Top Tips for Taking Photos in the Snow
I LOVE the snow and despite the disruption it causes, I always love being out and about in it, capturing my children and the landscape. However, the cold and white of snow can cause some photo problems, so here are some Top Tips for taking better photos in the snow. So next time there’s a snowfall, grab your camera and your warm layers and get out and about!
Tip 1 ~ Be Prepared!
Common sense, I know, but make sure you have suitable footwear and clothing for yourself and those you’re photographing, so it’s important to wear warm layers, a hat, gloves, thick socks and wellies. I like to use fingerless gloves such as Turtle Doves when working in the cold, so I can still use my camera controls whilst having warm hands. Make sure to bundle your kids up in layers, so they can stay warm long enough for some good photos.
Tip 2 ~ Protect your camera
Most modern cameras are pretty robust, but when out in the cold and wet, it’s good practice to follow a few simple steps to help minimise any damage to your gear.
- Keep your lens cap on when you’re not using your camera to avoid snowflakes landing on the lens.
- Take a microfibre lens cloth with you, to wipe any flakes or mist from your lens.
- Don’t blow onto the lens, this can cause more fogging.
- Use your lens hood (yes that wobbly shaped thing that fits on the lens!) to help stop sun flare.
Tip 3 ~ Use your Camera’s controls
When photographing in snow, images can often appear to have a blue hue, so try to compensate for this by using your white balance and exposure compensation controls to help neutralise the blues and get a perfectly exposed image. If you’re not sure how to use your camera settings, maybe pop along to one of my beginner’s workshops?
Tip 4 ~ Plan Where to Photograph
When there is a heavy snowfall, there is obviously safety to consider, so I will never travel in the car if it’s going to be dangerous, nor will I go out walking if it’s very poor visibility or in isolated locations. So think local to your home, you often don’t need to go far to find some pretty, snow covered spaces that are accessible and public spaces. The image below was less than a 10 minute walk from my home, and looks like we were in some beautiful mountainous location.
ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM ICE COVERED WATER with children.
Tip 5 ~ Have Fun!
When taking photos in the snow, it’s important to do any ‘posed’ or more set up shots at the start of your shoot. Think about using areas with fresh snow and no footprints in the shot. Outfits are a great way to really make your images come alive and a pop of colour or cool hat or coat can really make a good photo into a stunning photo.
Once you have a few ‘posed’ images, then it’s time to have some fun, with sledges, snowballs and snow blowing! This will be when everyone has the most fun, but will be the most wet…so then it’s camera away and back home for hot chocolate by the fire to warm up!
I hope that you have found my tips useful, and remember to get out and experiment with your camera and it’s settings. If you don’t fancy taking images in the snow yourself, why not get on my SNOW WAIT LIST for my Snow Mini Sessions!