Be prepared for your outdoor winter photoshoot.

Dress in comfortable, warm clothing and remember to keep your batteries warm, too, so they don’t malfunction. A camera case or backpack will do nicely or if the temperatures are well below freezing, use a chemical hand warmer in your pocket, take two batteries and and rotate your batteries from pocket to camera. It is best to keep your camera cold. Moving your camera from a warm car to the outside cold and back to a warm car or house can cause condensation resulting in a frozen mess.

If you are dressed in warm winter clothing and keep your car cold, the transition from car to outdoors will be easier on both you and your equipment.

Winter provides unique photo opportunities, unlike any other time of year. However, taking photos during this season can be a little tricky. Photographs of snow-covered landscapes will look best if taken when the sun is lower on the horizon (either early morning or late afternoon), causing more definition from cast shadows on the landscape. Taking photos of the snow on overcast days will result in dull, flat photos.

Look for interesting contrasts from rock formations, trees and wildlife. Make sure to find an interesting focal point and look for colors and reflections to capture in your composition.

Experiment with different shutter speeds and F-stops to see what works best for your particular camera and the day’s lighting conditions.