BETTER KIDS’ PHOTOS SNOW PHOTOGRAPHY

It looks like winter is here, and it arrived with a bang. Now that the white stuff is here to stay, you might find that your photographic approach needs a bit of adjustment. So, grab your camera, throw on some warm clothes (including mittens that let you work the buttons) and get ready for some great winter kids photos in the snow!

Add Some Color

Typically, you’ll stick with lighter colors when you’re working with kid’s photography, but when you’re working with all that white you can create more dramatic images when you combine them with some bright tones like red, green, orange, purple, etc. Or, add just one piece of color, such as a hat or scarf to draw attention to your rosy-cheeked little cherub.

Hats can Help

With lighter skin and lighter hair, fair children can get lost in the brightness – so adding a hat can help to set them apart from the snow and bring more attention to their lovely faces.

Portraits Plus Memories

Once you get the hang of taking portraits in the snow you might be tempted to stick with taking portraits – they do look great! But, winter is also an awesome time for great memories, particularly when you combine the whiteness of the snow with a splash of color – such as a sled or bright snowsuit.

Be Prepared for the Weather

Both you and your subjects need to be prepared for the cold, else you might miss out on the opportunity for some great photos when everyone gets cold and miserable earlier than expected. You also should consider the weather itself – an overcast day, due to the brightness, may not be the best for portraiture, but the blue sky is a perfect backdrop for shots where your children are playing, sledding, etc.

Learn about White Balance

The bluish cast caused by light reflecting off the snow isn’t very complimentary, so the first trick to learn with kids’ snow photography is to set a custom white balance so the snow is white and your kids’ faces are rosy and pink.

Try a Reflector

For portraits on overcast days, a reflector can help to add a bit of brightness to your child’s face, in order to set it apart from the background. Combined with a high aperture (f/2, for example), you’ll get bright faces while softening the background.

As always, practice makes perfect! Remember, if you take your camera out in the cold, you might need to put it in a sealed plastic bag to prevent condensation from accumulating on the lens/sensor as it warms up.