Tips for Photo Sessions in the Snow
Baby it's cold outside!
This time of year is a tricky one for photographers not just because of the cold, but also because of the snow. The snow creates a unique set of lighting conditions that is not easy to grasp for many photographers. It's ok - the good news is the snow tends to stick around for a while, so it gives you plenty of opportunity to practice!
During the Session
Snow = Blowout
Snow makes an excellent reflector. However, that is not necessarily a good thing. On the positive side of things, it is easy to get good fill light from the reflections. The bad news is that this can blow out your highlights in your images really easily.
|
Left: snow will cause highlight blowout easily. Right: Using a fill flash |
I handle this in the same way I would a summer session at noon. I find good open shade and then I use my speedlight for fill light and to help balance out the brightness. Many photographers prefer to use a golden reflector to warm up winter images, but I like the convenience of a speedlight.
Open shade is not as easy to find during the barren winter months as during the summer, but it is around.
Set your subjects, spot meter for the snow, then add a little fill light with a flash or reflector to brighten up your subjects. This will result in the snow not getting washed out, but you will also keep all the contrast and details of your subjects.
The other thing to be cautious of is squinting. The blinding reflections coming off of snow can often cause the subject(s) to squint. You can get around this by positioning your subjects with their backs to the sun, or by asking them to gently close their eyes until you count to 3, and then press your shutter button right afterwards.
Bring on the Color
In a session surrounded by white, white, more white, and some dull gray, use plenty of color on your subjects. Their outfits, a blanket, hats, gloves, even a red barn as a backdrop will break up the monotony of white and make your subject pop.
Post-Processing Tips
White Balance
You may notice that your images tend to look very bluish from your session. The bright-light and mass amounts of white in the image will "tell" your camera to process the white balance on the cooler side. This means your images will be a dull gray to a pale blue in hue. You can set your white balance in the field by setting a Kelvin temperature or by using a gray card. If you shoot in RAW, you can simply change the white balance in post-processing.
Be careful not to warm things up too much, though, as you can cause the snow to look yellow. I prefer to warm the entire image slightly, then selectively adjust the people in the portrait and warm them up a little more.
|
|
|
Winter photos tend to come out a little bluish (left/before). Be sure to properly set white balance either in the field or in post-processing. |
Vibrance/Saturation
Just as discussed above, a splash of color will do wonders for your winter photos. Don't overdo it, but you can really make a huge difference just by enhancing the vibrancy and/or saturation of your photos. I use Adobe Lightroom, and use the sliders to 5 or 10 to give a subtle, yet noticeable, enhancement.
Additional Tips
Fingerless gloves are your best friend for these sessions! You can even add those nifty hand warmers in them to give your digits a little extra heat. The best way to use the hand warmers is on the back of your hands in your gloves. All your veins are located on the backside of your hands, thus, warming them will keep your hands warmer. An added bonus is that you will have better dexterity to hold your camera.
Keep a lens cleaning cloth handy in case your lens fogs up so you can quickly clear it up. When done with the session, warm the camera back up slowly to prevent additional condensation.
|
|
|
Winter engagement sessions are a great excuse to get a couple to snuggle. |
I like to keep posing relaxed and close. I LOVE doing snowy engagement sessions simply because it gives a great excuse for getting your couple to snuggle! Family photos can be really fun in the snow, too - think snowball fights, building a snowman, etc. You can add a pop of color by also setting your subjects on a bright warm blanket.
Keep plenty of batteries on hand - batteries drain so quickly in the cold, so have plenty available as replacements.
Get out There!
Take the photography slow-season as a great time to practice learning a new trick! If it's your first attempt in the snow, take a stuffed animal or other inanimate object out with you to practice on. They certainly won't complain about the cold, allowing you plenty of time to adjust and try new things.
| Jennifer Galles is the owner/photographer for Galles Photography, located in the "Sweetheart City": Loveland, Colorado. She specializes in weddings, seniors, and family sessions. You can find more of her work at her website or Like her on Facebook. |