Creating Magical Holiday Photos | by Holly Awwad
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is here, bringing cherished traditions, festive foods, and family gatherings. It’s the perfect time to capture memories, but with so much happening, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you focus and make the most of the season, here are 6 Holiday Photography Tips to ensure you capture the magic of every moment!
1. Make a List and Check It Twice
Every time the seasons change, I feel a sense of panic set in that I won’t have time or inspiration to photograph everything I want to remember. As a storyteller, I want to capture EVERYTHING. From the hustle and bustle of the holidays to all the little details. Capturing these moments not only helps to remember them, but also helps you slow down and shoot with intent. The best way to make sure you are ready and don’t miss a beat, is to make a list! I’m talking pen to paper, good old fashioned list making.
First, think about your annual family traditions and add them all to the list. Second, break those down even further. What perspectives can you try? What shots of your activities do you not want to miss? Next, browse Pinterest or Instagram and find your favorite photographers and see if they inspire you to try to capture the season in a whole new way!
Making a shot list seems simple. But the activity of giving your holiday photos some critical thinking not only helps you commit it to memory, it also ensures that you are on the lookout for shooting opportunities as they unfold.
2. Know Your Light
A lot the holiday magic is captured in low light situations with a beautiful warm glow around a lit Christmas tree, or outside at night admiring the beautiful lights. Additionally, indoor shooting or shooting around Christmas lights can give you tricky mixed lighting and color casts GALORE! Knowing how to shoot best in low light, and how to fix things in post processing can make or break your holiday shot list!
Lens Choice: Make sure you are shooting with a fast lens! Fast lenses will give you an aperture of f 2.8 or wider. Being able to shoot wide open is key in low light situations because it will allow more light into your lens. Also, choosing a wider angle lens helps in low light photography because it allows you to be closer to your subject and the light will hit your lens faster! A wider lens will be easier for your camera’s auto focus system to focus on your subject, or your eyes to see what’s in focus if you are focusing manually.
3. Focus on Composition
Great composition can elevate your holiday photos, making them more engaging and memorable. Here are some simple composition tips to keep in mind:
Rule of Thirds: Position key elements, like family members or holiday decor, along the rule of thirds grid for a balanced, pleasing shot.
Leading Lines: Use lines from Christmas lights, garlands, or furniture to naturally lead the viewer’s eye toward the focal point, such as a child opening a present.
Framing: Holiday scenes offer many natural framing opportunities. Position your subjects within a doorway, window, or even between branches of a decorated tree to create an intimate, enclosed feel.
Depth: Add depth by including layers in your photo. For instance, if you’re shooting in front of a decorated tree, add foreground elements like ornaments or wrapped gifts to enhance the story. Experiment with Bokeh or Light overlays to add interest, demension and layers to your scene, adding an extra touch of magic and warmth!
4. Add a Touch of Magic
The holiday season is the perfect time to add a little sparkle and extra bokeh to your photos. Whether you capture bokeh in-camera or add it later with overlays, bokeh gives your photos that soft, magical touch that feels perfect for the holidays.
If you want an easy way to add extra magic to your holiday photos, I have just what you need! First, check out my new Holiday Bokeh Overlay Mini-Pack Freebie, which is a little holiday gift from me to you! If you love the Freebie and want more, I have created a brand new Holiday Bokeh Overlay Collection that has a wide variety of bokeh overlays to complement all your holiday photos! These overlays are a simple yet impactful way to bring extra holiday charm to your images.
5. Get in the Frame
I know… self portraits are scary. I get it. I’m much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, too. But please trust me, get in some of the photos. Your children will want those memories some day. And you will too! When the kids are all grown and out on their own, looking back at their childhood holiday memories and how you were involved will fill your heart with so much joy! Even if you just capture the images on your cell phone, be sure you are a part of the holiday family album!
Taken with iPhone 13 Pro Max
A great and easy way to make sure you are in the frame, is to set your camera up on a tri-pod and use your camera’s self-timer. If your camera has a built in-intervalometer, set it up during your activity and let it shoot during the action. Hand your phone to a family member and ask them to take a family photo. However you do it, be sure you are a part of your family memories!
6. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
If you don’t get all the shots on your list… don’t stress! If every images isn’t technically perfect, who cares?! You can only do so much, and adding the pressure to do everything and capture it perfectly can get overwhelming. It’s more important to be happy and in the moment than anything else.
Also, as your images pile up, don’t worry about staying on top of editing. If you can edit that’s great. But there is a lot to be said for saving it until things calm down. I’ve been known to keep my images and edit them almost a year later. And you know what? Looking back on the memories makes editing them even more special!
I hope you enjoyed these 6 Holiday Photography Tips and they help to make capturing your holiday season fun and memorable!
