Which Video Equipment Needs Extra Care in Winter

Winter filming in Jackson Hole isn’t just about grabbing the right scenic shot or planning through the snow. It’s about what’s going on inside your gear while you’re out there trying to capture something great. Cold weather brings in a new set of problems for everyone on set, especially if you’re not keeping an eye on how your equipment is reacting. The temperature drop isn’t just uncomfortable—it changes the way your tools behave and how long they’re going to last out there.

Whether you’re renting gear or using your own, the Jackson Hole winter can push it harder than expected. Batteries stop holding charge, lenses begin to fog up, and super cold conditions can make plastics brittle. It’s not always obvious something's wrong until the footage comes back full of issues. Taking extra steps before and during the shoot can keep things running smoother and avoid mid-day breakdowns that eat up time or ruin shots you can’t redo.

Cold Weather Challenges For Cameras

Cameras really don't like staying out in freezing temps for long stretches. The cold can hit a camera in two major ways by draining the battery fast and slowing down or glitching the electronics. Even high-end cameras can start acting strange if they’ve been sitting in the cold too long. Screens get sluggish. Autofocus might act up. And sometimes, the whole camera shuts off if the battery drops below a usable level too quickly.

If you’re filming in Jackson Hole, this is something you’ve gotta plan for. With those sub-zero mornings and icy evenings, you can't assume gear will behave like it's a spring shoot. Here's how to keep your cameras working the way they should:

- Always carry extra batteries and keep them warm. Inside pockets work best since your body heat helps a lot.

- Rotate cold batteries out as soon as they dip. Swapping early prevents a sudden power loss.

- Store cameras in padded bags when not filming. Cold metal and glass contract fast when exposed, which can mess with alignment and cause seals to shrink or crack.

- Avoid turning cameras on cold and immediately filming. Let them adjust if they’ve been in a frozen trunk or on icy ground.

One example that’s pretty common: let’s say you're shooting early in the Tetons and your camera’s been in your vehicle overnight. You turn it on, and suddenly the LCD goes dark, or the battery says 80 percent then immediately dies. That’s cold shock messing with the system. Starting the day without prepping your camera for temperatures like that creates problems from shot one.

Protecting Lighting Equipment

Lighting setups are usually focused on color temp, direction, and intensity. But in cold weather, especially in Jackson Hole conditions, gear setup means more than just the scene. Cold temps introduce another layer of complexity for lights, especially with LED panels and battery-powered rigs. They might flicker, dim, or just not power on the way they would in climate-controlled interiors.

Here's what to watch for when you're lighting up outdoor winter scenes:

- Condensation can form inside light covers or barn doors when going from a warm van interior to the icy outdoors. This can affect lens clarity or even cause short circuits.

- Power cables stiffen or crack. If exposed wiring is involved, moisture from snow can make things worse fast.

- Tripod-mounted lights need steady footing. Snowpack shifts. Frozen cables can make stands misalign.

- Battery-powered lights struggle in sub-freezing temps. Output drops or becomes inconsistent.

To avoid dealing with flickering lights or total failures, get things powered on earlier than needed and let them warm up slowly. Keep your lights in soft cases instead of hard plastic ones, which don’t insulate well. And be ready with backups or at least supplemental lighting in case something skips a beat mid-shoot.

Handling Drones in Winter

Flying drones in Jackson Hole during the winter comes with more risk than most people expect. Icy air, quick battery drain, poor GPS signals, and faster wind shifts all add up to a flying experience that’s a lot trickier than usual. Even experienced drone operators run into issues when gear reacts differently due to the cold.

The most noticeable thing is battery performance. Just like cameras, drone batteries hate the cold. When temperatures drop, they drain faster and don’t deliver consistent power. This becomes a real danger mid-flight. One second you're hovering over a ridge, and the next, you're seeing a battery low warning way earlier than you planned.

Here’s how to fly safely and keep your drone gear protected:

- Warm up batteries inside the cabin and install just before takeoff. Cold batteries tend to deceive charge readings and lose power mid-air.

- Limit flight times. Even if batteries say 100 percent, don’t try to overextend. Plan short routes and test hover before sending the drone far from home base.

- Calibrate compass and IMU before flying. Snow and ice can mess with calibration if skipped.

- Avoid flying in active snowfall unless the drone is specifically rated for wet conditions. Snow on the camera lens is one thing, but snow getting into the prop motors or sensor housings is worse.

- Give your drone time to acclimate once you're outside. Control and sensor response can lag if you lift off too soon after hitting the cold air.

A good example? One crew flew just after a storm rolled through the Snake River range, thinking the sky was clear enough. But the drone's battery warning came on early, and before they could land, the control signal started lagging. Snow had lightly crusted the onboard sensors unnoticed. The drone came back in one piece, but the footage took a hit from unexpected frame skips and a sketchy landing.

Care For Audio Equipment

Audio gear isn’t often the first thing people think of when planning a cold shoot, but it should be. When the mic doesn't pick up properly or starts crackling, that lost sound is hard to fix later. Freezing air thickens cables and messes with sensitive gear. Lavalier mics get stiff, boom poles become slick and hard to handle, and wind covers often collect dampness faster than you’d like.

Condensation is one of the biggest problems. Mics close to the body can drip moisture inside foam covers when moving between warm and cold spots. That moisture then freezes or creates that dreaded muffled sound back in post.

To keep audio clear, here's what we do when filming in winter:

1. Always run a quick audio test with cold gear before filming. Don’t assume yesterday’s setup will sound the same today.

2. Keep mics and transmitters dry. Store them in sealed plastic bags inside a protective bag while changing locations.

3. Use quality windscreens, but rotate them during long shooting days. If one picks up too much moisture, have a dry one ready.

4. Avoid placing body mics under multiple layers unless you’re balancing heat with breathability. Too much warmth can steam up the pack or cable edges.

An exposed shotgun mic during a shoot in cold, damp wind once picked up a slow crackle that seemed harmless at first. But when the takes were reviewed later, that sound was deep enough in the track to make most of it unusable. Spot-checking gear every time you move locations in winter saves hours in post, without question.

Shielding Gear From Snow And Moisture

Snow might look nice on camera, but it’s rough on gear. Downloads, handhelds, cables all of it can run into trouble with moisture. Sometimes it’s obvious, like slushy buildup getting into a lens hood. But other times, snow melts inside seams or button gaps and causes issues after you've wrapped.

Moisture protection starts before the first piece of gear gets unpacked. It’s not just about tossing on a waterproof cover once it starts snowing. The real goal is to block direct contact, stop water from creeping into exposed surfaces, and always keep things dry between setups.

Here's what we’ve found helps most:

- Use dedicated all-weather covers for cameras, audio gear, and lights. Cheap plastic ponchos don’t cut it when you’re dealing with actual snow.

- Set up gear on dry surfaces. Never rest cameras or drones directly on snow, even with a mat under them. A little melting freezes fast and hardens into places it shouldn’t go.

- Bring microfiber towels and lens wipes that can actively dry and clean gear between takes.

- When packing down, store gear in sealed bags or hard cases lined with absorbent materials and allow airflow if the gear is damp.

Snow doesn’t have to be heavy to cause problems. Even a light flurry settling unnoticed into a panel crevice during setup can sneak inside and short something out later. Staying alert and keeping tools dry is part of what makes the difference in quality and performance.

Stay Ready for Unpredictable Winter Shoots

Cold weather throws gear a curveball. Batteries act up, lights get wonky, drones hit their limit, and audio can fade. Every tool brings extra risk when winter hits Jackson Hole, and the issues don’t wait until it’s easy to deal with. What matters is staying prepared and adapting throughout the shoot when small problems show up.

Great winter footage is completely possible, as long as the gear gets the right attention. When you work smarter, take preventive steps with your tools, and keep safety in focus, your production runs smoother and your visuals stand out. Your equipment should work with you, not against you. Jackson Hole’s winter beauty is worth capturing—it just needs the right setup.

To make sure your shoots stay on track during the colder months, it helps to prepare for gear slowdowns before they hit. When you're working in winter conditions and need dependable gear, check out our Jackson Hole equipment rentals for setups that keep your footage steady. Après Visuals is here to support your production every step of the way.