What to wear
Colour, and lots of it: white or beige in snow disappears entirely. Layers so the session can survive twenty minutes. Waterproof footwear that is not…
In short: Colour, and lots of it: white or beige in snow disappears entirely. Layers so the session can survive twenty minutes. Waterproof footwear that is not being photographed and a nicer pair carried for the frames where feet show.
Colour. Strong and saturated. White, cream and pale grey vanish into snow entirely; a red coat in a white field is the whole composition.
Fabric. Layers that photograph — wool, shearling, quilting — over anything technical and shiny, which reflects the sky and reads as sportswear.
Footwear. Waterproof for walking, something better carried for the frames where feet show. Cold feet end sessions faster than cold hands.
The thing that ruins frames. Getting wet in the first ten minutes. Save anything that involves sitting, lying or being thrown at until the end.
In the bag. Hand warmers, a flask, a spare pair of gloves, and a plastic bag for the camera when going back indoors — condensation on a cold lens takes twenty minutes to clear.
Anyone photographing in snow for the first time and wondering why the camera turned it grey.
Location changes the answer: Fresh snow before anyone walks on it, which usually means early. Tree lines and hedges give a dark background that makes falling snow visible; open white fields give scale but no separation.
Planning pressure to account for: Trusting the meter — snow fools it into underexposure, so add one to two stops. Leaving the camera to fog when going indoors; put it in a bag first. And planning an hour outdoors, which nobody enjoys below freezing.
Bring each proposed outfit as a complete look, including its shoes and accessories. The final choice is made against the actual background and light rather than from a generic colour rule.
Colour, and lots of it: white or beige in snow disappears entirely. Layers so the session can survive twenty minutes. Waterproof footwear that is not being photographed and a nicer pair carried for the frames where feet show.
For a one-hour session, plan one complete look and one quick variation such as a jacket, shoe or jewellery change. Two hours can normally support two or three resolved looks. More changes reduce shooting time, so photograph the most important outfit first and treat extras as options rather than promises.
Choose colours that separate clearly from the location and suit the intended use of the pictures. Solid tones and controlled texture are reliable; very fine checks, tiny stripes and reflective logos can distract or produce moiré. Send phone photographs of the options with the brief if you want a decision before the shoot.
Bring the garments on proper hangers, matching underwear, the shoes for every full-length look, a lint roller and simple touch-up products. Pack one neutral backup layer. Steam everything beforehand, but keep a small steamer nearby for travel creases and final adjustments on set.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.