Guest post written by Kathryn @that.enchanted.life | @enchanted.lens.photography
Whether you want to wow friends with Christmas cards featuring your family’s faces, or you’re just doing it for the ‘gram, follow our top tips to level up your festive photos this Yuletide.
1. Get Creative with Light
What better time than Christmas to unleash your creative side? This is especially fun at this time of year when we tend to rely more on artificial lighting – just be mindful of shadows; try to utilise softer sources of light like fairy lights, candles or open fires rather than harsh overhead lighting, and shoot in RAW if possible to retain more detail in your images.
Try experimenting with slower shutter speeds whilst your subject moves a safe light source (like a string of lights or a sparkler) in front of the lens. If you’re shooting on a smartphone, you can download apps that override the camera’s auto-settings, allowing you to control the speed of the shutter, and some phones even come with a long exposure setting when shooting in live mode.
Make the most of that twinkling tree by using it to light your subject’s face, then adjust your aperture to a lower f-stop (usually accessed via Portrait Mode if you’re using a smartphone) to create a gorgeous, sparkly bokeh.
2. Set the Scene
For your pictures to really sparkle with Christmas cheer, your background matters. Outside, position your subject near a door dressed with a wreath, or next to a lit holly bush or fir tree for added festive feels. Indoors, fireplaces hung with stockings make great backdrops. And don’t be afraid of props! Candles and crackers help paint the picture, as do festive outfits like chunky knits, matching PJs or, our fave, all things tartan.
3. Fake It ’Til You Make It
Whilst photos of our small humans frolicking in boundless snow is the dream, for most of us, that’s all it shall remain, since the chances of us getting much more than a smattering of slushy snowfall are somewhat slim.
As an alternative, fake snow can be whipped up quickly and easily by mixing equal parts cornflour and bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of water – this recipe is environmentally friendly, safe for children and a lot of festive fun!
There are also some really great apps you can get to add a fluttering of snow to your festive family photos – we like PicsArt, which is free and has a good selection of overlays for you to choose from.
4. Have Fun!
This period is about celebrating family, love and togetherness, and your festive photos should reflect that. Pick the moments that matter to you and yours – decorating the tree, visiting a Christmas market, writing to Santa or chuckling at cheesy cracker jokes whilst bedecked in paper hats – and capture them.
5. Get in the Frame!
As mums, all too often we have camera rolls full of pics of the kids, but very few pics with us in the frame. This holiday period, we want you to change that! Whether that means setting up a tripod, putting your camera on a timer or asking a stranger to help, the most important thing is that these treasured memories are recorded and that you’re a part of that. Everything else really is just festive fluff!
Guest post written by Kathryn @that.enchanted.life | @enchanted.lens.photography
I’m Kathryn, proud mum to three incredible daughters, part-time photographer and passionate blogger at That Mama Club. As an autistic parent raising children with additional needs, my personal experiences have shaped my perspective and ignited my passion for writing.
Through my blogs, I aim to provide support and a sense of community to fellow mothers facing similar situations. I believe in the power of sharing our triumphs and struggles to foster understanding and solidarity among parents.
With a background in safeguarding, I bring an expertise in creating safe environments for children and families, which informs my writing. I strive to empower parents with knowledge and resources for navigating the complexities of raising a family.
I focus on building connections, sharing experiences and fostering a sense of community to make a positive impact.
Connect with me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/that.enchanted.life, where I showcase the magic of motherhood through visual storytelling and hope to inspire others to find joy in their own lives.
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