Photography & Filming in the Cold at Winter Festivals

Winter festivals present a magical backdrop for photographers and videographers – from snow-blanketed landscapes to twinkling lights and breath visible in the frosty air. Capturing these moments on film or in photos can produce stunning results, but cold weather introduces serious challenges. Equipment can fail, batteries drain rapidly, and crew members risk discomfort or even injury if not properly prepared. Successful festival producers around the world have learned that special preparations are essential to keep cameras rolling and shutters clicking in freezing temperatures. This guide shares seasoned advice – with real examples – on how to equip crews, adapt venues, plan shots, and integrate sponsors when photographing or filming winter festivals.

Equip Crews with Cold-Weather Gear and Tech

Battery Warmers and Power Management: In sub-zero conditions, camera batteries can lose power startlingly fast. A festival media team must keep batteries warm to ensure continuous shooting. Seasoned cold-weather photographers often carry spare batteries in inner coat pockets, swapping a drained battery for a warm one to minimize downtime. Battery warmers can be as simple as chemical hand-warmer packs taped around battery compartments or a more sophisticated insulated wrap for larger cinema batteries. For instance, at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China (where nighttime temperatures plummet around -30°C), photographers keep extra batteries between their layers of clothing. Using a battery grip on DSLR or mirrorless cameras is another smart tactic – it not only provides extra power but also adds mass, keeping the device warmer longer. Pro tip: After using a battery in the cold, let it warm up slowly before recharging; charging an ice-cold battery can reduce its lifespan.

Weather-Proof Camera Housings: Moisture and frigid air can threaten camera gear, so protecting equipment is paramount. Weather housings or rain covers shield cameras from snow, sleet, and condensation. Standard rain covers might turn brittle in extreme cold (below around -20°C), so look for specially designed cold-weather “blimp” housings or “polar bear” covers. These insulated housings often include pockets for hand-warmer pouches to keep the camera’s core warm. Major event film crews, like those at winter sports festivals or mountain concerts, rely on such covers to maintain camera function during blizzards. If dedicated cold-weather covers aren’t available, even wrapping a camera in a fleece scarf or a cut-up neoprene sleeve can help it retain some heat. And don’t forget the lenses – use lens hoods to minimize snow landing on the glass and consider neoprene lens covers for insulation.

Keep Gear Dry (and Avoid Condensation): Going from the cold outdoors into a warm tent or indoors can fog up lenses and electronics due to condensation. Festival filmmakers have learned to gradually acclimatize their gear. One common practice is sealing cameras in ziplock plastic bags before bringing them into a heated environment. This way moisture condenses on the bag, not the equipment, as it warms up. For example, video crews at Québec’s Winter Carnival stash their cameras in sealed bags when coming back into the heated media room, preventing sudden condensation. Also, avoid repeatedly exposing gear to drastic temperature swings. During short breaks, it’s actually better to leave cameras (powered off) secured outside or in an unheated zone, rather than shuttling them into warmth and back out – this prevents steaming up or internal condensation issues. By treating cameras gently in cold weather, festival teams can avert moisture damage and keep lenses crystal clear.

Create Safe & Comfortable Camera Positions

Camera Pits and Platforms: Whether it’s a music stage at a snowy New Year’s Eve festival or a ski slope for a winter sports event, plan out designated camera positions with safety and functionality in mind. Build camera platforms or pits that give photographers and camera operators stable footing even on ice or thick snow. Laying down anti-slip mats on platforms, risers, or any area where camera crew will stand is crucial – it provides traction and also insulates feet from the cold ground. Seasoned festival organisers in Nordic countries even use materials like wooden planks or insulated panels (and in one colorful example, reindeer hides) for camera stand areas to keep camera operators’ feet warm. Additionally, clear any snow and apply sand or salt to pathways where roaming videographers will walk, reducing the chance of slips while carrying expensive equipment.

Heated Breaks for Crew: Working a camera for hours in freezing wind is physically draining. Top festival production teams schedule heated breaks for their photo and video crews to recharge – both the equipment and the humans. This might mean rotating staff every 30-60 minutes to a warming station like a heated tent, trailer, or indoor area offstage. For example, at Canada’s Igloofest (an electronic music festival held outdoors in deep winter), organisers provide a heated backstage tent where photographers can periodically thaw their hands and swap batteries without missing too many beats. Inside these break areas, have hot drinks, warm seating, and even spare gloves or socks for emergency use. Team coordination is key: stagger the crew’s break schedule so that coverage on stage and among the crowd is continuous. If the event is small and only one photographer is on duty, plan short intermissions in shooting (during less critical moments) for that person to warm up briefly. It’s also wise to brief the team on recognizing signs of cold stress (numb fingers, shivering, loss of concentration) and empower them to speak up if they need a break – safety first. A comfortable crew will be more alert and creative when they’re out capturing the action.

Crew Clothing and Accessories: Investing in proper cold-weather gear for the camera crew is just as important as gear prep. Encourage or supply photographers with layered winter clothing (thermal base layers, insulating mid-layers, windproof outer shells) and insulated boots or overshoes. Hands are tricky – gloves need to be thin enough for camera controls but warm enough to prevent frostbite. Some festival photographers use glove liners under fingerless mittens, so they can momentarily expose fingertips to adjust settings or warm up after using the camera. Provide plenty of chemical hand warmers: camera ops can slip them inside mittens or pockets to keep fingers dexterous. Also consider eye protection like ski goggles if there’s blowing snow, and make sure headsets or walkie-talkies for communication are compatible with hats or hoods. Little touches like anti-fog spray for viewfinders, or even heated lens cloths, can go a long way when working in sub-freezing temperatures.

Plan for Perfect Winter Shots

Golden Hour and Lighting: Winter’s shortened days and low sun angles can actually be a blessing for festival visuals. Smart organisers will schedule key photo/video shoots around golden hour – the period just after sunrise or before sunset when sunlight is soft and golden. In winter, golden hour comes early (often mid-afternoon for sunset in northern climates), so a festival may plan the day’s main events or media moments accordingly. For instance, a winter music festival might schedule a scenic outdoor DJ set at 4 PM to capture the warm sunset glow on stage and snow-covered mountains in the background. Photographers can use this light for breathtaking wide shots of the festival grounds or portraits of artists with a fiery winter sky behind them. Likewise, the blue hour after sunset, when the sky turns deep blue, contrasts beautifully with festival lights or ice sculptures – a perfect time for videographers to record establishing shots of the venue transitioning into night.

Capturing Snowfall and Weather Magic: Nothing says “winter wonderland” like gently falling snow during an event. If weather forecasts predict snow, plan your camera coverage to make the most of it. Some festivals create a shooting schedule that includes snowfall capture windows – essentially, being ready when the flurries begin. At a ski festival in the Alps, for example, the media team keeps an eye on the forecast and alerts roaming cameramen when an expected light snow is starting, so they can rush to grab those epic crowd shots with snowflakes swirling under the stage lights. Snowfall can transform the atmosphere of a festival moment, so ensure cameras are rolling for at least a few minutes of any significant snow. (Artificial snow machines can also be coordinated with the media schedule – if your event blows snow at certain times for effect, let the crew know in advance to be in position.)

Challenges of Shooting in Snow: Getting the picture-perfect snow shot does come with hurdles. Snow can confuse camera exposure and white balance – crews often have to compensate to avoid dark, underexposed subjects against bright white backgrounds. Seasoned festival videographers sometimes slightly overexpose (by ~1 stop) to keep snow looking bright while maintaining detail on performers or decor. Falling snow can also play tricks on autofocus and lights: communicate with lighting techs if you need them to tweak stage lights to avoid a “white-out” on video when snow is heavy. Also, keep lens cloths handy to wipe moisture, and consider a clear filter on lenses for easy cleaning if snow is sticking to the front element. Finally, remember the magic doesn’t just happen by day – winter storms or snow at night, backlit by colourful festival lights, can produce incredible visuals. Don’t shy away from the weather; embrace it with preparation.

Leverage Cozy Sponsor Integrations

Winter festivals often delight attendees with warming features – think fire pits, heated lounges, hot drink stations, or even cozy art installations like igloos or yurt tents. These are not just amenities; they’re also prime content opportunities. Sponsors frequently underwrite such features (a coffee brand sponsoring a cocoa booth, an outdoor gear company hosting a “warming tent”, etc.), so festival producers should incorporate them into the event’s storytelling. Encourage your photo/video crew to capture heartwarming moments around these spots: friends warming their hands at a branded fire barrel, or a family sipping hot chocolate beneath a sponsor’s banner. These images convey the spirit of the festival and give sponsors extra exposure in an authentic way.

Clearing Rights and Managing Branding: Before using any sponsor-integrated photos or footage in marketing, be sure to clear the rights and align with the sponsor’s expectations. In practice, this means communicating with sponsors ahead of time about your intent to photograph/film their activation and possibly use that content on social media, recap videos, or press releases. Most sponsors will be thrilled to be featured – for example, the team behind New Zealand’s Queenstown Winter Festival coordinated with a clothing sponsor who ran a “warming hut” lounge, resulting in a set of professional photos that the sponsor eagerly shared on their own channels (after the festival granted usage rights). However, it’s crucial to have any necessary agreements in place: if close-up shots include sponsor logos or products prominently, ensure those images can be used for promotional purposes without infringing on any trademarks or image rights. Similarly, if you film attendees enjoying a sponsor’s installation, consider getting model releases for identifiable individuals if the content will be used in advertisements (this protects both the festival and sponsor legally).

Mutually Beneficial Content: When done thoughtfully, capturing these cozy moments can strengthen relationships with sponsors and enhance the festival’s brand. A short highlight reel showing crowds gathered around the sponsor-branded bonfire or cuddled up in a heated tent gives a narrative of “we care about comfort” while subtly spotlighting the sponsor’s contribution. Make sure the crew knows which features are sponsored and any key messaging the festival and sponsor want to convey. For instance, if an energy company sponsors free hand-warmer packets at a winter event, a videographer might film the moment an attendee gratefully takes a branded hand-warmer and laughs with friends – a small storytelling detail that can end up as a clip in both the festival’s after-movie and the sponsor’s internal showcase reel. By planning these shots and integrating sponsor branding organically, festival organisers not only keep attendees warm but also keep their partners happy.