The holiday season is one of the most magical times of the year, filled with twinkling lights, festive decor, and precious family moments. But capturing this magic in photos isn’t always easy. Poor lighting, cluttered compositions, and awkward angles can make even the best moments look less-than-spectacular.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to take good holiday photos, even if you’re just starting out. Affiliate links may be used.
Your Composition
Great holiday photos start with thoughtful composition. Here are a few pointers on how to make your shots stand out...
- Tell a story. Include elements that represent the season—like a steaming cup of cocoa, Christmas stockings, or a stack of wrapped gifts.
- Try using the rule of thirds. Divide your frame into a grid and place your subject along these lines for balanced, professional-looking shots.
- Use different angles. Try shooting from above for flat-lay setups or get close to capture small details like ornaments or snowflakes.
The Lighting
Lighting can make or break your holiday photos. Utilize it to your advantage.
- Try shooting in low-light. Use the soft glow of Christmas lights or candles as your primary light source. To get those beautiful, aesthetic photos, try using a wide aperture for beautiful bokeh.
- For a daytime photo sesh, utilize natural light. For daytime shots, position your subjects near a window for soft, natural illumination.
- You can use reflectors and diffusers to help shape light the way you want. A simple white poster board can bounce light onto your subject, reducing harsh shadows.
Pro Tip: If you’re shooting outdoors, aim for the golden hour—just after sunrise or before sunset—for a natural, warm glow.
Holiday Photo Ideas for Beginners
- Family Portraits: Arrange everyone in color coordinated sweaters by the tree for a classic holiday card look.
- Close-Up Details: Focus on ornaments, bows, or twinkling string lights for artistic shots. (Use a wide aperture for that bokeh!)
- Candid Moments: Capture your friends and family baking cookies or exchanging gifts for authentic, organic photos.
- DIY Home Setup: Wondering how to take holiday photos at home? Use fairy lights, a plain wall, and festive props, such as wrapped gifts and Christmas trees, for a simple, stylish backdrop.
Editing Your Photos to Enhance the Magic
- Increase exposure, contrast, highlights, and shadows slightly to make colors pop.
- Adjust the white balance to help balance the scene and remove any color cast.
- Increase the saturation of reds and greens, and any other prominent colors that you want to stand out.
- Remove any unwanted distractions from your photo. You can use generative fill or content aware removal tools within Adobe Lightroom to easily remove imperfections and distractions.
I use Adobe Lightroom Mobile for quick and professional edits on my phone. Its really easy to import, edit, and share edited photos. Try it for free to see if its a good fit for you!
Try my free holiday presets to speed up your editing process!
FAQs
Q: What settings should I use for holiday photos?
A: For low-light conditions, use a wide aperture (low f-stop), increase ISO, and adjust shutter (lower, but not too much) speed to avoid blurriness.
Q: How can I take holiday photos with my phone?
A: Use the portrait mode for blurred backgrounds and adjust exposure manually by tapping and dragging on your screen. Lowering exposure slightly on your phone will help make editing a lot smoother.
Q: What are some quick tips for how to take good holiday photos?
A: Focus on lighting, have a obvious subject, and remove any unwanted clutter.
This holiday season, let your photos tell the story of love, joy, and togetherness. Whether you’re learning how to take good holiday photos or exploring how to take holiday photos at home, these tips will set you up for success.
Tags: Holiday photography, Christmas photos, beginner tips, how to take good holiday photos, how to take holiday photos at home.
Keywords: Holiday photo ideas, festive photography tips, DIY holiday photos, beginner photography tips, Christmas light photography.