![CHRISTMAS PHOTOS: MEGA-GUIDE WITH IDEAS, TIPS, TRICKS, INSPIRATION [AND MUCH MORE]](https://photographychef.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CHRISTMAS-PHOTOS.jpg)
The most anticipated and beautiful dates of the year are approaching and, therefore, the season of advent calendars, congratulations, gift shopping, etc. begins. As photography lovers, one of our greatest illusions is to observe or take Christmas photos , as a memory, as a greeting card, to amuse or practice, etc.
Any excuse is good. Because this season meets all the conditions to make it the most photogenic.
Therefore, so that you don't get late and don't miss any opportunity, I bring you a mega-guide in which you will find everything you are looking for regarding Christmas images , both to make them yourself, and to enjoy or share them.
HOW TO TAKE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
If you only want to look for Christmas photos , you can skip this entire section and get to the point by clicking here . You will find many images ordered by theme.
Now, if what you want is to do them yourself and you are looking for tips, tricks and recommendations, first you are interested in what I am going to tell you now, you will immediately reach the sample photos to inspire you.
In this article you will find 14 essential photo tips for photographing Christmas , and if you are interested in its essence, that is, Christmas magic, here I will tell you how to capture it with your camera .
Now that I think about it, you might prefer the quick tips format…wish granted!: 100 quick tips for your Christmas photos .
I am aware that many of the photos we take on these dates are indoors, which makes the issue of light quite difficult. Fear not, we have this article for you in which we tell you how to take photos in low light situations for those family gatherings, spontaneous moments, meals, etc.
Then there are specific situations that your camera does not want to miss, such as the New Year's Eve party; In that case, it will be good for you to read these tips for photographing a party .
CHRISTMAS SET FOR PHOTOS
If your idea is to hold Christmas sessions at home or in your studio, you should prepare yourself. Ideally, you should have your lighting kit , Christmas decoration for the photos and some Christmas background, or plain combined with decoration.
Everything will depend on the purpose (and of course, on the budget), it is not the same if you are going to take photos of your family, or at most of some friends, as if you are thinking of offering Christmas reports in a studio. In the first case, with good lighting and things you have around the house, you will surely manage, in the second, you will have to work harder and take into account:
- The space you have.
- The budget, how much you can invest (it is an investment, not an expense).
- The audience you are going to address (only children, babies, entire families, etc.).
Here are two examples of two different types of decoration:
Let's take a closer look at the content of this Christmas set, and don't miss this article with the accessories that will help you capture the magic of Christmas .
CHRISTMAS DECORATION FOR PHOTOS
In addition to the funds, the most typical are the garlands of lights or the typical lights for the Christmas tree. Like for example you areor these others. They give a lot of play to photograph them alone, for close-up portraits or even as a decorative accessory.
Candles are also closely associated with Christmas decorations, although I don't recommend them at all to photograph children, leave them better for adults or for other types of stock, still life or product photos, unless they're off ? .
Then you can resort to garlands, dolls, balls, paper lanternsstar-shaped, etc. The important thing is not to go overboard with the decoration and steal prominence from your models. It is better to give a little touch, to create a Christmas atmosphere with a few details, than to clutter the scene with decorations. Remember that less is more.
And as a pro level, how about some snow? There are artificial snow machinesthat can give a special touch to your Christmas sessions.
CHRISTMAS BACKGROUNDS FOR PHOTOS
There are many types of funds: different material, more or less economical, washable or not, more or less wrinkled, etc.
The most important thing is that you choose the size based on what you are going to photograph, a detail, a product, a baby, a child or several, an entire family...
The background may be ideal, but if it is too small, it will be of no use.
Here are some Christmas backgrounds that you can use for your photos.
- You have this background in several decorations:
- This other one is 2.5 x 2.5m, but it is also in other smaller and larger sizes.
- There are smaller and larger models of this model, ideal for professional studios. You will also find in the link many more decorations with the same prices and a variety of sizes.
- Finally, there is this other option for a study that has two walls and a floor. There are two more models.
And now we are going with some tips to take very typical photos on these dates.
HOW TO TAKE PHOTOS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Lights are very characteristic of Christmas. We find them in the streets, in the shop windows, on the tree, in the decoration of the house, even on the table. In addition, they can be of many types, such as candles, lamps, small lights, flares, etc.
To take photos in the lights we recommend you achieve an impressive bokeh effect . If you have never tried it, here we tell you how to achieve the bokeh effect step by step .
It is also a great idea to do light painting , or what is the same, paint with light. You can use candles or sparklers to write or draw with light. It is very funny and resultón. In the link you have a detailed article to do lightpainting from scratch.
On the other hand are the lights on the facades, shop windows, city lighting, etc. They are lights that set the streets and create a unique atmosphere. A good time to capture lighting is during the blue hour, when it is getting dark.
Some general tips for photographing Christmas lights:
- Controls the white balance, with orange lights it resorts to the tungsten mode.
- Turn off the flash.
- Raise the ISO value enough to not generate excessive noise, ISO 400-800, depending on your camera.
- Measure at lights with spot metering.
- Photography in manual mode or in aperture priority (very large aperture for bokeh, medium if you want to capture street lights in context).
- To have sharper photos, use the tripod and the remote shutter release (in these cases, disable the stabilizer). Also to capture people moving in the streets or to do light painting.
- RAW photography, so you can recover more information during development or editing.
If you don't get it right the first time, don't give up, it's about trying and correcting mistakes as you go. Such is learning.
Right away I will leave you a few examples of photos of Christmas lights, you will see how you are encouraged to try it, at home or on the street.
HOW TO TAKE PROFESSIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
If you want professional photos, it's best to go to a professional ? Okay, we all know this. Now… what if you are a professional but have never taken family Christmas photos? Or if you control photography a lot but have never launched professionally and have decided that the time has come?
It could also be that you are just an amateur who wants your photos to look professional.
Are we going to leave you in the lurch? Of course not.
In this article you have basic tips for taking family photos , to warm up your engines. But let's focus a little more on Christmas and the "professional" detail:
- Look for a good background, especially if you are going to take the photos indoors and want study results. It can be a plain background and add a very Christmas decoration or already use a Christmas background and minimize the rest of the decoration. There it goes on tastes or depending on the resources and / or budget you have. Regarding the size, if it is a complete family, the ideal is a size of 3×3 meters.
- Lighting is essential. Lean on light windows or an external flash so that your photography is well lit. This is one of the most common problems. There is a lack of light indoors, the days are shorter and less sunny (northern hemisphere, of course, in the south you have more luck with this ? ).
- Look for compositions in which all the members are seen as equally important, that nobody hides behind anyone, that there is a balance. Triangle compositions work very well with groups. Lean on chairs, armchairs or places where they can sit. They have to be comfortable but not so comfortable that they appear lying down ? . Unlike work photos, in family photos it is advisable that there be contact between the members to transmit the bond, especially if we are talking about such a family time .
- The wardrobe is important. If the decoration is very Christmassy, it should not be that the clothes are too or it will look excessive. Better neutral and light tones; the toasted and brown ones are highly recommended in natural exteriors. For plain or undecorated backgrounds, Christmas touches on clothing are welcome as long as there is consistency throughout the family. The same pajamas or jumper, all classic or all modern, etc. Whether it is Christmas or not, it is recommended that there be harmony in style and colors in the wardrobe and that it not steal prominence.
- Edit your photos, professional results require actions according to the circumstances. It is not about hyper-retouching, but it is about adjusting the basic parameters, contrast, white balance, exposure, focus, noise.
If you follow these tips, your family Christmas photos will surely look much more professional ?
HOW TO TAKE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS TO SELL ONLINE
Have you considered selling your photos online ? Do you want to know how to output your Christmas photos?
In this article we detail everything you need to know to sell your photos on the internet .
The ideal is to carry out a more impersonal session or thinking about what customers are looking for in photo banks, such as shutterstock ., instead of resorting to your family Christmas photos.
Make sure that they are photos that do not include brands and that are technically correct. Also remember that to sell them you have to have the written permission of the (recognizable) people who appear in them, hereDo you have a model contract?
Below you'll find plenty of Christmas photo inspiration that can be sold online, in the meantime, here are some examples.
IDEAS FOR TAKING CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
As creative as we are, sometimes we run out of ideas and need to turn to some source of inspiration. Having a list at hand, something quick to review, for example, comes in handy. Therefore, here I leave you 15 ideas to take Christmas photos :
- The Christmas tree with the lights on.
- Someone opening or receiving a gift.
- The embrace of a reunion.
- A Christmas showcase with reflections in which different stories can be seen.
- Your pet dressed as Santa's helper.
- The family setting up the tree (and/or the Bethlehem).
- A family portrait (classic, funny, with the same pajamas…).
- Everyone at the table.
- In the kitchen (splashes, flour, kneading hands, smoke, etc.).
- A daily or typical moment of your Christmas.
- A night portrait with the lights in the background.
- Candles and/or flares.
- Walking through a Christmas market.
- Bokeh with Christmas lights.
- A low key portrait with tree lights.
Beyond this list and all the torrent of inspiration that I leave you below in the form of photos, here you have another dose of Christmas images and in this article I leave you 20 ideas for taking Christmas photos in the form of images.
For the more disciplined, who take advantage of the holidays to learn and practice, these photographic exercises to do at Christmas are also a good source of ideas, as well as an excellent excuse to use the camera.
IDEAS FOR TAKING CHRISTMAS PHOTOS WITH CHILDREN
To get original children's Christmas photos , it is best that you set the stage. Give them original and fun accessories and let them play; children are spontaneous, authentic, unique, if you let them they will give you unique moments and scenes. Give them freedom and limit yourself to not lose a single photo.
Some ideas to promote these very original Christmas photos with children :
- Babies can be laid on a pretty blanket on the nursing pillow, surrounded by Christmas cushions. Set lights around it and hang an ornament for them to stare at and try to catch. This will allow you to entertain him and that you can play too. In your case, with the blur, the bokeh or the elements in the foreground.
- Get into the kitchen to make Christmas recipes. Of course, be prepared to clean everything later. And if you put a plastic case on your camera, all the better, so you won't suffer and you can let yourself go.
- A less aggressive version with your kitchen is to prepare them a cup of hot chocolate and let them enjoy it, then you will be the one to enjoy it by immortalizing their chocolate mustache.
- Give him accessories of this typeand a mirror for him to play and have fun. Have your camera ready!
- Get a box that he can get into and take several photos of him with different poses, then you can make a fun composition with all of them.
- Dress the brothers in Christmas clothes and let them have a pillow fight.
- Play with forced perspective and create unreal situations: a child riding a Christmas ball, placing the star of a giant street tree, forming part of a Nativity scene, anything you can imagine!
- Take advantage of the assembly of the tree to do a session, or the preparations to leave Santa or the Three Wise Men the mythical glass of milk with cookies or whatever tradition you have at home. They are memories that they will also like to have when they are older.
- If you're good at Photoshop you can create incredible montages, like the winner of our Christmas Photo Challenge82 did .
- With the older ones you can practice with Lightpainting to get a Christmas image, they will love it.
In the following video from A photographer dad, you will discover some ideas for Christmas photos with children that you can do at home:
HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS WITH PHOTOS
The illusion of Christmas leads us on many occasions to have special details, cared for and pampered.
What better than to make a personalized greeting card? Hasn't it ever happened to you that the same Christmas greeting has come to you through three different routes?
It's good that they remember you, but it's better when they spend time with you beyond a Forward click on WhatsApp, right? If you want to do something special, now is the time.
In this article we detail how to make Christmas greetings with photos . You will find tips, ideas and a free program in which to design the cards as you want and with your photos. Also with certain templates that you can use as is or modify.
You also have the option of doing something less perfect but more special. Also something more laborious and entertaining, which you won't mind if you like to do crafts.
HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS VIDEO WITH PHOTOS FOR FREE
Are you thinking of making a video to congratulate Christmas ? Or maybe a compilation to remember these last Christmas with the family?
Be that as it may, making a Christmas video with photos and music is easier than you think, you just have to spend a little time and you want to. Here are the best programs to make videos.
And if you want to do it from your mobile, these are the best applications, in addition, you will also find tips on how to make a video with your photos at the link . I add another important advice here: do not exceed the duration and try to make it dynamic.
Next, I leave you with a section full of Christmas photos of all kinds and styles that can be used to assemble your video if you don't want to or you can do it with your own photos. And if you want to include a video in your project, there is this stock video service , with different types of licenses.
CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
And now we are going to those promised Christmas images classified by theme, so that it is easier for you to locate them. They are photos from image banks with a Creative Commons license.
You may only be looking for inspiration, but if what you want is to download any of these images, you just have to press the right button and click Save image as ... If you do it from your mobile, click on the photo and save it as you would save any other photo in The galery. This will depend on each smartphone model.
On iPhone, for example, when I hold it down for a few moments, a drop-down menu appears with several options, including Add to Photos , I click and it is saved in the gallery.
NICE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
Let's start with the most classic.
If what you are looking for are Christmas photos to share, these are very beautiful Christmas images .
There are more beautiful Christmas photos in the article, but these are the ones that match all tastes and styles. With which you will not fail.
ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
Let's go now with a dose of original and very creative Christmas photos.
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