Christmas is already here, and as much as we focus on food and gifts, we cannot forget the essentials, the magic that floats in the air, the joy that is breathed. That is what our camera cannot escape, these are the magical moments that must last over time. Do you want to know how to portray them? You are in the right place, open your heart and take a pencil and paper ?
SPECIAL MOMENTS AND EMOTIONS
This is the section in which I am going to stop the most since, in my opinion, where you can find the most magic is in the moments, the people and the emotions experienced. Throughout this Christmas (and in the days leading up to it) you will find lots of special moments to capture. So that none of them escape, keep your camera handy at all times, with battery, with space on the card and with the standard settings (just in case you start shooting with an ISO of 3200 in broad daylight and on the street ? Check the parameters before shooting to avoid surprises.
And what are those moments that you must anticipate to be able to immortalize with your inseparable camera?
Christmas decoration
This is a really nice moment. If you live it as a family, without stress, with music that sets the mood at the moment, with the children collaborating, it will be full of magic. If you are the decorative head, things get difficult, but don't miss it, take a break from time to time.
Putting up the decorations in the morning and when everyone is dressed can help ? Not like us, we did it in low light, the camera wasn't ready and we were in our pajamas one rainy afternoon… I'm telling you so the same thing doesn't happen to you ? And if it is with pajamas that are at least your favorite and that remain for the memory; P
This was last Christmas testing the lights on the tree, he started to play and the only thing he had on hand was his mobile... (at the blacksmith's house...).
the advent calendar
Some families prepare this moment with a lot of love and dedication, especially if they have children. If yours is one of these families, don't forget to portray the process or part of it. For the elaboration and the first day of advent it is already late, but the last one is sure to be memorable!
New Year's Eve toast
It seems to me one of the most exciting moments of the year, everyone is happy and excited about the arrival of the new year, the laughter floats from the half choking of the grapes and the joy of the champagne (and of what was eaten at dinner ? ) a real moment worth capturing with your camera, don't you think?
Tip: Mount the tripod and have the shutter at hand, you can not miss the moment or the toast!
Christmas greetings
Are you one of those who still sends Christmas cards by post? Please, immortalize this moment in danger of extinction, writing the postcard, putting a stamp on it and leaving it in a mailbox (almost in disuse) is something that you should document. I already sent mine, do you dare too? When you see the next photo, you will surely feel like it ?
Your children's school party
If you have little ones, I'm sure that at school they perform a function, a theater, a Christmas carol, a Living Nativity Scene... These moments are very magical for them, especially the fact that you are there. Immortalize it and make sure you appear in a photo, because what your son or daughter will remember the most is seeing their mother and/or father watching them proudly.
Tips: enjoy the show, take a photo or two and leave. You can do as many before and after as you want, but it's important that your little one (and the rest) see their parents watching the show and not a bunch of phones and cameras overhead. Do not use the flash when they are on stage because it will only serve to annoy and if you have a telephoto lens it will be useful to avoid having to stand in the front row and cover up the rest of the parents ? Also important, do not post photos of other children! without parental permission!
opening gifts
I love the emotional faces of a child or an adult when they open a gift that has excited them. That instant, that microsecond is priceless, that's magic. Sometimes it's hard to capture it because it's so fleeting, that's why the following tips : Adjust the light and speed parameters before opening the gifts, situate yourself in a strategic place and with an interesting perspective. Finally, shoot in bursts so you don't miss that microsecond ?
The arrival of the family member who lives abroad
When I imagine this moment I can't help but listen to the music from the ad for "El Almendro". If you are very young or live outside of Spain, you will not know what I am talking about, but if there is a spot that has moved us in recent years at Christmas, it was this one in which the "emigrant" of the family returned home for Christmas. And it is that... who has not experienced a moment of these? Get your camera ready and don't miss that long-awaited hug between the parents and the separated son, or the one between the two sisters who haven't seen each other for so long, or the separated lovers. Oh, I'm going to get excited to imagine it! (One who knows what it's like to spend Christmas Eve 2,000 km from her family.)
the family photo
On few occasions, with the exception of Christmas, the whole family gets together. That is why it is an ideal time to take a full family portrait. My advice is that you opt for a classic posed but also take advantage of it for a fun photo. You can, for example, put a hat on each one, ask them to sing a Christmas carol or tell one of the funniest family anecdotes after the first shot and catch them all laughing. You can also team up with a volunteer "Santa Claus" who appears behind the camera right at the moment of shooting to capture the surprised faces or throw a lot of confetti when nobody expects it. Any invention you can think of to achieve a creative photo will be welcome ?
Tips: Prepare the venue, lighting, and settings in advance. Place the camera on the tripod and use the remote shutter release or the camera's self-timer, in this photo you cannot be missing! Here are some tips that can come in handy.
The meeting with Santa Claus or the Magi
That little face of emotion when sitting on Santa's lap, or when they ask Baltasar's ear for the gift they so desire cannot be trapped by oblivion. It is too magical and special not to last over time. With the older ones you can also capture nice moments like the one I put below.
Tip: Shoot in bursts so you don't miss the most endearing gesture.
PLACES
Some places are full of magic, for example the Christmas markets or the winter fairs . Everywhere you look, there is something to photograph. Take a tour of one of them. Special mention also for some shop windows!
Tips: in low light a tripod will come in handy. If you are going to photograph shop windows, especially if it is daytime, use a polarizing filter, so you will avoid reflections like the ones in the following photo.
NICE DETAILS
If there is a time of the year in which there are beautiful details, no matter where you look, it is at Christmas. On the table, in the shop windows, on the doors, on the tree, the Nativity scene, the children's clothes, the freshly baked cookies, the gifts... These dates are a display of details full of magic waiting to be captured by your camera and your sense of beauty ? Some tips:
- Background: Change the perspective if the background is distracting; If you can, move the object from place or use colored cardboard to put it behind the detail.
- Aperture: Using a wide aperture (small f/number) will bring out detail and blur the background. The photo will be much more beautiful because nothing will distract the gaze from the main element. In the image of the star, only the star is in focus (and not the entire one).
- Light: it is important that you take care not only of the exposure, but also how the light falls on the details. This star is not a lamp, it is receiving the evening light from the window and reflects it. Zero filters and zero editing, it's just like the camera.
LIGHTS AND BOKEH
And speaking of lights, what better time than Christmas to capture the magic of lights shining everywhere and practice bokeh like the one in the photo? Yes, I know, it has a somewhat difficult name, but it is not difficult at all. Here 's how to do it in 7 easy steps , but basically it's using a large aperture to blur the background and the lights look like this ?
It is also a great time to photograph candles , do you remember the article that we sent you a few weeks ago in your email on how to photograph candles and other fires? It's time to put it into practice ? Oh, you're not a VIP yet! And what are you waiting for to do? You just have to leave us your email to send you exclusive material ?
And here are the tips to capture the Christmas magic. But before saying goodbye, he left you with 14 other tips for photographing Christmas .
If you found it useful, don't forget to share it on your favorite social network. People need an extra dose of magic, can we help? Happy Holidays!
