Ottawa Winter Photography Tips and Suggestions With Jeff Ryan Photography

December 2025

“Helpful Winter Photography Tips/Suggestions” 🙂🙂

Hello and a Happy New Year to you and yours! 🙂🙂

I was asked recently how to prepare for outdoor photo sessions/shoots of various things, such as people and nature photography. I have recently been visiting various locations regarding nature photography, and without doubt, the forests can be very cold and damp when you spend roughly five hours or more in them.

As far as trying to keep warm in outdoor environments, hand and foot warmers are a very handy accessory to keep your photography session moving along comfortably. I tripod-mount almost every image I create, and the cold base of my camera plus the metal tripod can eventually cause the battery in your camera to deteriorate faster than normal. There are attachment/portable battery clips that can accommodate your battery and can be placed inside your coat where it is warmer, delaying the battery’s deterioration. Not all companies offer this piece of gear; however, if you are going to be out all day long in frigid conditions, this has allowed me to continue photographing for hours when batteries would normally fail. Of course, you can bring backup batteries with you as well, but the cost of purchasing several batteries adds up in comparison to these portable battery clips. Consult your local camera store or go online to see if this battery holder is available. If so, purchase one!

During my time out, it started to snow, and some of it landed on my lens, which is normal even when using a lens hood, depending on wind direction. A good suggestion would be not to blow on your lens trying to remove the snow. Your breath is naturally much warmer than the air temperature, and this will often cause the snowflakes to melt, creating water droplets on your lens. I always carry lens cleaning tissue and a blower brush with me to address this concern. My blower brush is a standard bulb product that you squeeze back and forth, creating puffs of air. I do not recommend using compressed air in a can. This product, even when used in summer conditions, can frequently deposit its propellant on your lens, making it difficult to remove at times.

If you are interested in visiting several locations during the day, attempt to evaluate the lighting direction and conditions prior to your outing. The angle of light and the contrast it creates—particularly on a bright sunny day—should be taken into consideration long before you begin creating imagery. Another helpful suggestion is to consider purchasing a small plastic sled that you can place your camera bag and tripod on when walking through deep snow. As I’m sure you can imagine, carrying a tripod and camera bag through snow can be very tiring as opposed to pulling it behind you. It’s comparable to the luggage of today with wheels on it, simplifying your journey.

Long underwear, double socks, double mitts, a thick scarf, and an excellent hat will also be of benefit to you, preventing you from concentrating on the cold and directing your attention to your photography instead. Be prepared for the change of elements. If you have done this, your imagery will excel as opposed to rushing through your work, thinking about getting back inside quickly to warm up.

We are on the verge of a new year, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you the best possible happiness that one can recognize in 2026. All the best to you and yours, and thank you for your interest in my articles.

With good wishes extended,
Jeff Ryan