19 Fun Winter Photoshoot Ideas

Are you looking for some fun and creative winter photoshoot ideas? It’s the best time of year to capture gorgeous snow falling outside your window while sipping hot chocolate. Or maybe you want to learn how to shoot winter landscape photos. Winter photography should be fun for the whole family.

This article will give you some winter wonderland inspiration. Also, you will learn how to have a great winter photoshoot, including camera tips, accessories, and much more. Create the perfect photoshoot using this article!

Winter Photoshoot Ideas

Looking to have a creative and fun winter photoshoot? There is no shortage of ideas, and you can try one or many of the following ideas.

Holiday Food Favorites

If you want to create the perfect winter photoshoot, start with classic holiday food favorites! Make fun designs with candy canes or a colorful cocktail. Winter is full of greens and reds and makes for a touch of color a beautiful pop in your images.

Snow Photography

When it comes to winter photoshoot ideas, snow photos should be at the top of your list. Winter is the best time of year to capture these delicate flakes, and if you live in a snowy area, you should head out into the cold and look for gorgeous landscapes around you. Look for snow-covered mountains, leading lines of pine trees covered in snow, and snowy rooftops.

Winter Selfies

If you want a fun selfie to capture your winter mood, then consider how to create a cold-themed selfie. This could vary a lot depending on where you live. But the most important thing is to head outside to capture your winter selfie. Play with variations of accessories, including winter hats, scarves, and mittens.

Set your camera up on a tripod, or simply use your phone selfie mode. For the perfect session, surround yourself with a snow-covered white background. Your warm cheeks will pop even more and create a festive photo.

Landscape Winter Images

If you live near mountains, a frozen lake, snow-covered trees, or other beautiful landscapes, it’s time to head outside to capture the perfect winter photoshoot. Photography is always more fun when shooting outside, don’t forget to wear your layers and keep your camera warm, so your batteries don’t die too fast.

Cozy Winter Fireplace

The air is so much more cozy and pretty when sitting next to a fireplace. Use your camera and lens to capture fire from different angles. Try to incorporate accessories and light into your pictures. Every idea can be different, and you have unlimited shots using a digital camera, so shoot away. Just be careful when playing with fire.

Macro Photos

Macro photos are great for a winter photoshoot. Using a macro lens, you can zoom in on your subject and make them the main event of the photo. Try using a macro lens to shoot the snow, flowers, and trees. Winter is full of macro photo options.

Winter Pet Photography

Your pet may not enjoy the cold very much, but nothing is cuter than a puppy playing in the snow. Remember to shoot at a high shutter speed and let your pet play outside, hopping through the snow as you take multiple shots of their holiday joy.

Snow Fight

Another great idea for your winter photoshoot is to capture a snow fight. This can be a snow fight you start between friends, or you can wander to the nearest park to capture the joy of other kids in the holidays. Stand a few feet away, so you don’t get taken down by a snowball while photographing the action.

Icicles

Just like snowflakes, icicles are super fun for a photographer to shoot. Nothing says winter like frozen ice! Try to photograph the icicles from different angles for better results. Another pro tip is to shoot photos of them at sunrise before they begin to melt, but the air and light are warm and more photogenic.

Winter Wildlife

Free up your imagination by photographing animals in the snow. Think of red cardinals hiding in a snowy tree, a squirrel climbing a snow-covered tree, or a warm pet sitting by a fireplace. Combining animals with snow or other winter elements always makes for more creative photography.

Couples

When it comes to winter photoshoot ideas, try thinking about how to get creative with photographing couples in the snow. You can create a warm and cozy feeling by showing off their love in a cold setting.

Ask friends or your own clients to have a photoshoot in the snow. Allow them to get playful during the session. Ask them to kiss and play for each shot. If snowflakes are falling, even better!

Winter Nights

Try challenging your photography skills by photographing snowy scenes by night! Night photography is a challenge in itself, but anytime you can add snow and lights, the night sky lights up, and the colors change completely.

Snow Angels

Ask some friends to dive and make a snow angel for your next winter photoshoot. This will bring back the joy of their childhood and create natural candid moments for your shots. If your friends aren’t feeling up to the snowy challenge, ask some local kids to help you or a younger sibling.

Window Views

Set up your camera on a tripod and wear some cozy socks as you cuddle by a snow-filled window. Nothing is cozier than imagining yourself in the image, and it helps the viewer feel what you were feeling in that warm winter moment.

Blow Some Snow

This may seem like a simple idea, but it’s also great fun! A pro tip is to pick up the snow when it’s fresh on the ground before it turns to ice or starts to melt. Take the powdery snow and gently blow it out of the palm of your hand for a misty creative effect.

Snow Roads

Look for a local snow misted road and stand in the middle of the road. Of course, only do this if it’s a quiet road with no oncoming traffic. The road will act as a great leading line into you, and the snow adds a whimsical effect that will make your shots even more beautiful.

Family Holiday Portraits

Most families love sharing a holiday portrait as their Christmas card. Help your family capture their creative images this year. Set your camera up on a stand or tripod and set up some festive lighting or a Christmas tree behind you as a great idea to start with. The pictures will help you create memories to last a lifetime and make great gifts for Grandma.

Try a few sessions if working with kids or a pet. They have a hard time with long sessions. Also, try wearing festive socks or creating a friend’s portrait instead of a family portrait for the holidays. Put the photo in a frame and create the perfect gift.

Decorations

Don’t forget to go on the hunt for the best Christmas decorations around your neighborhood. Use a prime lens for a shot or two and notice the difference in how crystal clear your photographs become. Try varying your position as well, shooting up or down at decorations.

Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are some of the most fun for a photographer. This one should keep you busy when it comes to winter photoshoot ideas. Try shooting the light at different shutter speeds and apertures to compare the differences. Have your family use them as an accessory in their portraits.

Or use them in a client session for pictures with holiday spirit. Every photographer should try to find a way to incorporate them during the holiday season.

Tips for Winter Photoshoots

If you want your winter photoshoot to be the best it can be, there are a few key tips you can use for photographing outdoor winter elements. Think about each of these before heading out into the falling snow.

Planning

One of the most important things you can do for your winter photos is plan ahead. You will notice that when the snow hits the ground, it quickly can turn brown or mushy and ugly. That’s why you need to be ready and check the weather often to know when snow is due to fall. That way, you can have your gear ready to go as soon as the first snowflake hits the ground.

Flexibility

When you are shooting in outdoor winter situations, flexibility is key. The weather can change quickly, and if you want the best winter photo, it’s best to move your timing with the snowfall for a cute shoot. The cold is constantly changing as well, so it’s important you look for the right time when things aren’t too icy for walking or use the cold variations to get creative.

Timing

Like most shoots, try to shoot in the golden hours for amazing winter shots. Morning is best if possible for your winter photo shoot. Even better if you can shoot when the falling snow just begins. It will be fresh and beautiful for your winter wonderland photo shoot.

Hold your Breath for a Moment

Because your breath is so much warmer than the cold air you are shooting in, it’s a good idea to hold your breath for a moment when taking a portrait of yourself or others. It looks better if there isn’t fog coming out of your mouth. You can take multiple shots quickly before you blow out your next breath.

Clothing

Great winter photos mean wearing the right clothing for your photo shoot. Remember the saying there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. To make the most out of your winter photoshoot, it’s important to wear clothing layers. With it being so cold outside, cold enough for snow, it’s important you stay warm while shooting.

Any winter photographer knows to bring multiple outfits if they shoot themselves and clothes that keep them clothed from head to toe while still a cute outfit. Dress for the weather but also to support your winter photoshoot ideas.

Lightroom Presets

Using winter presets can make your winter photoshoots look more whimsical. With the simple click of your mouse, your photos will be enhanced, and the colors will pop even more!

Props for Winter Photoshoots

Need some ideas related to props for your winter photoshoot? Try using one or all of these for your next photography session.

Snow

This is a free accessory! When photographing in the cold, don’t forget to make use of the one thing that is all around you and completely free to use! Snow, of course. You can throw it around. Photograph it in landscapes, up close, and far away.

Hot Chocolate

Ask your client to grab some hot chocolate during the session or have them sip it while sitting in a snowy scene. Photography is so much more fun with a sweet treat involved.

Blanket

For cozy photography, try using a festive blanket in your shots. You can have family or friends cuddle under a blanket in the snowy backyard. Or you can have your pet snuggled up inside a holiday blanket on the couch. Take one shot or multiple shots for the best results.

Socks

Socks are great for the cold and wonderful for festive winter photography. Go to your local store and pick out some Christmas socks. It is the season to find the best holiday socks for your next winter photoshoot.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed all these tips and tricks to create the most wonderful winter photoshoot. Whether you are photographing indoors or outdoors, there is something for everyone on our list. Winter is all about a change of season and an atmosphere of cheer and color.

What could be more fun for a photographer? Check out our Christmas Photoshoot ideas if you are searching for even more inspiration. If you are looking for some great gift ideas for a photographer friend, check out our Gift Guide featuring lots of cool ideas!