2. Keep your subjects’ comfort in mind
If you plan on shooting the couple and group portraits outside, it’s important to keep your subjects’ comfort in mind and watch out for things like red noses and watery eyes that might be difficult to edit out later. Try to work quickly as quickly as possible and plan frequent breaks so your subjects can warm up between shots.
You may also want to consider using props like umbrellas, winter boots, scarves, shawls and faux fur coats to keep the bride and groom cosy and warm throughout the photo shoot, while also adding a creative twist.
It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan and location for these photos in case of rain or extreme winds. Try to scout out the venue ahead of time so you can identify a few locations that would suit different types of weather. For instance, is there a gazebo on the grounds that could provide shelter as well as a scenic background? Or maybe there’s a large doorway, picture window or staircase that could serve as a lovely background for the portraits?
3. Protect your gear
Extreme temperature changes from warm too cold or cold too warm can cause condensation to collect on your lens and camera body. Aside from fogging up your lens and making it difficult to take photos, condensation can damage some of the electronics inside your camera.
With this in mind, it’s best to leave your gear inside the bag for 15 minutes or more when moving outdoors from indoors or vice versa, depending on how extreme the temperature change is. This allows it to get used to the temperature change gradually and prevents too much condensation from building up.
If you have two camera bodies and multiple lenses available to you, it can also be a good idea to keep one camera for indoor use and the other for outdoor use. This way, you won’t have to wait for your camera and lens to acclimatise each time you move from one situation to another.
Batteries also lose charge a lot faster in cold weather, so make sure you bring spare batteries and try to carry them in a pocket close to your body to prevent them from getting too cold while photographing outdoors.