Fabulous winter photos: professional advice

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Holidays are a great reason to arrange a photo shoot.

There is enough time for this, and inspiration lurks around every corner on the street. And although a warm bed and favorite pajamas are difficult to let go, you just have to leave the house - and ideas for stunning pictures will appear by themselves.

123RF / Andrii Omelnytskyi

Nikon experts will tell you how to make them truly magical.

Preparation

Winter gives us stunning scenery and many subjects for a photo shoot. Snow flakes, drifts, New Year's decorations in the city, Christmas trees, Christmas markets - all this plays into the hands of both the photographer and the model.

Thicket is a traditional but never annoying location for winter photography. In the soft twilight light, great love stories are obtained, and on a sunny day, you can capture a fun family walk with playing snowballs and making snowmen.

However, no less warm, despite the subzero temperature, the pictures can be taken on a skating rink or, say, in a park. Here, the heroes of the photo shoot will be helped by the warm light of lanterns and bright lights. By the way, they can create a beautiful bokeh effect in the background, and then the photo will turn out to be even more atmospheric. In the picture below, for example, the lights in the windows of the houses and the festive decorations behind the characters worked perfectly.

123RF / Anton Unguryanu

Indoors, you can take great winter shots too. You just need to stock up on the necessary props. You probably already have everything you need at home! These are warm plaid blankets, knitted sweaters, large mugs that emit steam. And if the New Year has not yet let go and you want a festive mood, then garlands, beautiful wreaths and toys will help.

Having succumbed to inspiration, I want to immediately grab the camera, throw on the first jacket that comes across and set off to create masterpieces. But do not forget about the practical side of the issue. A good shot is often a matter of thorough preparation and careful selection of the correct angle. All this takes a long time. And therefore, the first thing to think about is whether everyone's clothes are warm enough. For both the photographer and the models, it is best to choose things that will not hinder movement and will allow you to easily change position, move to a new place.

If the photo session is supposed not in the city, but somewhere in nature, then do not forget to take with you a thermos with hot tea and sandwiches.

123RF / Evgeny Gerasimov

Support and protection from the cold will be needed not only by the photographer and the model, but also by the camera. A sharp drop in temperature and high humidity is the first thing that should be protected from equipment. Therefore, once on the street, it is better to wait fifteen minutes for the camera to cool down, and only then start shooting. Also, don't forget to grab a lens cleaning cloth in case it fogs up. Remember that in cold weather the battery life is significantly reduced - it is better to have an extra battery with you.

Light

In winter, lighting most often plays on the photographer's side: the sun rarely rises high above the horizon, so good diffused light is guaranteed throughout the day. Keep in mind, however, that the day is only a few hours long and the weather can easily deteriorate.

On cloudy days, there are practically no shadows and the colors soften. You can use this condition to your advantage by bringing bright elements to life. In addition, shooting in the evening streets in winter will create bright enough images.

123RF / TATSIANA SHYPULIA

When it comes to shooting at home, the simplest thing is to place yourself next to the window. This will provide a beautiful cut-off pattern and avoid artificial lighting.

When there is little natural light, a good DSLR can handle it, and it can shoot at high ISOs (like ISO 2000-2500). And in order not to miss any important moment, it is also recommended to increase the shutter speed and experiment with the burst function.