Adding Holiday Magic Through Light, Intention, and Creative Play | by Holly Awwad
The holiday season has a certain kind of light that feels soft, warm, and nostalgic to me. As photographers, we’re often drawn to the cozy holiday moments this time of year, not just because they’re beautiful, but because they help us remember what this time of year feels like.
One of my favorite ways to lean into that feeling is by playing with the light and bokeh!
Why Bokeh Feels Like Holiday Magic
Bokeh isn’t just blur or pretty circles. Using it creates atmosphere. It evokes a sense of warmth. It triggers your memory to the joyful seasons of the past and makes things feel magical.
When used thoughtfully, bokeh can:
add depth and softness
highlight emotion and connection
bring subtle movement into an otherwise still frame
make an ordinary setting feel extra magical
This time of year, when lights glow everywhere, bokeh becomes one of the most natural creative tools we have.
Observing Light Before You Create It
Whether you’re shooting indoors with string lights or outdoors at dusk, spend a moment noticing how the light falls. Does it wrap gently around your subject? Does it flicker or sparkle? Does it illuminate faces or fall softly in the background?
Observing real light helps you better understand how to enhance your images in post-processing without overwhelming them. The key is always subtlety. You want to add just enough glow and bokeh to support the mood you’re trying to create without distracting from your story.
Want to Master using Natural Light in Any Situation? Check out:
“Light Chaser: The Complete Guide to Natural Light Photography”
When You Need a Little Extra Spark
Sometimes the scene doesn’t give you the magic you’re going for. Maybe the lights aren’t bright enough. Maybe you’re shooting during the day. Maybe you’re indoors with limited ambient glow. This is where overlays can become your best friend. They can give you that extra creative touch of bokeh while letting you stay true to your original vision.
A Simple Technique to Try
Here’s an easy way to experiment with bokeh overlays in your workflow:
Choose an image with natural warmth or story. Cozy portraits, holiday details, winter scenes, or candid moments work beautifully.
Add a bokeh overlay on a layer above your image.
Switch the blending mode to Screen. This removes the dark background and lets the lights shine through naturally.
Mask with intention. Add a layer mask and use a brush to remove parts of the overlay that may be distracting or falling in places where you don’t want it to. I like to keep the glow or bokeh away from faces while letting it fall around the edges or in the background.
Lower the opacity. Adjust the opacity of your bokeh layer to taste. A little sometimes goes a long way. You want the results to look natural and not distracting.
Adjust color temperature if needed. Match the overlay’s warmth to your existing light for a cohesive, believable look. You can do this by selecting your bokeh layer in Photoshop, then in the layer menu select “Hue/Saturation” and adjust sliders to change the warmth and tone.
Creativity as a Practice of Noticing
The holidays can be overwhelming and busy, but photography gives us a way to slow down and pay attention.
Whether you’re photographing your own family or documenting everyday seasonal beauty, take a moment to explore how light can deepen the story you’re telling. And if it isn’t quite what you want straight out of the camera, finding tools that can elevate your vision is a great way to enhance your storytelling.
Want to Explore Bokeh More Deeply?
If you’d like to infuse your holiday images with gentle, dreamy light, I created a Holiday Bokeh Overlay Collection to add just the right touch of magic to your memories. They’re easy to use, layer beautifully, and give you room to experiment creatively.
