How To Create Snowy Winter Photos With Giant Bokeh Snowflakes Using Flash
The simple technique that makes winter photos feel cinematic and magical.
Every winter, I look forward to that first real snowfall. Not just because Cleveland looks incredible in fresh snow, but because the snow gives us a new creative tool: huge, glowing, out-of-focus snowflakes that instantly make a scene feel magical.
You’ve probably seen the trend on Instagram: people shooting these dreamy winter portraits where the flakes look oversized, almost like big soft bokeh balls floating through the frame.
And here’s the thing.
It’s way easier than people think.
No Photoshop.
No composite.
No AI.
Just a flash, falling snow, and the right settings.
I’ve used this technique in everything from quick street portraits to more stylized winter shoots, and every time I post one of these images, someone asks, “How did you get the snow to look like that?”
So here’s exactly how to do it.
Why Flash Makes the Snowflakes Go Wild
The whole effect works because of one simple principle: Flash lights the snowflakes closest to your lens and those closest flakes are out of focus.
Out-of-focus + lit by flash = huge glowing orbs.
That’s really the entire trick.
Your lens is focused on your subject or background, not the flakes drifting right in front of the glass. When the flash fires, it lights up everything in its path, including those tiny flakes,so they explode into giant bokeh circles.
Without flash?
Snowflakes barely show up.
With flash?
Instant winter magic.
Night Time Works Best (Here’s Why)
You can do this during the day, but if you want the big cinematic glow, night is where this technique truly shines.
At night you can:
Underexpose the ambient light
Let the flash do all the heavy lifting
Get brighter flakes with deeper contrast
Build a moodier, more dramatic frame
Plus, the glow of the snowflake bokeh looks better against darker tones.
If you see fresh snow falling at night?
That’s the moment. Grab your camera and go.
The Gear I Use (You Don’t Need Anything Fancy)
This is one of those techniques where gear helps, but you absolutely don’t need top-of-the-line equipment.
Camera & Lenses
I usually shoot with my Canon R6 Mark II (see what’s in my camera bag), but any mirrorless or DSLR works as long as you have manual control.
Lens-wise, I tend to reach for my 50mm f/1.8, my favorite lens for almost everything because it matches the human eye perspective and gives clean depth.
But any of these work great:
35mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.8
85mm f/1.8
The key is a wide aperture: f/1.4–f/2.0 = giant bokeh.
Flash
A simple speedlight is perfect.
I run mine in manual mode. No TTL here.
Bare flash (unmodified) works best because it gives harder light on the flakes. If it's snowing heavily, I’ll sometimes throw a Ziploc bag over the flash or use an umbrella to keep it dry.
Camera Settings (My Starting Point)
Here’s where the magic really happens.
My go-to setup:
Mode: Manual
Shutter: 1/200 – 1/250
Aperture: f/1.4 – f/2
ISO: 400–1600 depending on background
White Balance: Auto or 4400k for cooler winter tones
Flash Power: 1/32 – 1/8
These aren’t hard rules. They’re just where I usually land.
How I dial in the look
Turn off the flash. Expose ONLY for the environment. Make it moody. Underexpose a bit.
Turn the flash back on. Adjust the power until your subject looks right.
Let the snow do the rest. The flakes will glow naturally.
This process gives you total control: the background stays dark and atmospheric, while the flash adds contrast and texture to the snow.
Flash Placement Options
There are two setups I use, depending on how dramatic I want the snow to look.
On-Camera Flash (Quick & Easy)
This is the fastest way to get the effect.
Tilt the flash slightly upward or outward. Don’t point it straight at your subject unless you want that classic flat flash look.
Because the flash sits right above the lens, it lights every flake between you and the subject—perfect for maximum bokeh chaos.
Off-Camera Flash (More Controlled & Cinematic)
If I’m doing a more intentional shoot, I’ll place the flash behind the subject angled toward me, or off to the side at 45°.
This lights only some of the flakes, gives better depth, and avoids blowing out your subject’s face.
It’s more directional, more cinematic, and generally cleaner.
Pro Tips I’ve Learned Shooting in the Snow
Move around. The flakes look different from every angle.
Have your subject move too. Walking shots look amazing with this technique.
Wear gloves (trust me). I like gloves with one or two fingers that fold back so I can still adjust controls.
Use a diffusion filter. A black-mist filter adds a dreamy glow to the highlights if you want a more artistic vibe.
Don’t worry about “too much” snow. Honestly, the messier the scene, the better the photos look.
Why This Technique Is Worth Trying
There are a lot of winter photo ideas out there, but this one is special because it lets you take an ordinary snowy night and turn it into something that feels like a movie still.
And once you get the hang of it, it becomes one of those techniques you break out every winter. Easy, fun, and consistently impressive.
If snow is falling where you are, grab your camera, grab your flash, and go make something magical.
And if you’re in Northeast Ohio, there’s no better place to practice than at one of the Top Winter Photoshoot Locations in Cleveland.
