It’s December, it’s almost Christmas and it’s the most wonderful time of the year! This is my favorite time of the year to get my camera out and take photos around our home of all the Christmas decor.
It doesn’t matter which camera you have, your phone camera will do. What matters is that you take a few photos, snap some photos that will remind you of the holiday season. Decor photos can include your tree, ornaments, wreaths, Christmas cards, candles, candy dishes, food, gifts, etc. Often we take photos of our family, friends and pets, but we forget to take photos of a special gift, decorations new and old, a memorable Christmas card and decorations.
I take photos of our Labradoodle, Taz, at Christmas (well, to be honest, I photograph him almost daily because he’s so darned cute LOL), wearing a Xmas hat. I take a few close-ups but also like to take a few pull-back shots too, to include some of the holiday decor in the framing of the shot. I don’t care that there might be some clutter, the lighting might not be perfect….none of that matters as much as getting a photo that will remind me of this day, this holiday time. When I look back through my December photos each year, the decor photos always bring a smile to my face, helps me remember the holiday season and it’s fun to look back to see how the decor has changed over the years.
Vary the perspective of your photos. Take some photos close-up and then get further back, include more of your home into the framing. Try photographing from different angles. Try photographing at different times of the day. If you aren’t using a flash, try photographing in the earlier part of the day when there is the most optimum amount of light coming in through the window. For photographing decor close-up, try spotlighting with a flashlight, phone flashlight app or video light if you dont’ have on-camera flash or a speedlite/flash gun. I’ve got a small video light that I bought off Amazon years ago which helps to give just a pop of light when photographing at a close distance.
Here’s some photo ideas.
Also, don’t forget to take some photos of your drinks, food, desserts, etc.
So, during this holiday season, keep a camera close by so you can take a photo here and there. I keep a camera ready to use, battery charged, in a drawer in the dining room so I can access it quickly. I also keep a flash and batteries in another drawer. It’s not that far for me to run down the stairs into my office to grab a camera/accessories when needed, but during the busy holiday time, I like saving some time and keeping them handy on the upper level, in the main area of our home, which makes it more likely that I’ll take a few moments to grab it and take a photo. Especially when it comes to food/drinks, etc. I’m more likely to snap a photo before serving if it can be done quickly.
Have fun taking photos of your Xmas decor! Be as prepared as you can be, to make it easy and fun to capture holiday photos. Merry Xmas, everyone, and keep that camera handy :)
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