Winter is upon us, and for many of us, that means SNOW. I love the challenge of taking photos in the snow: The scene is entirely different than what I work with the rest of the year, and it compels me to stretch my creativity and my skill level. Shooting good photos in the snow can be tricky, so I wanted to put together some tips for achieving great snow photos!
Watch your exposure
Snow is highly reflective, and it can trick your camera’s meter into thinking there is more light on the scene than there really is. When I shoot in the snow, I tend to overexpose by a stop or two to get the proper exposure.
Utilize pops of color
With such a clean, all white backdrop, the colors on your subjects can really add a fun pop of drama and detail to your photo!
Increase your shutter speed to freeze snowfall and movement
If you’re shooting typical winter activities, chances are there’s a lot of fast movement going on with snowball fights, sledding, skating, etc. In this photo of my husband sledding with my kids, I increased my shutter speed to be sure to freeze their movement and get a nice sharp picture.
Here, the snow was falling fast and somewhat heavily. Again, I raised my shutter speed so that you could see the snowfall as if it were frozen in time.
Lower your shutter speed to show the movement of falling snow
The photo below was taken a little later in the day than the last one, as the snowfall was turning into a blizzard. I wanted to show the movement of the blowing snow against my subject’s clothing, so this time, I lowered my shutter speed. Instead of freezing the snowfall like the photo above, this photo gives a sense of the rapid blowing movement of the snow.
Protect your gear!
Speaking of blowing snow, when you are shooting out in the elements, always be sure to protect your camera and lens! There are many options available, but a simple rain sleeve like this one is inexpensive and easy to use, and definitely worth it!
Utilize the golden hour
“The Golden Hour,” or the hour after sunrise or before sunset, just never loses its appeal. The even golden light across a blanket of snow makes for gorgeously lit photos. Shooting in the golden hour is a great way to add a sense of warmth to your snowy winter photos.
Let us and the other classmates know what other tips have worked for you in the comments below!