Article By Candy Spiegel

Holidays are a wonderful time for capturing beautiful moments. Everything is decorated, holiday lights and fires help to light up the evenings, and, there could be a beautiful winter wonderland outdoors. But, getting that perfect shot can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you get the best photos this holiday season, as well as some layouts featuring those amazing pictures.

Carry a Camera

Be sure to always have a camera at hand for whatever moments the holidays bring. That might simply mean keeping your phone charged and within reach, or it may mean carrying a small camera bag with you everywhere you go. Keep your tripod and other equipment that doesn’t mind the cold in your vehicle during the holiday season, so you are ready for anything.

You may drop in on a friend in the midst of a baking session, see an amazing outdoor display on the road, or pick up the kids from the sitters only to discover they have been playing dress up. Whatever happens, if your camera is with you, you can quickly capture the moment.

Be Ready

The next most important tip is to be ready when your subject is. If there is going to be a surprise guest, have the camera on your phone ready and focused on the person who is going to be surprised so you can capture the moment. You can catch a photo of the guest afterward. The same is true with the kids getting up and seeing the presents under the tree for the first time. Get there ahead of them, have your camera ready and pointed at where you expect them to be, and then call them into the room. And, if you are taking a family photo, set up the camera before gathering the family to pose. No one wants to pose for 10 minutes while you work out the settings on your camera.

Know the Camera

Take a few minutes to read the page or two in your camera’s instruction manual about built-in settings. Many cameras offer settings for low-light conditions, like while lighting the menorah or holiday candles, or for taking pictures at an indoor party. Likewise, some have settings to compensate for the glare of the snow or other challenging scenes. Learn which ones will come in handy and be prepared to use them.

If you are using a DSLR camera, do a bit of research and brush up on some of the manual settings on your camera

And, if you are relying on your phone to photograph, do a bit of online research. Many have the option to click on what you want in focus (just click on the part of the picture to focus on) and to adjust the lighting when taking the photo (this often comes up on the side or bottom when you click on the screen and slides to make the photo darker or lighter). Learn how to turn off the flash or take motion shots, too. Newer models have a portrait mode and night shot settings you may find useful, as well.

Regardless of the type of camera, take some practice photos and download them to your computer so you can see how the really look. Many times they will look fine on the screen or display, but will come out too dark or blurry. Practice and write down the working formula so you are ready when it matters.

Pay Attention to the Lighting

Tip: If possible make sure to take your Christmas day photos in natural lighting

Light is critical for a great photo. Too much light will make things washed out. Too little light will leave you with dark, noisy photos. Make sure you have enough light at a dinner party or on Christmas morning. You may need to turn on more lights or adjust your camera’s settings before taking the pictures.

Outdoor photos are best taken early in the morning or an hour before sunset. These are the times that the sun is lower in the sky and creates interesting shadows and allows the colors to be true. Photos taken in the middle of the day, unless shaded by a building or trees, often appear flat and colorless.

Holiday lights are best shot when there is still plenty of ambient lighting outside – try an hour or two before sunset. Your final photo will look like it’s darker outside than it really is, but the lights will show up.

If you do take photos of holiday lights after dark, the key is to keep your camera as still as possible. Any movement will make your photos blurry. We recommend using a tripod if possible. If you do not have one, you can place your camera on a flat surface or keep your arms close to your body when you take the picture.

Turn Off the Flash

Photo taken with Flash

Photo taken without the Flash

If you use the flash to take a photo of your Christmas tree, none of your holiday lights will show. Instead, make sure there are lights on in the room to help take the photo. Use a tripod or stabilize your arm on a table to reduce the amount of camera movement and be patient. Low-light photos take longer to photograph.

Snap the Details

Christmas Lights at Daytime

Close up of Wreath

Christmas Cookies

Ornaments on a Tree

Christmas Lights after Dark

Poinsettias

Get close to the tree and take a photo of special ornament on the branch, a reflection in a bulb, or a person hanging the ornament. These special details will make your layouts special, too. Just keep in mind that if the bulb is shiny and reflective, you and your camera are likely to appear in the photo. You may have to try different places to stand.

6 Holiday Photography Tips & Tricks