Wedding season usually takes place in the summer months in most countries. However, winter wedding photos can look magical if done properly. I spoke with Finnish photographer Lauri Hytti about his experiences and tips on how to master the perfect snowfall.
I photographed most of my weddings. However, that is not my area of expertise. However, I’m from Northern Europe and my recent visit there made me wonder how Scandinavian photographers handle snowy landscapes and short days. I talked to my friend and wedding photographer, Lauri Hytti, about how he approaches wedding photography during the cold winter months. He lives in Helsinki, Finland and has been photographing weddings since 2014. Check out his website here.
What is the key difference between winter wedding photography and summer wedding photography?
Lauri: The amount of light and its quality. The main problem is that the days are very short in winter. In November, in the north of Finland, there is a funny news that the next time the sun will rise is February next year. That being said, in those brief moments of daylight, the quality is often soft and voluptuous, and can be downright magical! On the other hand, during the summer, the sun never sets. This means you can shoot at 2 a.m. without any extra light, and on a bright day you’ll have almost 10 hours in bright light.
Moreover, you also have to take into account the temperature difference in winter. It can go down to -30 °C(-22 °F) outside and bringing your unit indoors will create condensation. More importantly, your couples may not be too excited to spend long periods of time outside in freezing temperatures. Even if they’re super soldiers on fire, it’s pretty hard to pretend not to be cool, and that shows in the end result.
Most of the time, when the temperature is not too cold, the difference can be small compared to a summer wedding. Yes, days are shorter, but that simply means planning a portrait shoot at a certain time of day.
How is preparing for your winter photo shoot different from summer?
Weather in Finland can be quite unpredictable throughout the year, so checking the weather forecast is just as important as any other time of year. The main difference is informing my clients what kind of images can be produced at what time of day due to temperature and lack of light. I shoot with multiple cameras and make sure I keep one in the house at all times. This is due to condensation problems. I make sure to bring extra batteries, which is always a good idea, as the cold can drain power much faster than before.
What’s your top tip for capturing the unique details in a typical winter wedding?
It all comes down to how playful and adventurous the couple is. If the couple enjoys frolicking in the snow, it’s guaranteed to create memorable photos. If those pranks aren’t for couples, then just wandering around in a winter wonderland makes for a beautiful moment. Also, backlit snowflakes are always a great way to highlight them and create magic.
How do you make sure your device works in cold weather?
Naturally, I tested the device before it got cold to see how it coped. That’s so I know how long the battery will last and at what temperature the electronics start to slow down. Honestly, at a wedding, you’re unlikely to be outdoors for so long that either of these things will become a big deal. When running away, it can happen.
The main problem is condensation. After being outdoors in cold temperatures, your device will fog up when you return to room temperature indoors. The biggest mistake is to pop out again with the same appliance, as the condensate will freeze and potentially damage your device. Therefore, you should always have a spare camera with the necessary lenses in your home. That way, when you come back, you can simply pick up the other camera and keep shooting. Also, having a spare battery pack inside your jacket pocket will keep you warm for longer as your body stays warm.
It gets dark very early in Finland in winter. How do you work with that?
I plan on taking portraits and, if possible, any other family and wedding photos for the brightest times of the day. Modern cameras are very forgiving with their ISO performance. You can easily push it to 6,400 and see the image quality drop a bit. I still make sure I expose the photo properly and make good use of the available light. The higher the ISO, the more forgiving the files become and you lose the chance to fix them later.
For most of the day, I will work with ambient light in indoor locations and when needed, with additional flash. Personally, I keep the extra lights to a minimum until the dance floor if possible. Usually, during speeches, I’ll use an external flash to give the image depth if it’s not too distracting to space and space.
At the end of the day, I’m there to document the event in the best possible way. I find the couple’s enjoyment more important than perfectly lit photos, so each time it’s a decision whether or not to shoot without the flash is a decision, as it can be frustrating. concentrate.
How do you advise people who have no snow photography experience?
Every camera and exposure mode has a different way of handling highlights and shadows, but with digital cameras they handle shadows better than saving highlights, so snow white is not This is a big problem, as your camera will most likely underexposed the entire image, since most of it is white.
With that said, I usually set a stop higher than the camera meter as a starting point. I shoot with manual settings so I don’t need to rely on the camera’s metering. I tend to expose the person’s skin when taking close-up portraits. When shooting more landscapes, I made sure not to highlight the highlights.
What was your most memorable moment in your winter wedding?
A couple from Asia have never been below 20 degrees Celsius °C (68 °F) and we are in Lapland, in the north of Finland. It’s -15 °C (5 °F), but with wind it feels below -30 °C(-22 °f). I was covered in matching winter clothes, thinking to myself that I was going to freeze to death. All electronic features stopped working on my camera (Nikon D850), although the shutter is still active. That’s how cold it is. However, the bride still smiled at me and enjoyed the moment with her husband. Those are some incredible contributions. The bride admits she has never been so cold in her life. It’s all worth it.
Stop thinking
Thank you, Lauri, for your insights. Shooting more winter weddings can be a great way to extend the wedding photography season. The more beautiful wedding pictures there are, the more couples decide to have a (brave) winter wedding. Lapland is definitely an unforgettable wedding photography location. Here’s a summary of what we’ve learned here today:
- It’s dark: set expectations with the couple about when to take portraits and family photos if daylight is desired.
- It’s getting cold: plan your outdoor shoot with the couple well so you can be quick.
- Keep one camera inside and another body outside to avoid condensation problems.
- Keep batteries warm in your jacket pocket and bring extra batteries as cold weather drains batteries faster.
- Explore the backlit snowflakes.
- Keep warm.
Ishaman used with permission of Lauri Hytti.
