Christmas is an intense date in every way. There are so many people to see, so many errands to run, so many magical letters to write that there is little time for anything else.
I know this from my own experience, which is why I thought that perhaps you will have little time to soak up reading our many articles and tips on photographing Christmas. So it occurred to me to condense everything that can help you at Christmas time in terms of getting good photos, in 100 tips to take your photos this Christmas.
HOW ABOUT 100 QUICK TIPS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS PHOTOS?
1. Think about what images you want to take before you start taking your Christmas photos .
2. Researching online for inspiration can be a good resource.
3.Instagram _or Pinterest are places where you will find a lot of Christmas inspiration.
4. Make a list of photos that you do or do want to have and keep it handy.
5. Make sure you have everything you need at hand at the accessory level .
6. A tripod will be very useful for working in low light,
7. And to be able to appear in a photo too, for a change ?
8. Make sure you have the camera battery well charged and possibly a spare.
9. Check to have space on the memory card. And a spare one just in case ;).
10. Once you know where to start, get down to work and let yourself go.
11. Christmas is full of light, if you work it well, you will have 70% of your image done.
12. Take care of the white balance, since you can find several color temperatures in the same scene.
13. It is best that you set the white balance in manual mode.
14. And that you set your camera to RAW format.
15. Use the brightest lens you have.
16. In winter we usually have few hours of daylight, so try to work with open diaphragms to allow light to enter the lens.
17. The same would apply to shooting indoors ; look for the light
18. To increase the light in an interior, try to have all available lights on.
19. Set ISO values that tolerate noise well but at the same time are high enough so that you can work at speeds so that the photos do not come out blurry.
20. Even if you don't lose a photo because you don't want to raise the ISO, sometimes it's better to get the photo in question than the noise it may have.
21. Use the tripod whenever you can.
22. If you have a monopod, use it too, especially when you want a little more mobility.
23. Or failing that, support the camera on a surface that is as stable as possible.
24. Take the opportunity to practice the Bokeh in your photos, it is very Christmassy and it turns out .
25. You can use it to enhance objects or to make different portraits.
26. With the same streetlights lit at open apertures you'll also get beautiful blurs.
27. Photograph store windows at Christmas. There are authentic beauties that can also be useful as backgrounds.
28. Take the opportunity to practice night portraits. Try to work with available light and don't use flash.
29. If you want to use the flash, avoid red- eye with your camera's red-eye mode.
30. In portraits look for emotion.
31. Look for the reflection of those magical lights in the eyes, the light fills them with life.
32. And, of course, remember to focus them well, they are the mirror of the soul.
33. Do not always look for forced poses , let your models flow at their leisure and seek to capture their essence.
34. Prepare to document. Christmas is full of tradition and customs that are worth immortalizing.
35. Take the opportunity to portray not only gastronomy,
36. But also the way of cooking the dishes and, of course, who cooks.
37. Take the opportunity to create your own culinary still lifes with Christmas ingredients.
38. Try to include the smoke of a delicious freshly cooked dish.
39. Setting the table is a very photogenic moment too.
40. Transmit warmth not only with light, but with the entire environment.
41. Document the Christmas decorating process .
42. The tree always gives a lot of play as the main part of the scene.
43. Christmas balls and their fisheye reflections can be very funny.
44. And the decorative details , dolls, the hands that hold them, etc.
45. And of course the lights, which are everything, also in the Christmas decoration.
46. Photograph the advent calendar.
47. Pay attention to the color, believe it or not, we have some colors that are closely associated with Christmas:
48. Gold: it is a festive, elegant color and a classic for Christmas celebrations.
49. Red: associated with Christmas elements such as Santa Claus, or the typical red berries that are used to decorate.
50. Green: nature, fir trees, a color that is also very Christmassy.
51. Create your own Christmas greeting, here I give you ideas to make a very personal one.
52. In Christmas photo sessions, keep in mind:
53. The wardrobe, try to make it uniform as much as possible. It is a detail that is rarely taken into account but it is very important.
54. For example, some jeans and a sweater all of similar tones, it is simple and greatly improves the final result of the image.
55. Family is the pillar of any Christmas.
56. Photograph the relationships between its members.
57. The emotion , the hugs, the looks or the smiles.
58. Take group family photos with future generations in mind.
59. Or play at reproducing an old photograph today.
60. For group photos, check that you have enough depth of field so that everyone is in focus.
61. To do this, you must close the diaphragm, but you will subtract light.
62. If you need more light, raise the ISO or slow down (carefully).
63. To know if you have a good speed value, remember this approximate formula: 1/Focal length. That is, if you photograph with a 50mm, the recommended minimum speed will be 1/50s.
64. In short, value each scene in a unique way.
65. And play with the exposure triangle to adjust the camera settings to the result you want.
66. Always take care of the background, that there are no elements that spoil the image.
67. If necessary, change your location.
68. Take the opportunity to photograph several generations together; granddaughter, daughter, grandmother, or great-grandmother, are unique images full of magic and meaning.
69. Don't forget the pets in the house ?
70. Try to anticipate events and be prepared at all times.
71. For example, at the opening of gifts. Especially if there are little ones.
72. If, in addition, they open the gifts with beautiful Christmas pajamas, you have the guaranteed image ?
73. Speaking of gifts, give away photos. Your photos ?
74. You could try a canvas like this one from Cewe.
75. Or if you prefer you can try the forex format .
76. Although surely the star gift is this: your own photo book . As a Christmas gift or as a self-gift of the Christmas story with the images you get.
77. Don't just stay at home.
78. Go outside to photograph the atmosphere, the Christmas markets, the purchases, etc.
79. Photograph the cold outside versus the warmth of lights and homes.
80. Snow is another classic in the Christmas imagination.
81. Take a picture of her if you're lucky enough to have her around, and if not, try to get close to her sometime around Christmas ;).
82. Remember that snow tricks the photometer (makes it believe that there is more light than there is).
83. And that the cold affects the duration of the batteries.
84. Protect your equipment from sudden changes in temperature, to avoid condensation and humidity that can eventually spoil your equipment.
85. For this, the ideal thing is that you put the camera in the backpack before entering the house and let it warm up inside for a while.
86. Don't forget to photograph the big magical figures ?
87. The moment in which the children deliver the letter to the Three Kings or to Santa Claus.
88. If you have children, nephews, etc. Don't forget to bring your camera to school Christmas functions .
89. The end of the year is another chance to get great pictures.
90. If you have the opportunity, photograph fireworks or sparklers.
91. Remember to have the camera as stabilized as possible (a tripod would be ideal) although if you don't have one, activate the image stabilizer on your camera.
92. Go ahead and do a Christmas photocall, you will have a great time and the photos are very funny ?
93. Take care of the composition, try not to always center.
94. Seek original points of view and perspectives. Have you tried to hook the mobile to the ceiling? ? Or stretch out on the floor to photograph Christmas stockings?
95. Natural frames such as doors or windows can also help you frame your interior photos.
96. Remember the importance of the human element when you make your Christmas images: there is no need for a whole body, hands, someone from behind, etc., they add interest and bring the viewer closer to the scene.
97. Look closely and you will see images even where others see nothing.
98. Edit all photos in a similar way to visually unify them.
99. The photos should not be perfect, what matters is the memory.
100. The most important advice: be happy, enjoy the present and never stop learning.
Merry Christmas ??
What do you say? Are you going to encourage yourself to practice any of these 100 tips that I have left you in these lines? At least tell me you'll practice last, okay? ?
I hope you have enjoyed this article almost as much as I have enjoyed writing it, but above all I hope that it helps you to immortalize this special time of Christmas. A hug and we read in the next article;).
