It’s that time again – when the temps drop and where I, as a brand photographer, get extremely giddy. Being a Minnesota native, winter is one of my absolute favorite seasons to take photos – especially for brands.

If you’ve never seen Minnesota in the wintertime – I promise you, it’s something special.

But that being said, regardless of whether you’re in Minnesota trekking around in -40F or somewhere else equally as cold in the world – there are a few items I’ve picked up that help me keep warm on outdoor brand shoots that last for multiple hours in freezing temps.

Let me kick off this list by saying that I’m a firm believer in natural fiber anything/everything. We’re talking wool, shearling, leather, suede, cotton, down & naturally waxed. It keeps you warmer than anything acrylic ever will – believe me, I’ve tried that too.

1. A good shearling coat or jacket

I call my shearling jackets my natural windbreakers – no nylon needed. They’re super insulating, incredibly warm, AND a mega bonus – they help regulate your body temperature. Meaning, that when you need to be warm, it keeps you warm, If you need to be a little cooler, it keeps you cooler. Funny how natural fibers do exactly what they’re supposed to do, huh?

Plus, you won’t have to sacrifice any fashion points for these. I wear these jackets even when I’m not on a brand shoot and just want to stay warm and look good. Overland for the win, am I right?

2. Snow-resistant/waterproof pants

If you’re doing any kind of photography work in a snowy or wet area, these are ESSENTIAL. I keep a couple of different styles depending on how much snow or rain I need to be outside in – the ones that can fit inside a boot, and the ones with a snow gator that go inside & outside of the boot that are a little warmer.

3. 100% cotton denim jeans

If I’m not wearing my waterproofs, I wear 100% cotton denim. There is no elastane, which means no stretch. While they might be a bit rigid at first, they’ll give over time and become a really great cold-weather option for the drier days. My favorites that I tend to reach for over and over again are the original cowboy cut jeans from Wrangler or any pair of vintage American-made Levis.

4. Wool socks

Long story short, I live in wool socks from October to April. Yes, our snowy season is LONG. But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it. If I’m not in SmartWool, I’ve got on my granddad’s handmade vintage ski socks. They’ve lasted for 50 years, and are still going strong.

5. Leather, waterproof boots

Some folks are fans of duck boots or wellies. Me? I prefer a leather boot with a shearling lining. It keeps your fit *that* much further away from the frozen ground, and the leather naturally repels water, keeping your feet dry and warm. Personally, my go-to boot brand is Overland. I’m on my third pair of boots from them (all different styles) and each pair is still going strong at over three years old – and that’s with wearing them nearly every day.

6. Merino baselayers

I’m a firm believer in wool everything. Remember that thing about natural fibers? Same rings true for baselayers. They’re insulating, moisture-wicking and my only choice for colder weather.

7. Wool knitwear

The same concept applies – we love wool anything. Knitwear is no exception. Some of my favorites are from Villa Chennie (handmade knitwear) and WeNorwegians – heavy merino wool and lambswool, or alpaca for the lightweight knits.

8. Wool scarf of wild rag

Everyone knows you need a good jacket to keep you warm in the winter – but especially when you’re outdoors for a long time, you NEED to have a good neck cover in your arsenal. It keeps you warmer than you’d think – and helps you fend off catching a chill. I usually go for the trusty wool scarf that I’ve had for years, or for the slightly less blustery days, I go for a wild rag. Silk works really well, keeping the wind off and also doubling as a face cover if you need it.

9. Leather mittens or gloves

You can’t do anything outside if your hands aren’t warm. Here are my favorites for toasty digits.

10. A WARM hat

You lose most of your warmth from your head – so it only makes sense that you need to have a warm hat with you for any type of outdoor photography in the winter.

If you know me – you know I love being outside, and in order to do that in Minnesota you’ve got to be warm. As any classic Midwesterner would, I’ll give you the advice we pass along to any out-of-towners who aren’t used to the cold or don’t know how to dress for it…yet.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad dressers.”

If you’re not a fan of the cold, maybe try some of these and see if your opinion changes just a little bit.