Photography and Christmas seem to go hand in hand. With all of your family and friends together, you have a chance to create imagery that will be shared online, physically printed out, mailed across the globe and cherished for generations with the power of digital imaging. So, here are 10 Christmas Photography Tips to make sure those photos turn out great.
1) Bump your ISO
Find the right ambient-to-flash balance, even if that means bumping the ISO to 1600, 3200 and even 6400 depending on your camera body. On full frame professional cameras, like the Canon 5D Mark IV, Nikon D850, or Sony A9, don’t be afraid to go up to 6400. On entry level cameras like the Canon Rebel or Sony a6500, keep your ISOs at 1600 and below to avoid too much image degradation. The images below were taken at ISO 3200 on Canon 5D Mark IV.
2) Use Lower Apertures
Create beautiful bokeh in your Christmas background lights by dropping your apertures. The image below is shot on a Canon 5D Mark III with a Canon 50mm F1.2 Lens at F2.0. Of course, you have to be very accurate with your focus at such shallow depth of fields, but if you can get your subjects sharp, the low apertures will really make your images pop and bring out those beautiful background Christmas lights. If your lens is capable, try staying at f2.8 or below.
3) Use Natural Light (avoid flash)
If you’re looking to create natural, warm and moody images, make sure you turn off your flash for some (if not most) of your photos. This allows the ambient light of the Christmas lights or fireplace to show up in your images and allows parts of the scene to fall off into shadow.
Image Courtesy of Darryl Wong Photography.
4) Use Christmas Props
For Christmas portraits, consider including fun Christmas props like Santa hats and cute holiday outfits. It’s tempting to lounge around in pajamas all day, but a little bit of extra planning will go a very long way. The following image is from a Bokeh Overlay tutorial by Tanya Smith.
5) Get Close
Putting the subject of your photo closer to the camera can help increase the amount of blur in the out-of-focus parts of the image, which works great for small details like Christmas ornaments. Be sure to keep your apertures low and consider using a macro lens to get in even closer while still being able to focus. Again, consider turning off your flash to maintain the natural, moody feel.
Image Courtesy of Darryl Wong Photography.
6) Use Fun and Silly Poses
The Holiday season is a time of fun and cheer. Be sure to step away from those classic smile-into-the-camera poses and get silly. As the photographer, whether you’re hired professionally to capture a holiday event or you’re simply photographing your family, it’s your job to get great reactions, smiles, and poses from your subjects.
7) Consider a Photobooth
Photobooths are getting easier and easier to set up. There are free Photobooth apps on your iPad as well as a variety of simple, inexpensive Photobooth Software. For large holiday parties, these are a great addition to the festivities; and they even work well for small family gatherings.
8) Stay Active and Ready for Great Reactions
Stay ready and actively anticipate smiles and laughs. Keep your camera up as your family and friends open their gifts and snap away at the reactions. Some of your best shots from Christmas will be the non-posed, in-the-moment images.
9) Consider Creating a GIF
GIFs are great for showing a series of events in a sequence. Combining images from these moments can result in hilarious GIFs that your family will love. See the example below from our recent Lin and Jirsa Holiday Party.
10) Consider Creating a Collage
Rather than posting 10 individual photos, consider creating a collage. In our world of social media, it’s easier to Instagram, Facebook, and Tweet one picture that sums up the party than to clutter up newsfeeds and timelines with multiple images.
11) Use Advanced Techniques like Long Exposures and Composites
To create beautiful starry effects in the Christmas lights, consider using small apertures and long exposures. This conflicts with our first tip of dropping down your aperture, but this tip is used to create an entirely different look. With small apertures, you’re utilizing diffraction to create start bursts. If you’re including people or other moving subjects in your photo, consider merging multiple images in a composite.
Christmas Photo Tips Conclusion
The most important rule for Christmas photos is to have fun. It’s a wonderful time to play with the bokeh of Christmas lights and utilize elaborate, festive sets. It’s also a great time to get meaningful family photos, as it seems harder and harder to get all of our loved ones in one place at one time.
As a seasoned photography enthusiast with extensive hands-on experience and a deep understanding of photographic techniques, I find the intersection of photography and festive occasions, such as Christmas, particularly captivating. Having worked with a variety of camera bodies, including professional full-frame models like the Canon 5D Mark IV and entry-level options like the Canon Rebel, I am well-versed in optimizing camera settings for different scenarios.
Let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the article on Christmas Photography Tips:
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Bump your ISO:
- Adjusting ISO settings is crucial for finding the right ambient-to-flash balance. On professional full-frame cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV, Nikon D850, or Sony A9, pushing ISO to 6400 might be necessary. Conversely, entry-level cameras like the Canon Rebel or Sony a6500 may require keeping ISOs at 1600 or below to avoid excessive image degradation.
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Use Lower Apertures:
- Lowering apertures, such as using f2.0 or f2.8, helps create beautiful bokeh in Christmas background lights. This technique, demonstrated with a Canon 5D Mark III and a Canon 50mm F1.2 Lens, adds a visually appealing element to the images.
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Use Natural Light (avoid flash):
- Turning off the flash is recommended for creating natural, warm, and moody Christmas images. This allows ambient light from Christmas lights or fireplaces to illuminate the scene, adding depth and atmosphere to the photos.
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Use Christmas Props:
- Incorporating festive props like Santa hats and holiday outfits can add a playful and thematic element to Christmas portraits. Planning and adding these props contribute to the overall visual appeal of the photos.
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Get Close:
- Bringing the subject closer to the camera while using low apertures and possibly a macro lens enhances the blur in out-of-focus areas. This technique is especially effective for capturing small details like Christmas ornaments.
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Use Fun and Silly Poses:
- Encouraging fun and silly poses during the holiday season adds a lively and cheerful dimension to Christmas photography. Departing from traditional poses can result in more spontaneous and engaging images.
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Consider a Photobooth:
- Setting up a photobooth, whether through free apps on devices or simple, inexpensive software, is suggested for large holiday gatherings. Photobooths provide a fun and interactive way to capture memorable moments.
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Stay Active and Ready for Great Reactions:
- Remaining alert and ready to capture spontaneous reactions during gift openings and festive moments contributes to the authenticity of Christmas photos. Non-posed, in-the-moment images often turn out to be the most cherished.
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Consider Creating a GIF:
- Utilizing GIFs to showcase a series of events in sequence is a modern and entertaining approach to Christmas photography. Combining images from various moments can result in humorous and memorable GIFs.
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Consider Creating a Collage:
- Creating collages instead of posting individual photos is recommended for social media sharing. This simplifies the sharing process and allows for a concise representation of the overall festive atmosphere.
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Use Advanced Techniques like Long Exposures and Composites:
- Exploring advanced techniques, such as long exposures and composites, can yield creative and visually striking results. Small apertures and long exposures create starry effects in Christmas lights, while composites allow for merging multiple images for a unique look.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of having fun while capturing the essence of the holiday season through photography. By combining technical expertise with creative approaches, one can ensure that Christmas photos become timeless memories shared and cherished for generations.
