Make A List, Check It Twice
You should know what events you have organized, or are attending, leading up to Christmas. Perhaps it’s a family party or the annual street lighting competition. Whatever it is make sure you are ready to capture any of these planned events.
- Ensure you know the location in advance and perhaps stake it out prior to the date just so you are familiar with the lighting and set-up. Is there going to be enough light? Will you need a flash? What is the background like?
- Charge your phone or camera batteries!
- During the event perhaps consider assigning someone on ‘photos’. Someone always brings dessert, entrees, bubbly etc. to parties, so why not have someone in charge of taking the pictures on the day?
Preparation, Preparation
If you are photographing your Christmas Day meal, this is perfect opportunity to get the candid nature of families eating together for some memorable photos, but don’t forget the preparations. Think about;
Food preparation
Putting up the decorations around the house, or on the dinner table itself
Wrapping and giving gifts
Children’s faces when they open their gifts
Table settings.
Opening Gifts
These are often the best images to take, particularly when children are involved. I remember one image my parents took of me opening a gift of a doll I had wanted for months. They capture my sheer joy when I jumped up and down and then burst into tears. That’s an image I’ll never forget! The array of emotions including excitement and disappointment is evident in everyone’s facial expressions. Make sure you take the pictures on burst mode if possible. That way you can won’t miss a thing.
Photo Booth
If you aren’t able to hire a professional photo booth over Christmas, you can try setting one up of your own. It’ll not be as professional looking as the ones you can hire from true professionals, but it’s still a fun addition to the festivities. Just set up a tripod with a curtain or fun backdrop where you’ll take photos of your guests. Have a few props handy and perhaps set your camera up on self-timer, or ask a family member to take a few to ensure you get in with the fun. Ensure it’s set up in a well-lit position, and it’s always good to capture people after they’ve had a few festive drinks!!
Explore Your Neighborhood
My neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale is full of festive lights. Families have gone all-out with decorating their home and garden. The shopping malls are filled with festive cheer and everyone is generally in a good mood, so this is the perfect time to capture the area in which you live.
Details, Details, Details
Yes, it’s fantastic taking lots of pictures of families and friends enjoying the day, but don’t forget the details. Wrapping and giving gifts, table settings, and food preparation are some of the things you should remember to capture, but what about the bowl of festive pine cones on your telephone table, or the cinnamon scented candle, the log-fire burning or even the mistletoe dangling above the front door. These all make for the perfect Christmas photographs.
It’s always good to have a ‘before’ and ‘after’ shot, so you can see the carnage at the end of the day! Set your camera up in the same position so you can get that perfect before and after image.
Above all HAVE FUN. Don’t think too much about capturing every single moment as you will forget to have fun yourself. Prior planning and organization helps, but go with the flow on the day. Happy Holidays!!
