Tips & Tricks To Photographing Snow

By Jada Parrish

Posted: 03/01/14

Category: Photography Tips

Snow is so beautiful. There is just something about snow that makes you want to pull out your camera and start taking pictures. Maybe it's because snow is fleeting that makes us feel a need to take a picture and make it last as long as we can.

Photographing snow can be a major challenge if you don't know what you are doing. Capturing those tiny snowflakes falling from the sky requires more skill than one might think, so here are a few tips and tricks to help you out:

1) Pay Attention To Your ISO

When photographing snowfalling at night, make sure you have a high ISO. I'd recommend staying somewhere between 600-1000. If you go much higher than that your pictures will start getting a little too grainy and dimish the beauty of the snow.

When photographing snowfall during the day go with a low ISO. Snow can be very reflective and cause your photos to be brighter than intended. Stick with an ISO of 400 or under.

2) Open Aperature

Use a wide open aperature when photographing falling snow. This will make the snowflakes look even larger and give them a soft, gentle look.

3) Fast Shutter Speed

Shoot with a fast shutter speed to capture falling snow. This will let you capture the snow falling without getting any streaks or blurred flakes.

4) Shoot At Lights

Use lights to your advantage. Street lights provide the perfect light source when photographing snow at night. It allows you to see the snowflakes more clearly and makes the snow glow. Shooting towards lights will help make all of your photos just a litttle more magical.