Practical winter photography tips for stunning results

Winter can be one of the most rewarding seasons for photography, but the conditions bring their own unique challenges. From snowy landscapes to frosty details, you’ll need the right camera settings and preparation to capture winter at its best. In this article, we’ll cover:

• The best settings and ISO for winter photography
• Practical winter photography tips for sharper, more striking shots
• How to protect your gear (and yourself) in freezing conditions
• Post-processing techniques to bring out colour, contrast, and detail

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these tips will help you get better winter photos every time.

Use the right settings

The foundation of great winter photography starts with getting your camera settings right.

Getting the right exposure

Your camera’s light meter naturally aims for middle grey. When you meter for snow, this often leads to underexposed, dingy images. To capture snow as crisp and bright, try these adjustments:

• Spot meter the sky to prevent snow from dominating your metering.
• Increase exposure compensation by +1 (or even +2) to counteract underexposure.
• Bracket your exposures so you can choose the best result later, away from glare.
• Use exposure lock when shooting in priority modes to keep your exposure consistent as you switch up your composition.
• Check your histogram rather than relying on your eyes, which can be fooled in bright snow.
• Use a grey card if possible—it helps your camera judge middle grey more accurately in tricky lighting.

Shoot in RAW for flexibility

It goes without saying that you should shoot in RAW for maximum post-processing control. Bring plenty of memory so you don’t have to delete images while out in the field—bright conditions can make your preview screen misleading, and deleting in-camera isn’t great for your card. Do your culling later in editing software.

Manage winter light and reflections

Winter surfaces are often shiny, which can both hide detail and confuse your light balance. If you’re shooting a lot of ice, a polarising filter will help you manage glares and undesired reflections. This is especially good for icicles and large, frozen (or freezing) bodies of water.

Shooting in snowfall

Capturing snowfall can look magical, but the falling snowflakes have a tendency to create dark blotches in your foreground. To avoid this:

Use a long shutter speed with a tripod to blur and clear the flakes.

Shoot from a covered area (like under an awning, tree, or umbrella) to keep snow from obscuring your view.

Plan your shoot

A big part of winter photography success is planning ahead. Whether you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, wildlife, or close up details, having a clear strategy helps you avoid common pitfalls (like footprints in fresh snow) and make the most of winter’s unique light.

Winter landscapes

While the golden hour isn’t technically longer in winter, the angle of the sun gives you more time to play with soft, diffused light. Check local sunrise and sunset times and arrive early to maximise this window. Shooting just before or after golden hour will give you striking shadows against the snow.

Plan your route in advance to avoid boot prints spoiling the scene. Unlike sand, snow holds messy impressions that are difficult to remove. Start shooting from further away and work toward your subject, rather than walking all the way in and then turning back.

Winter portraits

If you’re planning clothing changes, decide in advance where this will happen—a winter shack, park visitor centre, or even a large vehicle can work. For client shoots, create a mood board with a silhouette and colour scheme that complements the snow.

Look over your shot list and plan calmer posing first while everyone is fresh. Save action shots, like snowball fights, for the end, since models will be wet, tired, and red-faced by then (you can address redness later in post-processing).

Winter wildlife

To capture wildlife, choose neutral winter gear to blend in as you will be more visible in the snow. Viewing hides provide shelter and keep you out of sight while putting you in prime positions for spotting animals.

If shooting at a wildlife park, check-in at the visitor’s centre to see if they have a sighting report listed. Mammals move around, even in winter, so it’s good to have an idea of where you might start looking. Animal tracks stand out in snowy conditions, which gives you an advantage when you’re looking for the right vantage point.

Some animals lend themselves especially well to winter photography. Foxes, for example, can look striking against white backdrops, while chickadees are hardy birds who can be surprisingly cooperative - it’s not unheard of for one to perch right on top of a photographer’s camera! For owls and nocturnal species, try the golden hour or even a moonlit night.

Winter close-ups

Even if you’re not located in an area that gets heavy snowfall, you can still get in on the winter photography game. Frost patterns are great for macro photography and close up shots. Head out in the morning before the frost melts, and backlight your subject using sunrise or artificial light. Be careful not to exhale too close, or you’ll melt your subject before you capture it.

Protect your gear (and yourself) from the elements

When you’re out shooting winter photography, the cold doesn’t just affect your images—it can impact both your health and your equipment. Even if you’re not in sub-zero temperatures, long exposure to the elements can take its toll. Here are some essential winter photography tips to keep you and your camera in top shape.

Protecting yourself

Pack sunglasses, even on cloudy days

Winter scenes can be dazzlingly bright, and snow glare can cause snow blindness. Protect your eyes so you can focus on capturing the shot.

Find the right gloves

Look for photography gloves that balance warmth with dexterity so you can adjust tripod legs, press shutter buttons, or swap batteries without fumbling. For extreme cold, clip bulky mittens to your kit to warm up between locations.

Choose the right clothing materials

You will very likely work up a sweat on a winter photo shoot, so avoid materials like cotton, which traps moisture. Opt for fleece, wool, or polyester instead, and dress in layers you can remove as you warm up during activity. Pair snow boots with wool socks, and consider removable cleats if you’ll be walking on ice.

Protecting your camera equipment

Your gear also needs extra care in cold, snowy conditions, particularly during the transition from warm to cold and back again. These winter photography tips for equipment will help you avoid common problems:

Keep batteries warm

Cold weather drains batteries quickly. Bring extras and store them in an inside pocket close to your body so they stay warm and functional.

Prevent moisture buildup

Moving suddenly from cold air into a warm room can cause condensation inside your camera. To avoid this:

• Remove your memory card outside if you want to check images immediately.
• Place your camera in a sealed freezer bag or camera bag before bringing it inside.
• Let it sit for at least 30 minutes to acclimate before turning it back on.

Minimise fogging and snow damage

Breath can fog up your viewfinder and lens. A scarf or ski mask helps redirect warm air away from the camera body. If you’re shooting in snowfall, clean your camera regularly with a microfiber cloth and keep your lens cap on whenever possible. A lens hood or a dedicated rain/snow cover adds extra protection.

Post-processing winter photography

Once you’ve finished shooting your winter photography scenes, there’s often more work to do in post. Snow, ice, and cold conditions can introduce colour casts, contrast issues, and even skin tone challenges. These post-processing tips will help you correct common problems and get the best results from your images.

Fix washed-out colours

Falling snow can sometimes wash out distant colours. If this happens, use a Levels Adjustment in Affinity’s Pixel Studio to restore contrast and definition to your winter photos.

Correct white balance

Snow and ice often look overly blue on camera. To achieve a more natural look, warm up your image slightly with a Colour Balance Adjustment.

Retouch skin tones in winter portraits

In portrait winter photography, you may notice redness in noses, cheeks, or hands caused by the cold. To fix this:

1. Use the Selection Brush Tool to select the red patches of skin.
2. Select Refine and output as a New Layer (with or without mask).
3. Apply an HSL Adjustment Layer clipped to the new layer.
4. Lower the Saturation slider to reduce redness.
5. If colours look mismatched, adjust the Hue slider slightly until the tones blend seamlessly with surrounding skin.

How to take better winter photos: Key takeaways

Winter photography can be challenging, but with the right preparation and techniques, it’s also one of the most rewarding times to shoot. By adjusting your camera settings for snow, planning your shoots carefully, protecting both yourself and your gear, and refining your shots in post-processing, you’ll be ready to capture the season at its best. Keep experimenting, stay patient, and embrace the conditions—because some of the most memorable photos come when you lean into winter’s unique beauty.

About the contributor

Feature Shoot showcases the work of emerging and established photographers worldwide, highlighting those transforming the medium through compelling, cutting-edge projects, with contributions from writers from all over the world.