Winter Shoot Necessities
baby, it’s cold outside…
If you live somewhere with cold, snowy winters (like Utah), you have probably had to shoot outside in freezing weather! Here are my tips for making cold shoots as comfortable as possible for you and your clients.
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First thing’s first: Be prepared.
As soon as I feel that fall chill in the air, I pack my car with some shoot necessities so I am never caught without them at a session. In my car, in the winter you will always find:
Hand warmers
like these ones from amazon I get the 40 pack and keep it in my trunk! I also throw a few in my backpack.
I put them in my pockets and/or inside my gloves to keep my fingers warm while shooting. If it’s really cold you can put them in your shoes too.
PRO TIP: If your client has pockets, these are small enough they usually won’t bulge out, and it can help your clients stay a bit warmer as you shoot as well. (even if just the groom has pockets, between shots the bride can sneak her fingers into his pockets to warm up)
Gloves in the glove box
(I know it seems obvious to have gloves, but keeping them in the car has saved me multiple times when I’ve forgotten to grab a pair on my way out the door)
I love my North Face gloves like these from amazon, that are slim (so I can still work my camera) and warm.
The cheap ones from target, walmart etc. are also good in a pinch if you want some you just keep in your bag or car as back up.
NorthFace slim, warm gloves from amazon
cheap gloves you can find wherever (these ones are via Target, but the link goes to amazon!)
PRO TIP: if you have a few extra pair on hand, you can share with videographers, clients, photo assistants etc. who may forget to bring gloves. You can also layer them for extra warmth for your own fingers.
BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS!
I keep my snow boots in my car because a) I never want to be without them when I need them and b) they’re not super comfortable to drive in so I wear my usual tennis shoes or whatever out of the house and then put the boots on if I arrive on location and decide I need them.
I have some Sorel brand boots from the 90’s that my mom handed down to me and I looooove them. I found some on the that look very similar to the ones I have. These ones look cute and warm, and like the rest of Sorel brand shoes they are water proof as well.
Sorel Brand Snow Boots
I also found these cute (also warm, also waterproof also Sorel brand) boots. These are a little short to handle walking through really deep snow, but would be perfect for non-mountain snow days or rain.
Sorel Brand Booties from Nordstrom
Fleece Lined Beanie
I got a fleece lined beanie a few years back, and it changed my life. SO. WARM. I have two of the same one and I keep one in my car and one in my house and I love them. Mine is adidas brand but I couldn’t find one like I have on their site so I found a similar one to mine on amazon.
Fleece lined beanie from amazon
me and my fav beanie
PRO TIP: I like to stuff my beanie + a pair of warm socks into my snow boots to consolidate the winter wear in my trunk.
I also keep water bottles, an ice/snow scraper, and a blanket in my car just in case!
second things second: Prepare your clients
from scenery expectations, to what they should bring to the shoot, communicating things to your clients is a major part of making a session go smoothly (regardless of outside temps) Some things I advise my winter clients (especially brides) on are:
Leggings underneath your clothes
If you are wearing a dress (i.e. your wedding gown), buy some nude/light colored leggings to wear under your gown so your bare legs aren’t exposed to the snow.
Long Sleeves
(or a coat)… If you are going to be a winter bride, consider a long sleeve dress for your wedding gown, and/or a pretty coat that is part of your wedding ensemble (i.e. a coat you are ok having photos taken in).
Extra Shoes
Bring a pair of tennis shoes, or even warm booties that could be concealed under your gown but keep you warm while shooting.
Realistic Expectations
Help your clients expect to freeze, expect to deal with inclement weather on shoot day, and expect to have red noses and rosy cheeks in photos—-if they are not up for all those things, help them consider an indoor shoot location (or a different wedding date). I wrote a blog post for winter brides to help explain what winter shoots and winter weddings are like (and what they should prepare for) You can read it and share info with your clients, or you can just send them a link to the post and let them read through themselves!
Just a few more tips…
Just a couple reminders before I sign off about being a photographer in a cold place.
Don’t leave your gear in your car overnight (lights, cameras, laptops, etc). When things get very cold, and are then brought into a warm space (i.e. your house) they can get condensation inside which is no bueno for your equipment
Make sure your car is snow-capable before you head up an icy canyon road. If your clients don’t have a good snow-terrain vehicle consider giving them a ride as well so everyone can get to and from the shoot safely
shoot EARLY. tell your clients to set aside the whole day so if there is bad weather you can wait it out, have enough light, be a little warmer, and avoid driving down a canyon in complete darkness. ** Don’t forget that it’s dark in the mountains an hour or more before it gets dark in the foothills/valley. If it’s snowy or cloudy that will also mean you’ll run out of light in the afternoon.
shoot fast. Especially for bridals or shoots where your clients won’t be wearing weather-appropriate attire. keep things moving and know what shots your clients need, and get it done as quickly as you can.