Holidays are a time to spend with family and friends, but also a time to document the experience. Taking pictures during the holidays is never easy. Between awkward family photos, camera angles, and the big question of what to wear, plenty of things can throw off your photo game. Here are useful tips and helpful strategies for taking pictures during the holidays.
What to Wear
It would be best if you thought about many different things regarding what to wear during the holidays. First and foremost, remember that black is a safe option. This means that turtlenecks and black pants or dresses are good for any holiday party. Before you reach for your favorite new cocktail dress, know that the necklines are not the only things to pay attention to. Please make sure you choose something that will draw attention to your face but won’t make it hard for people to see all of your important body parts.
Take Photos of the Drinks and Food
It’s not unusual to spend the holidays with family and friends at a buffet, so it’s important to ensure you have enough photos of every course. Nobody wants to look back on their holiday photos and wonder what food they ate. If you have fancy glasses, ask your party’s hostess to fill them with ice before your guests arrive. You may want to take photos of your sparkling Moscato or your expensive bottle of champagne to get a feel for what style of shot you want. As for food, consider using the side dishes and desserts to set the scene so that it all looks nice when you go through the photo session later.
Choose the Right Angle and Camera Settings
You have control over many things with your photos, but not all of them. Some people will look great in photos with a wide-angle lens, while others will look great with a telephoto lens. You can use one of your telephoto lenses and get close-ups of people’s faces to create a certain mood. Alternatively, you can use a wide-angle lens to capture the whole party, showing off who came to the event and what they were doing while there. This will make your pictures more true to life and give people an idea of what is happening during these parties.
Capture the Sunset
If you’re trying to record a special moment at the beach, the sunset can make for an incredible photo opportunity. Use a wide-angle lens and stay very close to your subjects, so they are focused while everything else is blurry. That way, it will look like the whole world is watching the sunset with you.
Use the Right Camera
You probably need to upgrade if your camera isn’t doing the job. Use your smartphone if you want to capture a lot of pictures. If you want to take portrait-style pictures, then ask someone to help you hold the camera so that you can take a series of photos. If your phone’s flash isn’t enough, consider using an external camera light or an off-camera flash. You can place it on a table or hang it from the ceiling, so your party has flattering light where they stand or sit. Investing in new frames to capture the holiday spirit is also a good idea. Everyone loves a good picture of their face, so try to ensure everyone is smiling or looking happy in your holiday photos.
Choose the Right Background
When you’re taking your holiday photos, it can be helpful to have a great background to hold all of the action. Use the background to help tell a story about what you were doing during the holidays. If you’re at the beach, take pictures before the sunset and use your kids as part of the backdrop. If you’re on vacation, get fun shots of everyone at famous landmarks or on top of an amazing mountain view. The background can also help to tell a story about the people in your photos. A photo of your father playing with his grandchildren will look awesome.
The best thing about photos is that you don’t have to wait to share them with your friends and family. If your camera isn’t the right fit to capture your memories, then it’s time to upgrade. There’s no reason to let a good photo opportunity slip through the cracks just because you have an older camera or a bad phone. Instead, get the most out of your photography by using these tips and strategies, no matter where you are during the holidays.
