From our Photofocus family to yours, we wish you a very, merry and bright Christmas. We hope you will spend time to enjoy the holiday season safely with your loved ones. And of course, with a camera in hand!
To help you make the most of your Christmas photos, here are some useful holiday photography tips from our archives:
One light holiday portraits with DIY styling using Christmas décor - Looking to try something new for your holiday portrait projects this year? Incorporating DIY elements can give you a bunch of out-of-the-box ideas, as fashion and beauty photographer Lindsay Adler demonstrates in a recent shoot! In the Adorama video above, Adler shares some ideas for creating elegant and impactful holiday portraits on a budget. Likewise, it won’t take you much time and effort to set everything up in the studio. All you need is one light and some inexpensive Christmas ornaments to “dress up” your model with. For this shoot, Adler used a bunch of $15 glitter poinsettias to create a sparkling top and headpiece. Next, her team decided to use the classic holiday color palette of red, green and gold. The deep red/burgundy background gave a touch of elegance to the festive mood of the gold ornaments and green eye make up. Next, to complete the setup, Adler used a single Profoto Beauty Dish with a grid. This allowed her to create soft but sculpted light on her model’s face. As for the gear, she paired a Canon R5 with a Canon RF 24-105mm f/4. This gave her the flexibility of wider focal lengths for wide shots that showcase the top and headpiece. Got some cool ideas for DIY styling for holiday portraits? Share them with us in the comments below!
Give your bokeh Christmas flair with this DIY lens filter - Feeling crafty? This easy lens modifier is a fun one for the holidays and only takes a few minutes to prepare. Bonus: Your kids will love it! I love shooting wide open to capture beautiful bokeh behind my subject: The blurry, out-of-focus blobs that are characteristic of wide apertures. Bokeh takes on the shape of the aperture, which is why high-end lenses are built with lots of curved diaphragm blades (the iris that lets light through the lens) to get the aperture as perfectly round as possible. In this DIY, however, we’re going to deliberately change the aperture shape, thus sculpting the bokeh into fun holiday shapes! It’s kitsch but fun: In other words, perfect for Christmas. Don’t worry, this is a non-destructive craft: No modifications to the actual lens are required, I promise. How to create bokeh shapes with a wide aperture lens You will need: A wide aperture lens of at least f/1.8, such as a nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8 lens). The 50mm f/1.8 will work well for this activity on both a full frame or a crop sensor camera. Whatever lens you choose, make sure it has at least 50mm for the focal length (longer would be even more effective). A step-up ring for your lens (a step-up ring is used to fit filters that are larger than the lens thread). The smaller diameter of the ring needs to match your lens thread diameter. If you can’t get a step-up ring, use Method 2 below instead. A sheet of thin (e.g. 2mm) black craft foam, the kind you would use for scrapbooking or card-making. Craft knife (e.g. an X-ACTO knife or similar). Scissors and a pen. Optional extras and alternatives: If you can’t get craft foam or a step-up ring, an A4 sheet of black cardboard and sticky tape will work (see Method 2 below). Hole punches in different shapes, small amount of black cardboard, and glue (for Method 3). Method 1: Shaping bokeh with craft foam and a step-up ring This is the easiest method and takes only a few minutes. Here are the steps: Trace the wider diameter of your step-up ring onto the craft foam. Cut out the circle, on the inside of your traced line. Carefully trim the edges until the foam circle fits firmly inside the wider diameter of your step-up ring. In the center of the foam circle, draw your shape (e.g. star, heart, etc.). It should be about 1 cm in size. Cut out the shape with the craft knife. With the foam circle fitted in the wide diameter of the step-up ring, screw the ring onto the end of your lens. Your lens should now be covered with the black foam, with the shape cut-out in the middle. Now you’re ready to shoot! Method 2: Shaping bokeh with a cardboard cap If you don’t have a step-up ring, this cardboard method works well: Cut a strip of black cardboard about 5 cm wide from the long side of your A4 sheet. Wrap the cardboard around your lens to make a tube. Tape it closed. Slide the tube off the lens and trace the end to make a “lens diameter” circle on the remaining cardboard. Draw (by hand) another circle around the traced one, about 1 cm (half an inch) bigger. Cut out the bigger circle. Snip the bigger circle at regular intervals, back to the “lens diameter” circle, to make tabs (see the diagram below: Cut the dotted lines). Fold the tabs inwards so they sit at 90 degrees to the circle. Draw and cut out your 1 cm shape, as in Method 1, in the middle of your circle. Tape the circle to the end of the tube using the tabs. To shoot, slide the tube onto your lens so that it’s capped by the cardboard circle. Method 3: Making an interchangeable bokeh shaper If you’re an advanced craftsgineer, you might like to try this method. Here, we make cardboard “slides” with different-shaped holes, and a “bracket” on the circle to slip them in. I like this method because the hole punches give cleaner shapes than I can cut with the craft knife. Also, you only need to make one “cap” and can change the bokeh shape on the fly. You can make this bracket on either the foam circle/step-up ring modifier (Method 1) or the cardboard cap (Method 2). Make your cap as above, but instead of cutting a specific shape, cut a 1.5 cm square in the center. Cut two 0.5 cm by 3 cm strips of cardboard or foam, and glue one on each side of the square cutout (as per the red rectangles in the diagram below), to make the “bracket.” Only put glue on the very ends of the strips (blue dots in the diagram). Cut “slides” approx. 2 cm wide x 3 cm long. Punch each slide with a different shape. When the glue is dry, push a slide under the bracket so that the punched shape of the slide is over the central square cut-out. Now you are ready to shoot, and changing shapes is as easy as slipping one slide out and another in. Next time I’ll share some tips and tricks for using your modifier. Until then, happy crafting!
Have some fun with Christmas portraits - Who says Christmas portraits have to be posed and old fashioned? Try having some fun with yours this year. Grab a friend or two, or perhaps a selfie, and combine that with a Christmas hat and some Christmas lights. No need to go overboard. Keep it simple Keep it simple and quick. In this example I hung a black sheet, but feel free to use white or red. A simple red Christmas hat and some LED Christmas lights will do the trick. If you place some of the lights directly in front of your lens you can capture some fun bokeh as well. I turned all the lights down apart from the Christmas lights, placed the camera on a tripod and snapped away! What’s the story? Keep to a Christmas theme, but be sure to tell a simple story. The background of this shot was my hapless Elf was trying to untangle the lights. Clearly she got herself in quite a mess. Here’s some other stories for you to explore: It does not have to be elaborate. Keep it quick and fun and add in some gold confetti or fake snow. Don’t want people in this years Christmas portraits? No problem, grab the cat, dog, lizard or any other animal you have around the house, and set them up. That is, if you can convince them to sit long enough! Add a message If you are turning this into a Christmas eCard (and why not), add a Christmas message. Either write on a whiteboard or cardboard and add to the shot, or place some simple text over the image in Photoshop. Whatever you do, have some fun with your Christmas portraits.
Photographing and documenting cherished family Christmas traditions - The holiday season is a time filled with warmth, joy, and the magic of cherished traditions. As families come together to celebrate Christmas, there’s a unique opportunity to capture these special moments through photography. One timeless tradition that holds a special place in many households is the act of leaving cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Let’s explore the art of documenting this heartwarming tradition and offer tips on how to create lasting memories through your lens. Setting the scene Start by setting the stage for your photo session. Decorate the table with festive tablecloths, arrange Christmas-themed plates and cups, and place a tray of delicious cookies front and center. Consider adding a few holiday decorations like ornaments, twinkling lights, and perhaps even a handwritten note to Santa from the children. Capture the baking If your family, especially with children love to bake, capture the fun right from the start. Capture the process of making and baking the cookies too. Or get together with a few friends and make batches of holiday cookies, while sharing some holiday cheer. Candid moments Capture the candid moments that unfold as your family engages in the cookie-setting ritual. Document the excitement and anticipation on the faces of the children as they carefully arrange the cookies and pour a glass of milk for Santa. These unposed, authentic moments will become treasured memories that you can look back on for years to come. Close-ups and details Zoom in on the little details that make this tradition so special. Capture the kids’ small hands as they arrange the cookies, the crumbs left behind, and the handwritten note expressing gratitude to Santa. These close-ups add a personal touch to your documentation, preserving the essence of the moment. Play with lighting Experiment with lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If possible, use natural light streaming in from a nearby window to enhance the cozy, festive ambience. Soft, diffused lighting can add a touch of magic to your photographs, accentuating the joy of the occasion. Include everyone Make sure to include all family members in the documentation process. Whether it’s grandparents, parents, or siblings, everyone contributes to the magic of Christmas. Capture the interactions and shared smiles as each person plays a role in setting up the cookies for Santa. Print and share Once you’ve curated a collection of beautiful images, consider printing them to create a physical album or holiday card. Share these tangible memories with friends and family, or use them to adorn your home during the festive season. Photographing and documenting family Christmas traditions, such as leaving cookies for Santa, is a wonderful way to create lasting memories. By paying attention to the details, capturing candid moments, and embracing the magic of the season, you can preserve the warmth and joy of these special traditions for generations to come. So, grab your camera, immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, and start capturing the magic of Christmas in your home. So what’s your favorite Christmas tradition? And what do you leave out for Old Saint Nick? Many regions and countries have different traditions. Share what’s yours in photos!
Capturing the holiday spirit through festive food photos - It’s that time of year again! All thoughts turn to the Holiday Season. Whether that’s Thanksgiving or Christmas, or something else entirely. If it’s festive, chances are there are bound to be friends, family and of course, food. Capture festive food photos with all that sparkles, glistens and shines with a few fantastic ideas below. You don’t have to bring the big guns out — mobile cameras these days are fantastic too. Sprinkling Capture the action of dusting baked treats with icing sugar. Remember to use a slower shutter speed for soft dreamy effects. Or, speed the shutter up to get more action. Sparkling Add in some pretty LED lights or holiday lights for some sparkly bokeh in your shots. Slightly darker lighting helps amplify the lights. Glistening Grab a spray bottle with water and gently spray on fruit for that just-picked, farm-fresh look. Lovely natural light works well with this too. Don’t forget — once you’ve captured all the yummy food and are happy with your festive food photos, sit back, relax and enjoy it with good friends or family.
Easy Christmas setups for no-stress family photos - I love Christmas photos as much as the next person, but sometimes less is more. A playful, subtle approach to Christmas photos will get you what you need for your family Christmas cards and give you some shots to update the photo album at the same time. Plus, it’s an easy activity to entertain the kids and enjoy some low-pressure holiday fun! Find some evergreen foliage and decorate it with baubles Nothing says Christmas like evergreen foliage. I live in Australia, and in our local botanic garden, we found these stunning ground cover evergreens, flourishing beautifully in the summer heat. With a cheap packet of baubles (or ornaments) and a rug, it took just a few minutes to set up this spot for my Christmas bub. An ancient, giant pine tree will look just as Christmassy as a perfectly conical one (and where I live, you have to special order that variety!) so look for the foliage rather than the tree. Who says it has to be a pine at all? This ivy archway gives the lush greens and was just as fun for my little guy to decorate. Finding the magic of the season is easy with no fuss and minimal props. Have fun with it, and your kids will too. After all, that’s what Christmas is all about!
How to create monochromatic Christmas portraits with one light - Brainstorming for your Christmas portrait projects this year? You might want to switch things up and do a monochromatic shoot. One thing to note though — just because it says monochromatic doesn’t mean it’s limited to black and white. In the video above, fashion and portrait photographer Lindsay Adler shows us how she works with color for some monochromatic Christmas portraits! Adler’s tips are worth the try for several reasons. First, she encourages us to go beyond the usual colors associated with Christmas. By styling everything in her set — including the Christmas trees and ornaments — in various shades of pink, she was able to achieve a fun and experimental vibe to her portraits. Next, she used a single, broad light source (Profoto D2) to give her scene with a nice, even glow. This is a nice touch for creating a retro Christmas vibe that matches the non-traditional color palette for the season. The shoot is also a great showcase of what you can do with seamless paper backgrounds. Adler also noted that this option is necessary when you’re shooting full-length portraits. If you’re keen on switching up your backgrounds, give it a go for your Christmas portraits this year! Want more Christmas portrait tips and ideas like this? Don’t forget to join our group discussions if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community!
Creating a magical Christmas morning scene - Some of my happiest childhood memories took place Christmas morning. I’d always wake up super early and sneaking down to the family room to see if Santa had left us presents. I wanted to re-create some of that magic, maybe you do too. So here are some ideas for creating a Christmas morning scene for family photos. Creating your scene Using something like this amazing printed Christmas backdrop from Kate Backdrop is a terrific place to start. You can hang from rod pocket onto a free-standing backdrop stand (make sure it’s securely weighted) or clip to a mounted backdrop hanger (I added some clips to weigh the bottom down). They are so easy to look after — wash and tumble dry, a light steam and you’re ready to shoot. Then add a big fluffy fur rug, some hobby fill, a few Christmas ornaments and lights and a big comfy chair. Of course, you could set the scene however you wish. Camera gear and lights Just as important as staging your scene is to light it. I used a three-light setup. I had a 36″ Octobox on a Godox AD400Pro, then a 9″ x 35″ Strip Box (also on a Godox AD400Pro). Then I lit the actual backdrop itself with a Godox AD200 and a diffuser. Be sure to test with a stand-in, before the kids arrive. Another fourth light would have been beneficial at the front as well, for when the kids passed the front light. I was shooting with my Sony a7R III and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 lens. I also had my 5.5″ 4K LED Mini Monitor setup. So that it was well lit and everyone was in focus, I shot at f/9. The rest of the camera settings were ISO 200 and 1/125s. My lights were on full power (strip box), 1/8 (octobox) and 1/32 (speedlight). Grab some props As the girls in this studio session were young, we kept it pretty simple, but even a kid understands presents! Grab some boxes and wrap them in Christmas paper, remind the older ones it’s all pretend, but offer them a cookie or something as a reward for a job well done. The younger ones … they just love ripping up paper, they don’t care what’s in it! Make some memories Now that the scene is set and the gear is ready, it’s time to make some memories or recapture some past ones. Work out ahead of time wardrobe choices (kids in pajamas is surely a must). Then work out the type of shots you wish to capture. Remember to be age-appropriate — kids under four need a little coaxing and a lot of patience. Here are some ideas: Kids sneaking down to the tree, hand in hand Kids on floor listening for Santa Snuggling on the fur rug in front of fire Kids opening a “magical” present Mum and dad watching kids open presents, maybe with a hot chocolate in hand Kids sitting on chair with large presents Don’t forget to move around within your image, not just capture larger overall shots. Kids sparkle when excited, so try to capture that. I also took some individual shots of the kids as well as family shots. Be prepared for an occasional head swap and remember not everything always goes to plan! A little Photoshop magic doesn’t go astray to add to the whimsical charm of these family photos. Keep it light and bright When dealing with littlies, not everything is going to always go to plan. Keep things, light and bright and short! When the kids start to fuss, stop … either they have had enough or they are getting bored. Get mum and dad to bring some drinks and snacks to help keep them entertained, but nothing messy. Keep session times short as possible and reward the kids (with permission) on a job well done. I had Christmas cookies. Photos used with parental permission.
Have a very macro Christmas - Have you ever grabbed your camera and macro lens at Christmas and captured the tiny, beautiful and sparkly details of your Christmas decorations? Capture the spirit of Christmas in macro — beautiful colors and details. Capture memories of each Christmas to preserve or just share. Get in close Get in close and grab the detail, the lights on the tree make a stunning bokeh. Put your camera on a tripod and capture some slightly longer exposures of all the twinkles and color. Put your own unique spin and flare on it. From my family to yours, I wish you a safe and merry holiday season!
