3 Tips for Taking Photographs in the Cold Weather

Winter can produce some of the most magical photographs! But the cold weather can present some problems.

Taking photographs is much more enjoyable during the warmer months, but just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stop getting out there and shooting! You just have to know the best ways to go about it. So here are 3 tips that can help you continue shooting even in the cold weather, plus a bonus tip at the end! I’m also going to share some images to help show you that winter can be pretty, even though it’s freezing.

1. Have a Sealable Plastic Bag

Despite the beauty that can come from images taken in the snow, you have to make sure you take proper care of your camera.

This is probably the most important cold weather tip. When you use your camera in cold temperatures and then take it back into warmer temperatures, condensation can occur, and as we know, moisture and electronics don’t mix well. The best way to avoid this is to take a sealable plastic bag with you. Before you come back indoors close your camera and lens(es), along with a little wintery air, into the bag. But first take out the battery and memory card so that you can start importing your photos. Then take the bag to the coldest part of your house so that it can slowly warm back up. Make sure that you leave it in there for a few hours!

2. Bring Extra Batteries

Cold temperatures cause batteries to lose their charge quicker than normal, so bring extras and make sure to keep them warm.

When batteries get cold they lose charge faster. So you’ll want to keep your batteries warm. There are a couple things you can do to ensure sure you have enough charge to make it through your shoot. Bring extra batteries that you can swap out if yours gets low. This is especially important if you plan to be out for very long. But it isn’t enough to just bring the extra batteries. You also need to keep them warm. Put your extras in a pocket as close to your body as you can. If you stick them in your outside coat pocket they’ll get just as cold as the battery inside your camera. Instead, put them in a shirt or front pants pocket where they will be in contact with the heat from your body. This will make sure that you can get all those breathtaking winter shots!

3. Get Fingerless Gloves

Make sure you have a way to keep your hands warm. Fingerless gloves are a great way to keep warmth and the ability to change your camera controls.

It’s gonna be cold out there, so you are going to want gloves to keep your hands warm. In my experience, fingerless gloves are the way to go. You’re going to need your fingers to be able to work your camera controls, so mittens and normal gloves won’t work very well. However, I have never photographed in extremely cold weather, so you might need to get creative. Maybe try a pair of mittens over your fingerless gloves and just take the mittens off when shooting. Another way to keep your hands and feet warm is hand warmers. Put hand warmers in your shoes and in your pockets to keep your toes and fingers warm when you put your hands in your pockets.

4. Reward Yourself!

After shooting, take time to warm up and relax. Then look back at all the amazing images you captured!

After braving the cold weather to take your photographs, you deserve to reward yourself! Change into your warm and fuzzy pajama pants and mix up that cup of hot cocoa. Then take a break while you wait for your camera to warm up. Or, if you remembered to remove your memory card, start importing your photos and looking at all the great images you captured on your wintry adventure. Cold weather is no reason to avoid taking photos. Head out into the world and see what you can photograph! Just remember these tips to help you be successful.

Do you like taking photos in the winter time?