Photography Tips and ideas- Capturing Christmas

Here are my tips on getting at least a few gorgeous Christmas snaps worthy of the yearbook-

1- First tip is pretty simple, but easy to forget! Make sure your camera is charged, card is empty and its handy at all times (but away from small fingers). Easy to remember but devastating if you forget!

2- Take your formal family shots early in the day, preferably just after everyone has been dressed in their best. Before everyone gets covered in food, drink and red eyed from toy tantrums, flat batteries (and too much wine)!

3- Take lots of candid and natural shots to capture the "reality" of the day. Too many posed and cheesy snaps can get boring (and can get people cranky too). Opening presents, surprised looks, playing with the new toys, giving each other cuddles, eating breaky with new toys, the mess of wrapping paper on the floor are all special moments to record.

4- If your having a special dinner/lunch at your home, think about setting a a Christmas themed "photo booth". Easily done against a plain wall with good window light, some tinsel and some simple props like Santa hats and crackers.

5- Don't forget the details - Fingers opening pressies, cheeky smiles under Santa hats, and make sure your snap the table decorations, glasses of bubbly champagne, fingers peeling prawns etc etc..

6- Set up your camera on a tripod (or coffee table/chair) to take a family group photo with you in it!!

7- And here's a great blog on how to set up your camera to take a time lapse every 30 seconds of your Christmas morning- with you in them! (You could also set up the camera for 5 minute intervals aimed at the lunch table.)
http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/how-to-photograph-your-christmas-morning-by-melissa-stottmann/

8- Fill the frame. There's nothing worse than a photo taken of people far away from the camera when 80% of the image is of distracting house mess. Use your zoom to crop in nice and close or use your legs to move closer and compose the shot nicely. You'll be pleased you did!

9- Christmas lights at night are always pretty and give a sense of "feeling". After all, you've spent so much time decorating that tree, better take a photo of it! Here a blog on how to capture gorgeous lights and some inspiration - http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-beautiful-bokeh-christmas-images-with-31-stunning-examples/.

10- And lastly, Don't forget to put the camera down and "be in the moment"

I hope this has given you some ideas and remind you to capture the special moments.

Merry Christmas to all my followers. Be safe and enjoy your special times with family. X