Venustas User Story: Chasing Light in the Cold

An Aurora Photographer’s Journey

For many people, the Northern Lights are something you hope to see once in a lifetime. For Sheri, it’s something worth waiting for, again and again, no matter how cold it gets.

Behind the Lens

Behind the camera, Sheri describes herself simply—as a tea-drinking wife, mom, and proud Grammy who finds joy in capturing the moments that make her heart sing. Whether it’s standing under the stars photographing the aurora, chasing early morning light, or documenting wildlife and everyday scenes, she has turned photography into a way of connecting with the world around her.

Through her work, she shares more than just images. She shares the quiet, the waiting, and the experience behind each shot. These moments shaped by patience, timing, and a deep appreciation for nature.

From Curiosity to Passion

Photography had always been part of Sheri’s life, though for many years it remained a part-time pursuit. She first focused on wildlife, later expanding into hot air balloon photography when her husband became a pilot. Early mornings in open fields, watching balloons lift into the sky, gradually became part of her routine.

In 2012, a friend introduced her to dark sky photography. That night changed everything. What Sheri’s camera captured revealed something she had never seen before, and it sparked something deeper. That winter, she began learning how to photograph the aurora—experimenting with settings in the dark, adjusting exposures, and gradually understanding how to work with the night sky.

What started as curiosity became something she kept coming back to.

Waiting for the Sky to Move

Aurora photography is as much about waiting as it is about shooting.

Before heading out, she carefully monitors solar activity, watching for the right conditions. When everything aligns, Sheri prepares her gear: two mirrorless cameras with wide-angle lenses, tripods, an action camera for timelapse, and multiple fully charged batteries, along with backups, because the cold drains power quickly. She also packs small but essential tools—lens wipes, a remote shutter, and even hand warmers, which she sometimes places near her lenses to prevent fogging or freezing.

And then she waits.

Sometimes for hours.

Sheri may drive between locations looking for the right foreground or reflections, but once she commits to a spot, she needs to be ready. The aurora can appear suddenly, and disappear just as quickly. In between, she experiments with light painting or long exposures, but much of the time, it’s simply standing still in the cold, watching the sky and waiting for it to move.

When the Cold Becomes the Challenge

In extreme winter conditions, the cold affects everything, not just comfort, but the entire shooting process.

Camera batteries drain much faster in freezing temperatures, sometimes losing power within a short period of time. Equipment can begin to freeze, and lenses may fog or ice over, especially when moving between different environments. Even something as simple as adjusting camera settings or changing lenses becomes difficult when your hands are exposed to the cold for too long.

Because aurora photography often involves long periods of standing still, the cold sets in quickly. On nights when temperatures drop to –30°C or lower, there’s no real movement to keep warm—just waiting, watching, and staying ready.

Sheri recalls shooting in conditions as low as –37°C, with wind chills approaching –50°C. Her camera began to freeze, her eyelashes collected frost, and even breathing in the cold air felt sharp. In those moments, managing the environment becomes just as important as capturing the image itself.

Before using heated apparel, staying out for extended shoots meant constantly working around the cold—walking back to the car to warm up, taking breaks just to regain feeling in her hands, or cutting sessions short altogether. And in aurora photography, stepping away at the wrong time can mean missing the moment entirely.

It’s hard for Sheri to stay fully focused on composition, timing, and light when part of her attention is always on how long she can endure the cold.

How Venustas Supports Her Work

With Venustas, Sheri is able to focus on her photography instead of constantly managing the cold.

She now plans every shoot with her heated gear in mind, bringing along her heated vest (W2118), gloves (G02), and parka jackets (W2168) as part of her standard setup. The vest plays a key role in keeping her core warm, especially her chest, back, and neck, which makes a noticeable difference during long periods of standing still while waiting for the aurora to appear.

Beyond comfort, the warmth becomes practical. In freezing conditions, Sheri often keeps her extra camera batteries in the heated pocket area of her vest to prevent them from losing power too quickly. When her camera starts to freeze, she can warm it under her outer layers before continuing to shoot—small adjustments that allow her to keep working in conditions where equipment would otherwise fail.

Her heated gloves also help between shots, allowing her to warm her hands during long waiting periods, even if she needs to remove them briefly to operate her camera. Together, these pieces make it possible for her to stay outside longer without constantly stepping away to recover from the cold.

During one shoot at Abraham Lake, temperatures dropped to –37°C, with wind chills near –50°C. Her camera was freezing, her eyelashes were covered in frost, and the risk of frostbite was real. In those conditions, even staying outside becomes a challenge.

Still, Sheri kept shooting.

She used the warmth from her Venustas vest to keep her core temperature stable, reheated her camera when needed, and kept her batteries functioning by storing them close to the heat. What would normally force a photographer to stop became something she could work through.

Over time, this has changed how she approaches her work. She no longer needs to cut sessions short because of the cold, and she can stay out longer with confidence, knowing she’s prepared.

In environments like this, staying warm isn’t just about comfort. It directly affects how long you can stay, how well you can work, and whether you capture the moment at all.

Staying Long Enough for the Moment

For an aurora photographer, staying longer often means everything. But in reality, that often comes down to what happens over the course of an entire night.

Sheri recalls one night in May 2024, when she and a colleague headed out shortly after sunset, expecting a good show. What they didn’t expect was how long it would last. The aurora continued through the night, stretching all the way until dawn. As the hours passed, fatigue started to set in. Standing still for so long in the cold, even small movements began to feel slower, and the body naturally wanted to shut down.

Instead of packing up early, Sheri adjusted as the night went on. Whenever the cold started to creep in, she would turn on the heat from her vest to take the edge off, then continue shooting. That ability to warm up without leaving her location meant she could stay present through the entire experience—from the first appearance of the aurora to the final moments before sunrise.

Another night, in November 2025, brought a completely different challenge. The aurora started early, even before the sun had fully set, and the colours quickly intensified. Knowing she wanted to capture reflections, Sheri made the decision to head to a nearby lake.

At the water’s edge, the cold felt different—sharper, heavier, and harder to ignore. In some moments, she was standing right at the shoreline, and in others, stepping into the water to get the right angle. The cold travelled quickly through her boots and up her body, making it difficult to stay still for long.

But leaving wasn’t an option.

Sheri stayed, adjusting her gear, repositioning her camera, and waiting for the right composition as the colours shifted across the sky. With the support of her heated vest and other gear, she was able to remain out there long enough to capture what she describes as one of the most intense and memorable aurora displays she has seen so far.

Why She Keeps Going

Aurora photography is unpredictable. There’s no guarantee you’ll see anything, no certainty of how long it will last, and no way to recreate the same moment twice. But that’s exactly what keeps Sheri going.

Each display is different. Each night offers something new. And even after years of chasing the aurora, the excitement hasn’t faded. It’s an adrenaline rush, and at the same time, something deeply calming.

Supporting What Matters

For Sheri, staying warm isn’t just about comfort. It’s what allows her to stay present, stay focused, and stay out long enough to capture something meaningful.

Venustas doesn’t change the conditions, but it helps remove one of the biggest challenges. It allows her to stay out longer, work more comfortably, and focus on what she came to do. Because when the sky finally comes alive, there’s no second chance.

And sometimes, getting the shot comes down to something simple: Being able to stay just a little longer.

To see more of Sheri’s aurora photography and outdoor work, you can follow her on Instagram at @sheriskocdopole

What Sheri Wears

👉Shop：Venustas Women's Classic Heated Vest, W2118

Adjustable heated warmth designed for versatile daily & outdoor layering wear.

👉Shop：Venustas Women's Heated Fleece Vest, W2117

Cozy fleece heated warmth, designed to layer seamlessly under casual winter outfits.

👉Shop：Venustas Women's Heated Jacket, W2168

Premium insulated warmth designed for all-day outdoor winter layering.