Epic List Of 30 Winter Photography Tutorials

Winter’s on its way which may mean dark nights and cold mornings but it does bring ample photography opportunities for those who don’t mind braving the cold. We can capture sunrises at more reasonable hours and depending how low the temperatures drops, we could even see some snow filled landscapes appearing in people’s portfolios. In preparation, here’s 30 tutorials to kick-start your winter photography with a bang. 

 

1. Photographing Winter Portraits

Living in the UK, most of the best clothing in our wardrobes is probably winter stuff so why not encourage people to get out and about with their favourite coats, hats and scarves and have fun shooting some outdoor winter portraits.

 

 

2. Shooting Winter Landscapes

Water in the landscape makes a great photograph at any time of the year but in winter, after we’ve had heavy rainfall or fog’s settled in, lakes and rivers suddenly take on a new look that’s well worth braving the cold to capture.

 

 

3. Photographing Winter Birds

Winter days leave us with a shortage of daylight hours to photograph, but also is not the perfect time for birds to find food, with much less food about and less daylight time to feed.

 

 

4. Winter Wedding Photography

Winter weddings are becoming ever more popular. As a wedding photographer, the natural light on a winter day may only be short, but if you are comfortable using available light whether it be tungsten or candlelight, you can create some really atmospheric photos.

 

Image courtesy of Limeleaf Weddings.

 

5. Working With Winter Sun

While winter may often be associated with wet, gray, and generally downbeat weather conditions, when the sun makes an appearance it is perfect for landscapes.

 

Image from  Landscape Photography: The Four Seasons title from Ilex.

 

6. Winter Photography Tips 

Whether portraying a bitterly cold day or a snowy Christmas scene, there are certain things to consider when heading out for a winter photography shoot. I have put together a number of tips which have proved invaluable.

 

Photo by Barry Chignell

 

7. How To Shoot Winter Silhouettes

The low position of the sun in winter makes it a perfect time to shoot silhouettes. You just need to find a bright background (the sky’s perfect) and the right subject to give you a shot with series impact.

 

 

8. Winter Wildlife Photography Tips

Learn how to take great images of winter wildlife around the coast, in your garden and in various conditions. 

 

 

9. Snowboarding Photography Tips 

Nathan Gallagher gives ePHOTOzine some tips for capturing snowboarders in action on the snow as well as tips on capturing portraits in the studio. 

 

 Photos by Nathan Gallagher.

 

10. Coping With Contrast In Winter

The low angle of sun in the winter may bring with it fantastic lighting, but it can also cause problems when it comes to contrast in your images.

 

Photo from Landscape Photography: The Four Seasons title from Ilex.

 

11. Even More Winter Wildlife Photography Tips

Winter can be a great time to photograph wildlife. With the trees bare, it can be a lot easier to spot illusive species such as deer and foxes. A telephoto zoom lens will be a necessity, and you’ll need a tripod and possibly a hide, too depending on what you intend to look for.

 

 

12. Indoor Themed Winter Portrait Tips 

With winter approaching, more people will be heading indoors but this doesn’t mean you have to stop looking for ways to bring your portraits to life. Of course, if you have a willing subject you can brave the cold and venture outside to capture some great winter imagery. But if the cold isn’t for you, then going indoors works very well at this time of year too.

 

Photo by Michael Alan Bielat.

 

13. Photographing Mountains In Winter

There are plenty of great mountain ranges scattered around the UK that are well worth a photo at any time of year but in winter, when a covering of snow’s fallen or a hard frost has settled they tend to look even more impressive.

 

 

14. Tips On Photographing Ice In Winter 

Ice is only frozen water – so it’s clear, isn’t it? Far from it, and I love ice – naturally occurring on lake edges, round waterfalls, as icicles, however it forms. I’m only going to look at natural formed ice, rather than ice made in freezers and photographed in studio conditions; although either makes amazing pictures.

 

Photo by John Gravett

 

15. 10 Top Robin Photography Tips 

Robins can be found in their numbers and as many would agree, they are very photogenic and this becomes even more true at this time of year when the cold weather sets in, bringing snow to cover the ground.

 

 

16. Tips On Photographing Frost And Ice

Frost might not be good for plants but it is great for photographers who are looking for winter scenes and interesting abstracts to add to their portfolio.

 

 

17. Fast Moving Vs. Slow Moving Waterfalls – How To Capture Both With Your Camera

When capturing waterfalls you can make water appear as if it’s frozen in time so every splash and droplet is captured in frame or you can go to the opposite end of the scale and smooth the flow of water out into almost a dry-ice, cloud-like texture. At this time of year there’s the added option of capturing frozen shapes that water’s created when it’s splashed up over rocks and grass found at the edges of the falls, too.

 

 

18. Top Cold Weather Photography Tips

 It won’t be long before the temperatures drop and we’re venturing out over the Christmas break with cold weather photography in mind. Here’s a few ideas how to prepare yourself – and your camera equipment – to ensure you get the most out of your cold-weather photography.

 

 

19. Tips On Photographing Snow & Ice

Winter brings a new range of photo opportunities where familiar colourful scenes are suddenly covered in a blanket of snow. Bare trees become stark outlined silhouettes against a brilliant white backdrop, grasses poke out from below white canopies and old barns look like sets from pantomimes.

 

 

20. Urban Christmas Light Shoot

As the majority of festive pictures are of parties taken on small apertures on compacts with auto flash, having a good image of the Christmas lights, particularly with people in them will really stand out and as a result are a great subject to have a go at photographing.

 

 

21. Cold Weather Photography Tips

The temperatures are slowly dropping which means it’s a good time to start thinking about cold weather photography and how you can protect yourself as well as your kit. 

 

 

22. How To Take Black & White Shots Of Snow Scenes

Find out how using the black & white medium can add so much more to your snowy landscape shots. 

 

Photo by John Gravett

 

23. How To Photograph Frost

Set your alarm, wrap up warm and get outside to capture the magic of a frosty start. You don’t have to head to far either as you’ll find plenty of frost-themed images right in your back garden. 

 

Photos by John Gravett

 

24. More Snow Photography Tips

Snow scenes are very picturesque. They make excellent additions to your landscape portfolio but they can be tricky to photograph. Here are some tips to help you take better snow scene photos and make your time in the chilly outdoors more enjoyable.

 

Photo by Mark Elliott 

 

25. Tips On Photographing Stormy Seas

For those who don’t mind a fierce wind and cold weather, winter is a great time to shoot at the coast. Why? Well it’s quieter as you don’t tend to get many tourists visiting out of season and strong winds can create strong sea swells which means they’ll be plenty of big waves crashing into cliffs and sea walls to capture.

 

 

26. Capturing Snowy Landscapes

What better excuse do we need as photographers than a blanket of snow for wonderful photographic opportunities, but it’s important to get a few techniques right to ensure you capture everything at its best.

 

Photos by John Gravett

 

27. Photography Tips On Capturing Patterns In Ice

When temperatures begin to fall, lakes, ponds, puddles and even waterfalls (when it’s really cold) freeze, all of which make excellent close-up photography subjects.

 

 

28. Explanation On Why Snow Can Appear Blue And How To Fix It

We all know the feeling of photographing in snow on a bright, crisp day, only to realise that the snow is coming out blue in your pictures. This is generally due to one or two errors which can be quickly and easily put right. 

Photos by John Gravett

29. Snow Photography For Beginners

Snow can be quite tricky to capture and can leave many beginner photographers asking questions. To help them out, here we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about snow photography.

 

 

30. Quick Tips On Taking Photos In Icy Conditions

If you’re out in icy conditions, there are a few hazards to contend with which are particular to the weather. Yes, this includes obvious things like taking care to not slip but there are other problems you may not have thought of too.