Holiday Photography Ideas

The holiday season has arrived and cant we all feel the spirit of the season start to set in. All around us seems to be festive music, smiling people, and shopping bags galore! Sending gifts, holiday parties, and maybe a snow shower fill our thoughts this time of year. In very short time family and friends will be celebrating together with smiling faces for everyone.

Everything about the season presents fantastic scenery for photographers. Whether you are a professional or simply a fan of the point and shoot, the holidays offer up many great opportunities to capture family memories on film. Because you dont ever want to forget some of the wonderful experiences of this season it is important to be prepared to capture the moments when they happen.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before it is too late.

It seems more and more people are switching to digital cameras these days, and why not, they offer so many advantages for the typical photographer. Before the holidays arrive make sure to prepare your camera a bit. This doesn't take too much work but sure will be helpful come picture time. First and foremost you want to clear out the cameras memory cards so there is maximum storage capacity available. The best way to do this is to plug your camera in and transfer any older photos to your computer. The next preparatory step is to charge your camera. There is nothing like running out of batteries in the middle of something special. If your camera uses regular batteries try to stock up on a few extras just in case.

The next tip for holiday photographers concerns the composition of each picture. The holidays offer really great scenery that should be captured. Try placing your subject off center in the picture to more creatively display the local scenery. Many pictures with the subject directly in the center lose the colorful surroundings that would otherwise complement the picture nicely.

When you are taking pictures of an event, such as children opening their gifts on Christmas morning, remember to take lots of pictures and wait until later to choose which ones are worth saving. Digital cameras are especially useful for this technique because they have large capacities that can easily be edited later. You want to take a lot of pictures to ensure you catch everything going on; why risk missing something special if you have the capacity? This technique is also helpful when trying to capture the family together. There is always one in the crowd that smiles at the wrong time or just plain looks silly. The more photos you snap the more likely one is going to be a good representation of everyone involved.

The bright lights displayed during the holidays present a great chance for some creative photography too. Instead of taking the same old photo of the house decorations try something new. If possible on your camera, try leaving the shutter open for an extended period of time. During this brief half- to four-second pause you can nudge the camera a bit to add extra effect. The result should be unique pictures of the lights with a slight blur effect. Try experimenting a bit to create the exact photo you are looking for. You can also try this with decorative candles.

The opportunities for photographing during the holidays are endless. Everywhere we look there are fantastic photos waiting to be taken. Make sure to be prepared because once the scene has passed its too late and we would hate to miss some of those wonderful memories that the holidays offer.

About the author: Don Packer is the designated photographer for all his family gatherings. That way at least one person is capturing the family history and fun times.

Passion for Photography 10 Tips

1. Simple window photo
First I will explain some simple props to use that you may have lying around the house. First get your model or child to go outside in front of a window on a sunny day while you stay inside. Position yourself at an angle in front of the window. Let your model stand to the side, nearly in the center of the window. Snap your photograph without the flash to keep the flash from showing up as a reflection. There you are, you now have a wonderful photograph.

2. Halloween photo
Get camera viewfinder straight in front of the model and props. Make sure the sun is behind you. The best time to shoot is before 10am and after 4pm when the sun is not so harsh. There you are a great Halloween picture. Buy a large pumpkin and some hay. Set the hay in your yard where you can see tree scenery behind where your model will be sitting on the hay bale. Position the pumpkin on the ground at the left or right side of the hay bale. Take a couple of shots.

A sample pumpkin picture


3. Lollipops and kids or adults
Take a red lollipop. Red looks better in my opinion. Have the model smile and look at the lollipop as if she/he is about to take a lick. Don’t have your model looking directly into the camera. A red shirt on the model will enhance the color of the lollipop. If you have a backdrop use a white drop, you can even put up a white sheet on a clothes line or wall using tacks. This picture should turn out looking professional.

Example of a lollipop picture below


4. Face shot with flowers
Go to a store or flower shop and buy some inexpensive flowers. Live or fake ones will work. Pinch the flowers off the stem on a few of them. Put some of the pinched off flowers around the model. Lay a backdrop or sheet down any color that will match the flowers is fine. Have your model lay on the sheet or
backdrop. If you have a girl which this looks better with a girl have her hair flowing in back of her while lying down. Take the shot with the model in the view finder from right below the neck to a little past where the hair is flowing. You now have a great head shot.

5. Peeking thru flowers
This is one of my favorite types of shots. Take a backdrop or sheet. White I think looks the best or black. Tack it up behind the model or on a backdrop system. You can find a backdrop stand that is not expensive on the internet for under $100 dollars. Have the model hold flowers that are on a stem. Have the girl spread the flowers in the middle and peek thru them. Have the girl from right about the belly button up in the view finder and shoot the picture. Remember to never shoot in the direct sun or make sure you have the sun behind you. This casts out shadows in your picture and will make the colors show up bright. You could always use poinsettias as the flower of choice for this photograph to make a Christmas picture.

Here is a sample peeking thru flowers picture


6. Simple Pillows shot
Gather up some pillows about 4 to 6 will work. These can be any color. You will probably have the small round or square pillows dressing up your bed. Take them and lay them down on a backdrop or sheet. In front of a bed on the floor will work great. Have your model lay on the ground on one of the pillows with the others lying around them in different positions. Pastel or bright colors look great. As you are standing look down at your model. Center the model in the viewfinder. Snap the picture or a couple. Always take a couple of pictures of the same shot so you know you will get a fantastic shot to pick from.

Here is a sample pillow shot


7. Leaning around a tree
Go outside on a partly cloudy day or in the shade by a big tree. Have your model stand behind the tree. Now have him/her peek around the tree while
they have an arm wrapped around on the side they are peeking from. Get a BIG smile and snap. A full shot of this is a great picture. A half body shot is nice also. Wearing a pretty dress or a nice shirt and tie for a male looks wonderful. If you can or have an apple tree in bloom this would make an awesome picture. If you have an apple, have the model hold the apple while leaning against the tree.

8. Loving pregnancy picture
Get a friend or relative that is expecting and ask them if you could do some pictures of them. In the sample picture I am using a pregnant mom and her
teenage daughter. Have the pregnant mom sit on the ground carefully and have the daughter lean and place her or his hands on the moms’ belly. If the
mom is not shy have her pull up her shirt modestly. Have both models look down at the mother’s belly. Take a couple of shots. When taking pictures like this I usually will get down on my knees so I am at the same level as the models. Sitting the models in pretty green grass will work too other than a backdrop. Pictures made without having the face in them can be works of art. There you go, you know have a mommy to be picture that will be cherished for always.

Sample loving pregnancy picture


9. Feet in water or puddle picture
Find a stream or a big clean puddle of water. Have your model wearing blue jeans and rolled up to right below the knees. Have your model barefoot. Have them stand in the puddle and as the rings in the water go outward snap a picture of the knees down. This is one of the coolest original pictures I have seen and shot. If your model has a tattoo on the ankle or leg be sure to snap the picture on the side that the tattoo is on.

10. Smelling a flower picture
Get a one stemmed rose or your favorite flower and have your model hold it as if smelling the flower. Have them looking down at the flower. Have your model stand sideways at an angle. Get the face and flower in the viewfinder from mid torso up. I would center the frame on the eyes. Snap a couple of pictures and Walla you have a fantastic piece of art!

I hope these tips will give you some ideas to start enjoying photography.

Find a Subject (Photography Tips)

As a amateur photographer or professional photographer you are not going to be successful unless you have subjects to shoot. After all, the subject is what will make or break your work. Luckily, it is easy to find photo subjects that you can work with. After all, almost everything around you can be a subject for your next photography. This includes everything from people to landscape to pets to lifeless objects. The photo subjects that you deal with are up to you.
Most photographers like to focus on one kind of subject so that they can become an specialist in that area. Early on you should decide what you like to shoot, and then stick to that subject for a while. The best way to determine what photography subject is best for you is to try out each one. After you shoot everything from people to pets you will have a best idea of what you want to focus on.
Now that you know what photo subjects interest you, head out and find scenes that suit your needs. If you are going to focus on scenery photography you should be able to find much work by simply stepping out of your home. Does it get any easier than that? People who like to shoot subjects such as people and pets may find it a bit more difficult to find subjects. But if you keep your eyes open, it is safe to say that big opportunities will become accessible.
Overall, finding photography subjects is a key to piece of luck. But before you do this, make sure you know what you are looking for. Once you have an idea of what photo subject are better for you, you can then begin to scour the field for the perfect set up.