountains or doing yard work or anything else that’s going to have extra allergens.

Plan on washing your hair every night until this is over

That initial shower is going to do wonders but unfortunately, you’re going to go outside again! Including the day before your engagement session and the day of your engagement session, most likely. Morning showers are great, but you need to get the pollen out of your hair every evening before you get it all over your pillow. (and rub your face all over your pillow all night!) On that note,

Go change your pillowcase!

You rub your face on your pillow 8-10 hours a night, it needs extra care during allergy season! And honestly go ahead and wash the rest of your sheets while you’re at it. If you’re showering every evening, it’s not going to be as big of a deal, but I still highly recommend changing your pillowcase and sheets more frequently than normal throughout allergy season.

Keep your outside clothes outside of your bedroom

If your laundry basket normally stays in your room, I recommend finding somewhere else for it for now. Don’t change in there, either, that will get pollen floating around your room and ending up on your bedding again (after we just got it clean!)

Pause the yardwork please!

Yardwork during allergy season is sometimes necessary. What’s not necessary is doing yard work the week before your spring engagement photos and getting your immune system completely worked up. Seriously, if your engagement session is coming up soon that’s a perfectly valid reason to put off mowing the lawn for another week or two this spring! There will be plenty of yard work while you wait to get your photos back.

Pay Attention to What You’re Allergic To

The easiest way to do this is to notice “hey my allergies are pretty bad today!” and do a quick google for the pollen count in your area. Something like “pollen count seattle today” usually does the trick and then you can see what specific pollen is high that day! For me, it’s tree pollen in the really early spring. So I know that by January/February I need to be starting my allergy meds, even if I’m not feeling my allergies yet.

Take your allergy meds preventatively

I am not a doctor, definitely check in with your provider before you start doing anything crazy! But if you know it’s allergy season and you know that you have seasonal allergies and will need to be taking meds… you don’t have to wait until symptoms show up and you are miserable before you take them. In fact, a lot of allergists will recommend starting your meds 2-4 weeks before allergy season even starts as a way to get ahead of things. It’s significantly harder to put out an allergic reaction than it is to prevent one!

I know these things don’t seem related to your engagement photos at first glance. But I promise that if you get to engagement photos morning and your eyes are watery and puffy and red, your nose is runny and itchy, and your whole face feels like it’s been attacked, it will definitely affect the way your photos go!

FAQ

When is allergy season in Seattle?

Seattle’s allergy season runs from February to September, but different kinds of pollen have shorter seasons! Tree pollen starts in late winter/early spring (Feb-April/May ish), grasses tend to be late spring and summer (May-Juneish) and ragweed starts up at the end of summer (August-October).

When should I start taking my allergy meds for pollen season?

With your doctor’s approval, aim to start your allergy meds 2-4 weeks before allergy season kicks off for you. Take them in the morning, before symptoms start throughout the season!