Christmas Photography Tips
- Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority (A or Av on your camera's dial)
- Drive Mode: Continuous
- Focus Mode: Single autofocus
- Metering Mode: Spot
- Aperture: f/5.6
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: Will be set by the camera
- Shooting Mode: Aperture Priority
- Drive Mode: Continuous
- Focus Mode: Single autofocus
- Metering Mode: Spot
- Aperture: f/2.8 (or the lowest available aperture setting)
- ISO: 200
- Shooting Mode: Manual
- Drive Mode: Single Shot
- Focus Mode: Single autofocus
- Metering Mode: Matrix
- Aperture: f/2.8 (or the lowest available aperture setting)
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: 1/50th sec
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You've got the tree nicely decorated, the gifts wrapped, and your family in their matching ugly Christmas sweaters...
Now all that's left to do is take a few memorable photos.
Ugly sweaters aside, if you want your Christmas photos to go off without a hitch, follow these Christmas photography tips.
From family portraits to photos of Christmas lights, this quick set of Christmas photography tips will get you headed in the right direction.
Let's get started!
Recommended Gear for Christmas Photos
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You can take great Christmas photos with any camera - smartphones included.
Having said that, as capable as smartphones are as cameras, having a DSLR or mirrorless system with interchangeable lenses will likely help you be more successful in getting photos of the festivities.
This doesn't mean you need a $3,500.00 camera body, though...
An entry-level DSLR with manual exposure controls and RAW shooting capabilities will give you all the control you need.
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Pair your camera with a solid zoom lens, perhaps something like a 24-70mm.
What's great about a zoom lens like this is that you have a wide range of focal lengths, so you can take group photos at 24mm, fill the frame at 70mm, and have plenty of room to work in between.
Since many Christmas photos are taken indoors in low-light situations, a tripod and remote shutter release are also a good idea to have, that way you can slow the shutter (more on that below) as needed to brighten the exposure without risking camera shake.
Quick Tip: Whatever you do, don't use the pop-up flash on your camera. The light from a pop-up flash is extremely harsh, will wash out many skin tones, and cause harsh shadows. Instead, try using a hot-shoe speedlite like this one that has an articulating head, that way you can bounce the light off a wall or ceiling to soften it.
Recommended Camera Settings for Christmas Photos
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I think it goes without saying that there is no magic set of camera settings that will get every single person the best Christmas Day photos.
Having said that, there are some starting points that will help you find your way.
Camera Settings for Indoor Portraits
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Fortunately, there is usually a little more ambient light indoors during the holidays thanks to all the Christmas lights. However, you'll likely find that your camera still needs help to get a properly-exposed indoor portraits, which usually means boosting the ISO. Try the following settings as a starting point for indoor portraits:
By shooting in aperture priority mode, you control the camera's aperture and ISO while the camera controls the shutter speed. This is advantageous because it allows you to have more control over the exposure but without having to worry about all three settings.
If you start out at these settings and find that your images are too dark, try opening the aperture (say, from f/5.6 to f/4).
You'll find that as you open the aperture, that the depth of field is reduced, which can produce beautiful background blur.
Camera Settings for Outdoor Portraits
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Getting the camera settings just right for outdoor portraits at Christmastime can be a challenge, to be sure.
In some instances, you might be taking photos at dusk. In others, it might be at midday. Some of you might have snow on the ground for your photos while others might be at the beach.
Again, there's no single set of camera settings that will work in every situation, so use the following as a starting point and work from there:
Notice how in this instance, using the widest aperture possible is recommended. Again, this is to get that nice background blur that will help set your subjects apart from the background in an outdoor photo shoot.
For a few more tips and tricks for great Christmas portraits, be sure to check out the video above by Moose Winans.
Learn More:
Camera Settings for Christmas Light Photography
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Your loved ones aren't the only subjects you'll want to photograph at Christmas - what about all those beautiful Christmas lights?!
Give these settings a shot as a good starting point for capturing all that beauty:
Contrary to our first two examples of portraits, when shooting Christmas lights, it's recommended to shoot in manual mode. Not sure how to do that? Check out this detailed guide.
The key setting here is the shutter speed. If at 1/50th sec the image is too dark, slow it down to 1/25th sec. On the other hand, if the image is too light, speed it up to 1/100th sec.
Getting the ideal shot of Christmas lights will require a little bit of work, but if you start with these settings, you'll be in a good position to get pleasing photos!
Quick Tip: Be careful of setting your shutter speed too low. If there are lights that blink, a slow shutter speed runs the risk of blurring the lights.
Composition Tips for Christmas Photos
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One of the most common mistakes that people make when photographing Christmas is taking a shooting position that's too far away (or zooming out too far).
Instead, challenge yourself to fill the frame with the subject for a more detailed and intimate shot, like the one shown above.
Another top tip is to really focus on having a central, strong subject in each image.
This can be difficult to do given all the lights and decorations associated with Christmas.
But no matter if you're photographing people, Christmas lights, or something in between, your shot needs to have something that stands out and grabs people's attention.
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When taking outdoor photos, try incorporating tried-and-true landscape photography tips like leading lines to add depth to the shot.
Additionally, bring in foreground elements - plants or decorations, for example - to add dimension to your photos.
When composing your photos - whether indoors or out - pay particular attention to how you frame the shot.
Ensure that all people in the image are fully there - no chopped off heads or knees!
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Lastly, since Christmas is all about love and family and friends, strive to capture moments that highlight the relationships between people.
Sure, it's fun to get shots of kids' faces as they open their gifts, but 10 years down the road, the more important shot to you will be the one of your child hugging your spouse or your siblings sharing a laugh.
Focus on those fleeting, yet meaningful moments, and you'll have Christmas photos that you cherish for years to come!