Winter Portrait Photography Ideas: Snow, Ice, and Cozy Vibes

Personally, I think winter is a great time for portrait photography. There is so much variety to explore, thanks to the change in weather, from outfit choices and locations to incorporating seasonal festivities.

I have a list ready to go of portrait ideas for this upcoming winter season, and I’m going to share them with you today. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Essential Gear for Photographers in Winter

I live in South Korea, and despite the scorching hot summers here, winter can be brutal too. I’ve seen temperatures drop as low as -18°C (0.4°F). Yes, it really does get that cold. While I try to avoid shooting in such extreme conditions, I have ventured out in the blistering cold on a few occasions. One thing I noticed is that battery life drops rapidly at these temperatures, so I always pack an extra battery or two, even though one would usually be enough in milder weather.There’s also the issue of the lens fogging up, so I carry a lens wipe to clear it. While it may be tempting to use your gloves, doing so will leave small fibres behind and dirty your lens.

As for your model, you will need to ensure that they are warm enough, as the last thing you want in your image is for them to be looking as if they are shivering and not enjoying the shoot. 

Dressing warmly is an obvious precaution, but I also carry pocket hand warmers to stop my fingers from going completely numb. I pack a couple of battery-powered ones and grip them between shots, and pack a couple of spares for my model, too.Finally, one essential item is a portable charger. Just as your camera battery drains faster, your phone will struggle too, so keeping it charged is important, especially for safety if you are out in harsh weather.Now that you’re fully packed, it’s time to get some ideas down and give them a try.

My Winter Portrait Idea List

1. Winter Neons

My usual style of photography revolves around the neon lights that are abundant on the city streets of South Korea, especially in Seoul, so I like to make use of them no matter the season. In winter, these neons look particularly striking. If you are lucky enough to get snow, the lights reflect beautifully on the streets and add to the atmosphere of your portrait.

For fans of Blade Runner, you can replicate iconic looks on winter nights, especially if you lean into similar outfits and the overall cyberpunk aesthetic.

Then there is the mist of breath on a cold night, which looks fantastic when light shines through it. I like to position my models close to neon lights to use them as a light source and illuminate the face, allowing the mist from their breath in the cold air to become a striking added element.

Of course, not everyone has access to such lights, but great work can be done with any kind of artificial lighting such as shop signs and streetlights. You can also bring your own lighting, such as RGB light sticks, to add some colour to your shots.

2. Frosty Mornings in Golden Hour

For early risers, the morning offers plenty of opportunities. Crisp mornings with frost-covered landscapes make an ideal backdrop for winter portraits. This atmosphere can be enhanced by shooting during the morning golden hour, just as the sun rises. The warm light will not only flatter your model’s complexion but also create a lovely contrast against the cold surroundings.

With this approach, I like to incorporate outdoor outfits that match the environment, such as big coats with fur hoods, woolly hats, and scarves to bring together the full winter scene.

It is also about interacting with the environment. I look for beautiful landscapes to use as a backdrop and capture a mix of close and wide shots. I also like to shoot around trees with frost on the branches to add more texture to the frame.

If you venture out for this kind of shoot, experiment with the direction of the light. Try fully lit faces, side lighting, and backlighting to create a variety of moods in your images.

3. Cosy Indoor Shots

Winter portraits do not always have to be shot outdoors, which is a relief for those days when the temperature really drops. Cosy indoor scenes can make for excellent portfolio shots, especially if you can bring in some of your own lighting to enhance the quality. Shoot by frosted windows, near roaring fires, or create your own snug setups.

What really sells these scenes is the outfit your model wears. Make sure they are dressed in thick, comfortable-looking clothing to reinforce that cosy feeling.

I imagine mixing fabrics to add texture to my shots, shooting with the warm glow of a fire and candles, with a cold scene visible through a window in the background. The model can run through a series of poses, incorporating details such as holding a warm drink or reading a book to amplify that cosy indoor atmosphere.

4. Go Minimal

Winter provides the perfect opportunity to strip everything back and create striking minimal portraits. For this, you will want a good covering of snow to contrast the blank landscape with a silhouette-style shot. Have your model wear dark clothing and position them in front of a snowy backdrop for maximum effect.

This concept works beautifully in open landscapes. I like to mix up extreme long shots with close-up portraits using a shallow depth of field. You can take the idea of contrast even further by shooting in black and white, or go the opposite direction and include a pop of colour to draw attention, such as bright red lipstick or a bold item of clothing.

This shoot does not have to take place only in nature. You can achieve a minimal look in the city, where snow helps cover distractions. I think brutalist architecture on a snowy day would make the perfect minimalist backdrop for a winter portrait shoot.

5. Get Festive

There is plenty of fun to be had creating festive shots for yourself and your family. Perhaps you are making holiday cards and want the perfect picture to go with them. Aside from the classic family photo in front of the fireplace, Christmas jumpers and all, you can get even more creative.

Take some inspiration from the cosy indoor shots and combine that with festive decorations. Instead of candlelight, use fairy lights. Warm drinks can be hot chocolate or eggnog.

Your festive photos do not have to be limited to indoors, either. Take the shoot outside and include holiday activities such as decorating the house or picking out a Christmas tree. You can tell the story of your celebrations through a series of photos that make wonderful keepsakes.

Editing Winter Photos: Step by Step

When it comes to editing your winter shots, there are many ways to make your images look their very best. However, one program that stands out above the rest is Aperty. This photo editing app is specially designed for portrait photography, giving you professional-quality results with ease.

So here is a quick step-by-step guide on how I would edit my winter portrait shots for the upcoming season.

Step 1: Base Photo Edit

After importing the image, I begin with the essentials, such as adjusting the exposure and contrast. This can all be done inside Aperty, so there is no need to switch between apps. I also use the Structure and Details tools to bring out clarity and texture in the image, which is perfect for indoor shots featuring a variety of fabrics.

Step 2: Retouching

Once that is done, I move on to refining my model’s appearance. I open the retouching tools and smooth the skin, and remove blemishes with one click. Then it is time to work on individual facial features, such as brightening the eyes and teeth, and adding more saturation to the lips. You can even enhance or apply makeup with realistic results.

Step 3: Colour Grade

Once I am happy with the retouching, I move on to the final step, which is colour grading. This is where a huge time-saver comes into play. When colour grading, it is important to ensure that any adjustments you make do not negatively affect the subject’s skin tones. With Aperty, I can mask out the model from the background with a single click, which is a huge help because I dislike drawing paths manually, especially around hair.

With the mask in place, I start by adding warmer tones to create a cosy feel or amplifying cooler tones to achieve a wintry look. The model is protected from any background changes, and I can then switch to the model’s mask to add a touch of warmth to the skin tones, depending on the overall mood of the image.

Step 4: Export

That is it, the edit is complete, and it is time to export. I am able to produce professional-quality edits for my winter shots in no time at all. There are also batch editing features to take advantage of, where Aperty recognises faces and allows you to apply the same adjustments across multiple photos, again saving you time. I see it this way: the less time I spend editing, the more time I can spend shooting. So be sure to give Aperty a try.The Bottom Line

Hopefully, you’re as excited for the upcoming winter season as I am. There are a great deal of creative opportunities that are exclusive to this period of time so it’s time to make the most of it! 

Personally, I am especially excited to try the neon portrait shoots alongside something stripped back and minimal, mixing up between snow-covered landscapes or against brutalist architecture. 

Then, of course, it will be on to the edits where Aperty can lend you a huge helping hand that will speed up your editing process and get you back out in that cold air. shooting more photos. So wrap up warm and enjoy your shoots, you’re sure to have a good time!