What to wear for a snow and winter photoshoot

By Mariya Harley · London · updated August 2026

What works for a snow and winter shoot specifically

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.

Two rules that hold everywhere

• Steam it the night before — creases are the most expensive thing in any retouching bill and the cheapest to prevent.
• Bring options and decide on set, where you can see the light and the background rather than guessing at home.