Winter Light Photography Tips
Light is everything to a photographer, like paint to a painter. It can make or break a photo, and it can prove challenging with the winter days getting shorter minute by minute. Sometimes it can be a flustered scramble to finish a project because there simply isn’t enough light in the day! Although, I actually prefer the winter light, when the sun does decide to show its golden face behind the gloomy clouds or snow. It is much softer and subtle…opposed to its summer counterpart’s harshness. And everything feels crisp and sparkles on a clear day. Winter is a cloudier season, depending on where you live, making it ideal for shooting midday indoors. Yet the challenge is making the most of winter’s light when it is just right, given how precious it can be! Believe it or not, my hometown in Vermont is the cloudiest in the country! (Hence one reason I moved to Maui!) So I have a fair share of experience shooting in the winter doldrums, but it truly can be a magical time to practice and shoot.
Here are some practical tips on shooting food and lifestyle photography in the winter:
Change Your Shooting Times:
Generally speaking, shooting in the early morning or during the golden hour at sunset is ideal for most photography. Although in the winter, that isn’t possible as the sun peeks above the horizon around 7:30 AM-8 AM (at least in the North East) and sets around 3:30 PM-4 PM (I know!) So I've found the prime time to shoot is between 10 AM - 2 PM. Even the midday sun at noon is not nearly as intense as it would be in the summertime. I particularly love the full, beaming sun coming into the window onto my subject. It adds life without overwhelming the scene because it’s softer overall. Find a spot in your house that offers ample natural light and see how the winter sun moves throughout the room. You may need to relocate to a brighter and sunnier space if your typical shooting area doesn’t get enough natural light.
Use A Tripod:
Somedays are just dark and gloomy, and that’s just one feature of old man winter. So if you’re shooting midday and still struggling to get a crisp shot even at the lens's widest aperture, using a tripod will help immensely. It will allow you to focus correctly and shoot at your desired focal length. You can bring as much light or as little as you wish into the shot for a still-life scene or food setup. You will have more control over the light and overall quality of the image. Even if you love moody, darker winter photos that embody the season's coziness, it is still worth the hassle of rigging it up since natural winter light is so precious indeed.
Use A White Bounce Board:
This is a nifty and inexpensive tool to use on darker days, especially if you’re shooting by a window. It will naturally bring more light into the scene or your subject. I try this first before reluctantly moving to set up in another area in the house because it often works and takes zero effort. A white poster board does wonders for a dull winter scene. (Tip for shooting snow - use exposure compensation. I set it around +1 or +2 for each shot since the camera can be fooled by an overwhelmingly white environment.)
Adjust Post Processing:
I generally lower my highlights and up my shadows for a snowy landscape or white winter scene (even indoors). The sparkle is hidden in the highlights! Play with these two sliders in Lightroom to see what you prefer. I love the subtly and the bright yet softness of winter light and snow, so I reduce my highlights as much as possible without it looking off. I may boost my whites and exposure too much more than I would otherwise if I’m after a bright winter-white look. If you prefer winter's moodiness and darker side, reduce the shadows and play with the tonal curve.
(Tip for shooting snow: I use exposure compensation. I set it around +1 or +2 for each shot since the camera can be fooled by an overwhelmingly white environment.)
Bonus: Take it outside!
Snow is a gorgeous background and surface to shoot. It’s worth frozen fingers, even for just a little bit! I’ve taken a whole gingerbread cake out on the front lawn with fresh snow that looked like a sea of diamonds in the morning sun. It’s not ideal, but it adds a magical and realistic element to the food subject if you live in a cold, snowy climate. While shooting for my book, it was -17 degrees outside, and I did try shooting a chili recipe outside, but my fingers (and camera!) weren’t having it, so I scooped up handfuls of the powdery snow and dumped it onto a blanket in the living room. The effect was the same, and it looked fantastic! This by no means is a practical solution for most shoots, but it’s fun to practice and play with when the weather (and snow) is sparkly and divine. Sparkly cocktails or bubbly drinks in the winter snow are beautiful…
Happy shooting at this magical and beautiful time of the year!
