As any photographer--amateur or professional--knows, the weather can present unique challenges during a photo shoot. But with some preparation, even cold, rainy days can produce some beautiful images. Outlined below are some camera tips for all-weather conditions.

Be Prepared
Key items to have in your camera bag while shooting on rainy days include:

• Lens hood (helps shield the lens from rain drops)
• Silica packets (absorbs moisture in the camera bag)
• Chamois cloth (highly absorbent material for cleaning moisture off the camera and lens)
• Waterproof container for storing compact flash (CF) and secure digital (SD) cards
• Plastic trash bags (for covering camera bag and camera in an extreme downpour)

Shoot from Cover
The simplest way to stay dry is to seek the cover of an open doorway, awning, umbrella or other protective structure from which you can take pictures without getting the camera wet.

Protecting the Camera
It's imperative to avoid changing lenses in the rain in order to keep any moisture out of the camera body. In the event your camera gets wet, return indoors and turn it off, remove the battery and lens, gently wipe away any moisture (except from the image sensor) and allow everything to dry completely.

Consider purchasing a waterproof rain cover for your camera. If you're on a budget there are many ways to construct a do-it-yourself rain cover. The most popular method involves cutting a hole into a plastic bag from which the camera's lens protrudes, then securing the bag around the lens with rubber bands.

Cold-Weather Photography
All of the tips for keeping a camera dry also apply to photography in snowy conditions. However, cold weather presents a couple of unique obstacles:

• Condensation--Avoid condensation on your camera by keeping it insulated in a padded camera bag and allowing it to slowly adapt to the extreme temperature change of going outdoors. The same applies for returning indoors.
• Batteries--Cold weather quickly drains batteries, even if they aren't in the camera. Have at least one spare battery inside your coat against your body to keep it warm.