By Tiffani Lear, Reno Storyteller Photographer

A Reno snow day transforms our city into something magical! Schools close. Streets quiet. And somewhere, on a hill behind a local high school, something beautiful happens.

I saw it today. And I can’t stop thinking about it.

What a Reno Snow Day Really Looks Like

Let me set the scene for you.

It was supposed to be just another Reno snow day. You know the drill, schools close, kids sleep in, and the city gets a little quieter. But I happened to drive past the local high school this morning, and I had to pull over.

Because what I saw? It was everything.

The parking lot wasn’t empty. It was alive.

Pure Joy Looks Like This!

Let me paint you a picture:

• A sled spinning in circles all the way down while its passenger screamed with laughter
• Two friends crashing into each other at the bottom and collapsing in a heap, still laughing
• A group of girls attempting a “train” that disintegrated spectacularly three seconds in
• Kids running back up the hill breathless, cheeks flushed, already planning their next run
• The music changing every few songs because someone always yelled “no, skip that one!”

It was chaos. It was loud. It was the most real thing I’ve seen in weeks. And standing there watching them, I realized something:

This is what we’re actually trying to capture in portraits.

Not the perfect pose. Not the matching outfits. Not the “everyone look here and smile.”

The joy. The mess. The moments when you forget anyone’s watching…

To the Parents Who Weren’t There

If your kid was on that hill today, whether they came home soaking wet, lost a glove, or borrowed someone else’s sled, THANK YOU. Thank you for letting them have this. For not keeping them inside. For understanding that a snow day isn’t just a day off school. It’s a core memory in the making.

The kid who wipes out spectacularly and pops up laughing? That’s confidence.

The friend who lends their sled to someone who doesn’t have one? That’s character.

The group that stays out until their fingers go numb because they don’t want it to end? That’s childhood.

A Note to the Seniors I Saw

Hey. You.

The one who waved because I photographed your cousin’s wedding last year.

The one who recognized me from the senior portrait post I made on Facebook.

The ones who just smiled because some random lady with a camera was clearly fighting back tears watching you be kids.

I see you. Not just today, but always. You’re at this weird crossroads between childhood and whatever comes next. Some of you are picking colleges. Some of you are figuring out who you want to be. Some of you are just trying to survive Tuesday.

But today? On that hill? You were just kids. And it was beautiful.

Why I’m Writing This

I’m a photographer. My job is supposed to be booking sessions, delivering galleries, and running a business.

But my calling is noticing moments like this.

The snow day that wasn’t planned.
The laughter that couldn’t be staged.
The joy that happened because no one was trying to perform.

This is the energy I chase in every session. Whether it’s a family in the desert, a senior in front of a mural, or a couple in the woods I’m not looking for perfect.

I’m looking for this.

Your Turn

Maybe you were on that hill today. Maybe your kid was. Maybe you just remember snow days from when you were young.

Either way, I’d love to hear from you:

What’s your favorite snow day memory?

Drop it in the comments. Or better yet—book a session and let’s make some new ones.

Because here’s the thing about snow days: they end. The snow melts. The kids grow up.

But the joy? That stays.

👉 Book Your Senior Portrait Session (/reno-senior-portraits/)
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