In this blog I will share with you what I do when I shoot in very hot and cold environments.

I don’t know about you, but I love shooting in the deepest depths of winter. The cool tones, the mood, and the blistering cold all add to the experience. However, shooting in cold temperatures can, and often does, bring with it a set of challenges and things to keep in mind. Below is a little list of tips that have worked for me over the years:

When entering a warm indoor space, if your camera is in your bag, leave it there and avoid taking it out unless you have to. Your bag will be very cold, and by keeping the camera inside there is a chance of avoiding condensation. This isn’t guaranteed, but it’s worked for me in the past.
As inconvenient as it may seem, wear gloves, even if it means changing your camera layout. Nothing will ruin your photography experience like frozen fingers, both in terms of enjoyment and your ability to operate the camera if it gets that bad. I’ve been there many times.
If you have an intricate button setup, I suggest simplifying it to just the bare essentials and turning off all the other buttons. When shooting in thick gloves, it’s all too easy to press something by accident.
Keep it simple. Either pick one prime or go with a zoom. The last thing you want to be doing in the freezing cold is changing lenses.
Put your spare batteries on the inside of your coat, ideally in a pocket close to your body. Most coats have an inner chest pocket for valuables, so keep the batteries there as it will help prolong their life. On the subject of batteries, bring an extra one just in case. The cold can drastically reduce battery life.

When it comes to the heat, this is what I can advise:

Avoid backpacks as you’ll end up drenched in sweat and feeling much warmer. This is a lesson I learned the hard way many times. These days I use a sling that I can rotate around to avoid getting sweaty patches.
Avoid carrying heavy gear. The more weight you need to carry, the more tired you’ll become in the heat. In hot weather, keep it as light as possible.
When I am about to spend a day shooting in the heat, all fashion goes out of the window. I default to my baggy Uniqlo gym clothes and never look back. If you still need to maintain a smart look, then go for loose linen. There is nothing worse than pure cotton on a hot day.
If you’ll be covering a lot of ground, make sure to pack enough blister plasters. As your feet get damp, new blisters can start to appear. I speak from experience, they will ruin your trip. Blister plasters are worth their weight in gold.
A hat and sunglasses are obvious essentials. So is sun cream.
On a typical day of shooting in 30°C weather, I will easily go through 3 to 4 litres of water. Keep hydrated if you don’t want to feel like crap later.
While water is essential, having some electrolytes will help replace what you lose through sweat. I always have a small sachet in my bag.
My final suggestion is to avoid big meals and instead eat little and often when walking on hot days. There is nothing more uncomfortable than a full stomach in 30°C weather.
While I don’t personally use them, many people swear by mist sprays and personal fans.