LET IT SNOW
I might be one of the few people that think snow sessions are amazing. When I lived in Colorado, I didn’t really have the option to not shoot in the snow. I always have embraced it. Since moving to West Virginia, I have noticed more people are a little hesitant to have a session in the snow. I know the weather is much more unpredictable here, but if it does snow, there is no reason to cancel a session. You guys, the lighting is always amazing in snow, so it’s totally worth it!
Here are some of my tips for shooting in snowy/cold weather:
TIP ONE: WEAR LAYERS
I have worked in -10 degrees (probably even colder than that when I’ve had shoots in Aspen) before and even though I felt like a stuffed marshmallow, it definitely helps to wear some layers. I recently found CuddlDuds…those things are pretty amazing under clothes and they have different levels of warmth, so you can pick what you think you will need and make sure you are warm enough.
TIP TWO: WEAR FINGERLESS GLOVES + A TOBOGGAN (beanie cap)
I have tried so many different types of gloves while shooting and the fingerless ones have always worked the best for me so I can reach all the buttons. I will pack hand warmers in the palms of my gloves to keep my hands warm too. It helps a ton! The hat will definitely help a lot. You can lose most of your heat through your head, so keeping a hat on will help for sure!
TIP THREE: WEAR GOOD SHOES + SOCKS
Maybe I am a wimp, but if my feet are cold, I am miserable. Wearing good shoes+socks helps. Definitely have shoes that have good traction on them. Nothing worse than falling on ice (which I have done before). I love the cold weather wicking socks that are still a little thinner.
TIP FOUR: PACK EXTRA BATTERIES
Batteries will die much quicker in the cold weather. I normally will bring extras and keep hand warmers near them just to help with the cold. It has always worked for me!
TIP FIVE: ALLOW EXTRA TIME
When you go from cold weather inside, to a warmer location, your camera will fog up. I always try to allow a little extra time in case that can happen. I have heard that if you seal the camera in an airtight ziplock bag, it can adjust to the weather change quicker. Also, it sometimes takes a bit longer to grab focus…it just feels more sluggish, so just know that it might take a little longer for your session.
TIP SIX: MAKE SURE YOUR CLIENTS ARE COMFORTABLE
Yes it’s kind of common sense, but I always bring extra warmers, blankets, water, etc. for my clients. We will sometimes even stop for some coffee to warm up during the shoot, which is an awesome little break to feel warmer for a bit.
If you have any questions, definitely let me know! Now get out there and get some amazing shots people!
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