Cold weather photography essentials

With the snow starting to fall, it’s a great time to pull out your hat and gloves, and get out with your camera! It’s important to keep our gear safe and secure in the colder temperatures — not to mention ourselves. Here’s some cold weather photography essentials.

Having grown up in Northern Michigan, I know what the frozen tundra feels like. And despite having moved a few hours south, I still know how winter can take its toll on my love of photography. A few years ago I invested in a few pieces of gear that I know consider must-haves for anyone braving the winter elements.

Photography gloves to keep your hands toasty

My gloves are something I always have on me in my bag. A few years back, I purchased the Vallerret Markhof Pro gloves. These are great winter gloves for everyday use. I found that these keep me very warm, and the magnets holding the index fingers and thumbs back were pretty strong. Plus, the gloves also have a pocket for memory cards.

But for those frozen tundra days, I needed something a bit bulkier. Last year I picked up Vallerret’s Hatchet gloves. These are full leather gloves with a Merino Wool liner, meaning if the outside gets wet from falling snow, they’re easy to wipe off and stay dry. They come with the same great magnets from the Markhof Pro gloves, and even have a suede lens wipe that I can use when snow gets on my camera lens. These were my go-to gloves for World of Winter last year, and you can bet I’ll be relying on them again in 2023!

Shoe spikes

For those great shots of icy piers leading out to Lake Michigan, spikes are an absolute must. These let me walk around (and sometimes, run) the ice without slipping and falling.

I use Kahtoola MICROspikes, which are available in a variety of sizes so they can fit your shoes or boots. I’ve never once fallen because of having these on, and have even run on the ice without a problem. Yaktrax is another popular brand, but I found these didn’t have as strong of a grip on the ice.

Bag or backpack with weather cover

A good bag is important for any photographer. But with winter weather, you want something that will protect your gear from the elements, or in case of a fall. Look for something that’s tightly padded and that offers a rain cover, like the WANDRD PRVKE.

The PRVKE has quickly become one of my favorite backpacks, protecting my gear from the elements that we experience in Michigan. It also has back-side access, meaning that your camera gear stays safe and secure, and is unable to be open by anyone behind you.

Extra batteries

Batteries drain power faster in cold weather, so it’s a good idea to have one or two extras handy when you’re out for the day. Instead of keeping them in your bag, throw them in your pocket, which will stay warmer.

Tripod leg warmers and spikes

Tripods can get cold very quickly in winter temperatures. And while most of my tripods are somewhat covered with a padded cover, those that don’t really need a leg warmer. There’s a few different options out there, and they’ll make it so that you can handle your tripod without freezing your hands. If you’ve got a carbon fiber tripod, you don’t have to worry about this as much, as cold temperatures don’t effect it as much as aluminum tripods.

Tripod spikes are also important, especially if you’re out on the ice. Like the shoe spikes I talked about above, the tripod spikes will make a more secure fit when you’re on a slippery surface. Depending on the tripod you use, these might already be included.

Get out in the cold!

Photographing in the winter can provide you with some really interesting shots, that you wouldn’t be able to capture during other times of the year. Whether it be the lakeshore or ice skaters in your city center, winter provides endless possibilities for capturing those special moments. And with a little preparation you can make the cold temperatures a little less … miserable.