9 tips for photographing in hot weather
Summer is fantastic. Longer days, fine light, people coming outside. But photographing at high temperatures has a downside too. Your camera protests, your battery gives up sooner and you stand there sweating in an outfit you did not really want to wear.
I know that last one all too well. I cope badly with heat and perspire easily. I stand in front of my wardrobe, know I have to wear something presentable for a wedding or an event, and still reach for that one sports shirt. Because it is simply hot. The tips in this article will help you set out well prepared, whether you are walking the narrow streets of an Italian town, standing at a busy festival or doing an outdoor shoot at 35 degrees in the sun.
Photographing in hot weather asks for a smart approach, for yourself as well as for your equipment. Here are nine tips that genuinely make a difference.
Tip 1: watch out for fogged lenses
This may be the most underestimated problem when photographing at high temperatures. You step out of a cooled hotel room or aeroplane into the heat and suddenly you can see nothing at all. Your lens fogs completely.
That happens because the glass is colder than the outside air. The moisture in the warm air condenses on the cold surface. The same principle as a cold glass of water in summer.
The solution is simple: give your camera and lenses time to acclimatise. Put your bag outside in advance or open it in a transitional space. On a trip to a tropical country this matters all the more. Waiting five to ten minutes can save you an hour of frustration.
At events and weddings this is extra annoying, because those chances do not come back. So always arrive a little earlier and leave your kit outside or in an uncooled room before you begin.
Tip 2: heat is bad for your battery
Heat and batteries do not go together. High temperatures speed up the chemical processes in a battery, so it drains faster. In extreme heat a battery that normally lasts a whole day can be empty after a few hours.
A few things help here:
Keep spare batteries somewhere cool, in your bag then, not on the dashboard of your car. A battery that has lain in full sun for an hour charges worse and lasts less long.
Switch your camera off when you are not using it. In standby it still draws power.
When photographing in hot weather always take at least one more spare battery than you normally would. For travel photography in hot countries I recommend carrying three. The same goes for a day festival or an outdoor event.
Tip 3: do not leave your camera in full sun
This sounds obvious, but it still goes wrong regularly. You put your bag down on a bench in the sun while you go for a drink, and when you come back everything is scorching hot.
Cameras and lenses are built to take something, but extreme heat is a risk. The grease in lenses can soften, the sensor can overheat and electronics simply do not like heat.
Use a light coloured or reflective bag. Dark bags absorb far more heat. Light grey or beige reflects it considerably better.
No choice and you have to put your bag down? Then look for shade. A tree, a wall, a parasol. Always better than full sun.
Tip 4: rucksack or trolley?
For travel photography this is a real question. A rucksack sits on your back, and the heat your body gives off is returned straight to it. In a hot city such as Barcelona or Lisbon you are soaked after ten minutes of walking.
A trolley or wheeled case rolls along and does not hang on your back. That makes an enormous difference in heat and comfort. The drawback is that you cannot take it everywhere: unpaved paths, stairs and busy markets get harder.
My advice: use a trolley if you walk a lot on paved roads and do not have to climb much. Think of a city trip to Paris or London. Use a rucksack if you are really heading into nature or are on foot a lot on uneven ground.
And if you go for the rucksack: wear it as briefly as you can. Put it down when you stand still and see whether you can take a more compact bag. Your back will thank you.
Tip 5: clothing that does work
Back to that wardrobe. I understand the temptation. A sports shirt or a light t-shirt is comfortable and breathes well. But if you are at a wedding or photographing a business event, you also want to look reasonably professional.
The good news: there are decent alternatives these days. Walking trousers and light linen trousers look neat and are far more pleasant than jeans at 32 degrees. Light, airy shirts in linen or bamboo breathe well and look smarter than a sports shirt.
Think about your footwear as well. Hot feet make the day harder. Good walking shoes with ventilation are a better choice than closed leather shoes.
And a cap or a hat. Seriously. You do not want sunstroke during a shoot. Protect your head.
Tip 6: protect your lens from direct sunlight
A lens hood is always a good idea, but when photographing in hot weather all the more so. It protects not only against flare, but against the front element heating up directly.
Photographing on a beach or in open country? Then sunlight reflects from below as well. Be aware of that extra light and correct your exposure where needed.
In street photography in hot countries you also notice that the midday light is often too hard for fine images. Shadows are black, highlights are burnt out. Use those hours for a break and photograph early in the morning or around the golden hour.
Tip 7: keep your lens and sensor clean
Heat also means more dust, more wind and more sweat. A wipe of your sweaty hand across the front of your lens is quickly done and leaves a greasy smear that ruins your photos.
Always carry a clean microfibre cloth. And lens cleaning fluid if things really get dirty. Change lenses as little as possible in dusty or windy conditions: that pulls dust into the camera and it ends up on your sensor.
At festivals or busy outdoor events this is extra relevant. Lots of people, lots of dust, lots of movement. Be conscious of when you change, and preferably do it with your back to the wind.
Tip 8: sort out water and the right fuel
This is not a camera tip, but it is a photography tip. A photographer who is dehydrated makes bad decisions. You miss things, you are slower and you get frustrated.
Water matters most. Always take a good bottle and drink before you are thirsty, because by the time you feel thirsty you are already too late.
But in serious heat water alone is not enough. If you sweat a lot you also lose electrolytes, sodium and potassium in particular. You need those to keep your muscles working properly and your concentration up. A sports drink, a sachet of electrolyte powder or simply some salted nuts help top that up.
Think about carbohydrates as well. Photographing is physical work, certainly if you are on your feet all day at a festival or doing a long wedding shoot. A banana, an energy bar or some wholemeal bread gives you your energy back without landing you in a sugar dip.
On hot shoots I deliberately plan stops. Sitting in the shade for a bit, drinking, recovering. You win those five minutes back twice over in concentration and sharpness.
Tip 9: use the heat as a creative element
Finally, a positive note. Hot weather also offers chances you do not get in cold, grey weather. Heat haze above asphalt, reflections on a warm beach, the fierce contrast of shadows in a Mediterranean city. That is all visual material.
In hot weather, photograph towards those elements deliberately. Look for the shimmer above a hot road surface. Look for the long shadows early in the morning. Use the deserted midday quiet of an Italian village as a backdrop for your street photography.
And at events: the summer atmosphere, people in light clothing, an ice cream in hand, a cool drink in the sun. Those are the images that record the experience of that day. Let them in.
Want to learn to photograph in demanding conditions?
Hot weather is one thing, but photographing in any kind of condition asks for technical knowledge and a feel for the moment. If you want to develop that, a workshop is a great step. Not to learn theory from a book, but to actually head out, practise and get direct feedback.
In spring and autumn I run photography workshops in Paris and London, where we photograph in the middle of the city and I guide you through every aspect of the craft. From technique to an eye for composition, from using light to timing. Always in a small group, so there is room for your questions. And in slightly nicer weather than we are having this week (30 degrees and up).
And if you want to know what is possible in street photography and in learning to photograph in different conditions, have a look at my photography workshops and intensive programme for a complete overview of what I offer.
Questions about which workshop suits you? Do get in touch, I am happy to help.