1. The most flattering photos of dolls (and people) are taken in the shade on a sunny day. It must be solid shade, and not dappled shade, so I waited until mid afternoon when the upper garden was in full shade. However, even in the shade, the dolls should be facing out of the shade towards the brightest light, with the deepest shade behind them.
2. Knowing how wet the snow was, and not wanting my dolls to get soaked, I inserted the dolls that were going to be in the fort into a small plastic 'sandwich' bag with an elastic at the waist. You don't see the plastic bag, and it keeps the doll nice and dry.