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Holiday Photo Tips and Tricks

It’s coming quickly, the holidays, but your work starts now! Don’t wait till the day of to start taking photos. The holidays aren’t just about gifts. It’s about anticipation, decorating, and baking cookies. And that’s just the start.

Here are a few tips to keep you ready for the holiday season, which starts, NOW!!!!!

1. Keep a fresh set of batteries on hand. Or for digital cameras make sure your rechargeable battery is good to go.
I use a digital camera now and I’ve gotten in the habit of checking the battery level on a weekly basis. I went to take my daughter’s official Christmas photo, I hadn’t been watching, and I almost ran out of battery power.

2. Keep lots of film on hand. You are going to want high speed for low light (using available holiday lights) situations. For digitals, keep lots of paper handy and extra ink cartridges.
Remember high speed means greater sensitivity to light, you want film that responds well to as little light as possible if you want that photo of the kids near the lighted Christmas tree to come out well.
Buy some good paper for your photos. Whatever brand you prefer there is a difference in the high glossy stuff and the not so glossy stuff. I’ve also tried several “store brands” which aren’t as good as the name brands.

3. A tripod is a good idea for film or digital.
Even with high speed film, or your digital set for low light you may need a tripod to keep the camera steady. The shutter will be open longer and the slightest movement will mean a blurry image.

4. Don’t just take shots of everyone dressed nicely remember to get everyone dressed like they do everyday while decorating the tree or house.
Some of my best shots are of my husband and daughter decorating the house in their sweat pants and t-shirts. Maybe they don’t look all fancy, but it’s those photos that will help me hold onto my wonderful memories.

5. Look for action shots of family and friends actually doing things. Remember they don’t always have to be looking right at the camera in a posed shot.
I love shots of family or friends doing things. Sometimes you can capture the most wonderful looks on faces. My husband found this out earlier this year when he took a photo of me with my daughter and caught this great look on my face. I love this photo. It shows exactly how I feel about my daughter in one look.

6. Try to get groups of people. Grandparents with grandkids, Aunts and Uncles with nieces and nephews. All the kids together.
I always try to get people into photos who seem to get left out. Some people are shy and just need a little prodding.

7. Don’t get left out yourself. Use a timer, set on the longest setting, or use your remote control on your digital to get the entire family, including the family photographer in the photo.
I get left out too, all I can say is thank God for a timer.

Copyright 2006 Kelly Paal
Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. She started her own business Kelly Paal Photography. She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. Please visit www.kellypaalphotography.com for more FREE how to articles.