7 Winter Photography Tips, Ideas, and Examples

If you think wintertime is an excuse to put your camera away and stay warm indoors, think again. Winter photography can be one of the most rewarding challenges you’ll face as a photographer, whether you’re interested in landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, wildlife, or even portraits.

In this article, we’ll cover a variety of tips, ideas, and examples—everything from the technical to the creative. You might be surprised, too. Some of these tips go against the conventional wisdom you’ll find elsewhere.

With that said, let’s dive into these seven winter photography tips.

Trust Your Camera’s Weather Sealing

First and foremost, don’t be afraid of a little rain or snow. Your camera is going to be just fine, especially if it’s weather-sealed. Even if it isn’t, you’d be surprised by how durable your camera body and lenses actually are.

Yes, all cameras and lenses have ratings for their “designed operating conditions,” including the lowest temperature they’re rated for. However, if you know your camera is rated to function down to freezing (32°F / 0°C), you shouldn’t use that as an excuse to pack up and go inside as soon as it drops one degree below freezing. As long as you’re not shooting in record-setting lows in an arctic tundra, your camera will handle the cold just fine.

What About LCD Screens in Cold Weather?

Don’t panic if the rear or top LCD displays start to act weird in freezing temperatures. LCD screens can behave strangely when they get too cold—becoming sluggish or displaying artifacts—but they’ll return to normal once they warm back up. This is temporary and won’t cause permanent damage.

Last but not least, if you do accidentally do something truly reckless with your camera in winter conditions, keep calm and read this article here. (Hint: These cameras all turned out fine!)

With that in mind, get bundled up in something warm and head outside. One of my favorite things to do in winter is to simply be present when conditions are harsh. Of course, always prioritize safety—use an appropriate vehicle with chains when needed, and bring proper hiking or camping gear if you’re venturing into the backcountry.

Wait out a winter storm, then step outside your car, cabin, or tent just as the storm is clearing. You may be treated to one of the most beautiful sights that nature has to offer—those fleeting moments when fresh snow blankets everything and the light breaks through the clouds.

You Don’t Need Snow in Every Winter Photograph

When people think of photography in the winter, they probably imagine a “winter wonderland” that always includes snow and ice. Honestly, though? With or without snow, winter weather conditions are beautifully unique.

Whether it’s a freezing cold sunrise creating mist and steam over a lake, or an ominous storm rolling across the plains, the opportunities exist almost everywhere. Winter showcases harshness and drama that other seasons simply can’t match. No snowflakes required.

Winter Photography Subjects Beyond Snow

Consider these compelling winter subjects that don’t require a single snowflake: frost-covered vegetation at sunrise, fog rolling through valleys on cold mornings, bare tree silhouettes against dramatic skies, frozen puddles and ice formations, and the warm glow of city lights against the early darkness of winter evenings.

Clear Days Are Perfect for Distant Views

As someone who lives in smoggy, hazy Southern California, I have one unique favorite subject that some photographers might not think of. I like to watch not just the weather conditions, but also the local air quality. Winter storms act like a giant cleaning system for the atmosphere, washing away pollution and particulates. The result? Some of the clearest visibility you’ll experience all year.

If the above example doesn’t make it apparent enough, the next couple of examples will show you just how dramatic the difference can be.

Above is the Downtown Los Angeles skyline and the Hollywood sign, seen from over 50 miles away in south Orange County, California. Simply put, I have never seen such clear conditions in my entire life. On a typical summer day, you’d be lucky to see half that distance through the haze.

How to Track Air Quality for Photography

To take advantage of these conditions, check air quality indexes (AQI) after winter storms pass through your area. Apps like AirVisual or government websites like AirNow.gov can help you identify those rare days when visibility reaches its peak. These are the days to grab your longest telephoto lens and capture distant subjects that are normally obscured by atmospheric haze.

Change Temperatures Slowly

This tip is critical for anyone who will be going in and out of a car, cabin, or another heated area during winter shoots. Every time you rapidly change the temperature of your camera gear, you risk creating condensation on your lens—and even inside your lens or camera body—if the humidity is high.

The Science Behind Condensation on Camera Gear

Here’s what happens: When cold gear enters a warm, humid environment, the warm air contacts the cold surfaces and releases its moisture as condensation. This is the same reason a cold glass of water “sweats” on a summer day. For camera gear, this moisture can fog up your viewfinder, coat your lens elements, and in severe cases, get inside your camera where it can cause corrosion or electrical issues over time.

So, especially when you are warming up very cold gear, follow this essential practice: Leave your gear in your camera bag with just a little bit of airflow in and out of the bag, allowing it to change temperature gradually. This process might take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the temperature difference, but it’s worth the wait.

Why can’t you just run outside to capture a few quick portraits and wipe the condensation off your lens? That’s an option, of course, but the condensation will likely return almost immediately, especially if the temperature change is significant. Simply put, break this rule at your own risk.

Keep Your Batteries Warm (Even While You Use Them!)

This is a common tip for winter photography, but I’m going to vastly improve on it. Yes, as you probably already know, lithium batteries tend to perform poorly in freezing temperatures. The cold slows down the chemical reactions inside the battery, reducing its effective capacity significantly.

Honestly, though? I don’t want to have to carry three or four batteries and cycle them through my pockets and camera all day. Few things are more annoying in winter photography than putting a “dead” battery in your pocket, hoping it will magically regain a few percent of its charge when it warms up so you can squeeze out a few more photos.

A Better Solution: USB Power Banks

Do this instead: Buy yourself a big 10,000 mAh or 20,000 mAh battery pack and slide that into your pocket to keep it warm. Then, get a USB cable long enough to reach your camera while either hand-holding or working from a tripod. Alternatively, if you’re going to be working from a tripod the whole time, you can try a neoprene or similar type of insulated pouch to protect the battery and strap it to your tripod leg.

Most cameras these days have USB-C ports, and many either accept or require USB-PD (Power Delivery) in order to actually power the camera while it’s on. Otherwise, you’ll only be able to charge the battery while the camera is off.

USB Power Requirements by Camera Brand

NOTE: Nikon’s latest cameras require the minimum level of USB-PD, which is 18W. The best name-brand option (Anker PowerCore) is just $59, though it is “only” 20W—plenty for most Nikon and Sony cameras.

Unfortunately, Canon’s EOS R5 requires a whopping 45W, which means a more expensive battery. This Anker PowerCore+ runs $159, but it’s still a good value considering it’s the equivalent of four or five Canon LP-E6NH batteries, which run $80 apiece. Alternatively, this highly-rated generic USB power bank packs 60W (enough to charge a small laptop) for just $49.

There’s Always Snow at the Top

If it’s the middle of summer where you are and you’re really missing those gorgeous winter photography scenes, this tip will cheer you up: If you climb a high enough mountain, there’s almost always a bit of snow somewhere. Both the image above and below were captured in August.

Of course, accessing high mountains might not be possible for everyone in every part of the country. But if you have a big summer, spring, or fall road trip planned, it’s worth researching which peaks in your destination might still hold snow. In the western United States, mountains above 10,000 feet often retain snow patches well into summer, and peaks above 12,000 feet may have permanent snowfields.

Planning Your High-Altitude Winter Photography Trip

Before heading to high elevations, check current trail conditions and be prepared for rapidly changing mountain weather. What starts as a warm summer day at the trailhead can turn cold and windy at the summit. Bring layers, and remember that the techniques in this article—protecting your batteries from cold, watching for condensation—apply even during summer alpine adventures.

Best Winter Photography Tip: Watch Out for Spring!

Last but not least, one of the most exciting things I’ve ever witnessed while doing winter photography has been an early spring. Believe it or not, both of these photos (above and below) were captured in January. Even the sunny desert wildflower scene below was actually a freezing cold “winter” morning.

In nature, it’s truly exciting to witness and capture the very beginning of a changing season. The juxtaposition of winter conditions with early signs of spring—frost on flower petals, snow melting around emerging green shoots—creates some of the most compelling and unique photographs you’ll ever take.

I’m not a climate scientist, of course, so I can’t comment on whether these conditions and phenomena mean anything more significant than simply being beautiful. All I can say is that both of the above moments created some of the most vivid memories of my life, and photographs I’ll treasure forever.

Winter Photography | Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for the classic postcard “white Christmas” scenes or you’re looking for something truly unique and creative, winter photography offers exciting opportunities that no other season can match.

Admittedly, not every opportunity will turn out perfectly. The very nature of winter itself will sometimes send you home without that epic photo you were hoping for. The weather won’t cooperate, the light won’t materialize, or conditions will be too dangerous to venture out. That’s part of the challenge—and part of what makes those successful winter shoots so rewarding.

Either way, I would strongly encourage you to get warmed up and dried off, recharge your batteries (both camera and personal), and get ready for your next winter photo adventure. The rewards are well worth braving the cold.

Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Photography

What camera settings work best for snow photography?

When photographing snowy scenes, your camera’s meter can be fooled by all that white, resulting in underexposed (gray) snow. Use exposure compensation of +1 to +2 stops, or switch to manual mode and check your histogram to ensure the snow reads as bright white without losing detail.

How do I protect my camera in heavy snow?

While weather-sealed cameras handle snow well, you can add extra protection with a rain cover or even a simple plastic bag with a hole cut for the lens. Keep a microfiber cloth handy to wipe snowflakes off your lens before they melt and leave water spots.

What’s the best time of day for winter photography?

Winter offers extended golden hours since the sun stays lower in the sky throughout the day. However, the soft light just after sunrise and before sunset remains ideal. Overcast days also provide beautiful, even lighting that’s perfect for portraits and detail shots without harsh shadows.

How cold is too cold for camera gear?

Most modern cameras are rated to function down to 32°F (0°C), but many work fine well below that. The bigger concerns are battery life (which decreases in cold) and LCD responsiveness (which slows). If you’re shooting in extreme cold below 0°F (-18°C), take extra precautions with battery management and be prepared for slower camera response times.