Capturing Christmas magic in holiday photos can be dreadful for some during the Christmas season. However, creating your own Christmas-themed photos can be fun, budget-friendly, and totally achievable with a bit of planning and creativity. You don’t even need a fancy camera; a smart phone will do just fine!
Plan for Capturing Christmas Magic
- To begin with, plan out your background. All things considered, you don’t have to have a lavish backdrop to get amazing photos of the family. Since simplicity is a rising trend these days, you can easily use Christmas decorations that you already have for your home. The spot where you place your Christmas tree is a great start!
2. Make sure to have good lighting. The lights on the Christmas tree bring a warm and cozy feel to your photos. But on the other hand, those lights alone can make your photos too dark. You should try finding a spot near a window for natural light. Likewise, you can angle a lamp toward the area where you’re taking your photos.
3. Set a theme or coordinate clothing. One tip to getting photos that everyone will love is to coordinate clothing. If you can get the family to wear complimentary colors, matching patterns or even dress as characters from a classic Christmas movie, you’re sure to capture some lovely photos.
If you’re looking for Christmas-themed clothing or costumes for your family photos, consider our ugly Christmas sweater or beanie! Or maybe coordinating Santa or elf hats are for you.
4. Use props. No doubt you can level up your Christmas portraits by using props. To this end, be clever with objects that you may already have in your home. Think Christmas ornaments, hot cocoa mugs, stockings, cozy blankets, a Christmas book, etc. You can even wrap empty boxes to place under your Christmas tree to complete the look!
5. Cherish the candid shots. Certainly, everyone wants that one perfect photo of everyone smiling brightly at the camera. However, that can be difficult to capture with a large group of people or with children/pets that don’t stay still. However, there is beauty within the chaos. Capture the moments of your children laughing and playing while decorating the Christmas tree. They don’t have to look directly at the camera for you to get a heartwarming photo.
More DIY Holiday Photo Tips
Still second-guessing your ability for capturing Christmas magic in your holiday photos? Here, for instance, are more ideas you can try.
Wrapping Paper
First of all, tape some wrapping paper across a door frame. Next, poke a hole in the center of the paper, ripping it large enough to peek your head through. Finally, you should have your children look through the hole as if they are coming through it themselves! Or entice your pet to stick their head through the paper with a treat!
Under the Tree
This next prompt is great for infants or young children. You can simply lay them on their back under your Christmas tree and take the photo from above. Just be sure to place their head at the outside edge of the tree so that branches don’t cover their face.
Capturing Christmas Magic With a Christmas Book!
This time, you can begin by grabbing your family’s favorite Christmas book. Now make it look as if it’s coming to life! Simply turn on your smartphone flashlight (or use a bundle of Christmas lights) and set it inside the open book. Now angle the book so you can’t see the phone, but it appears the pages are shining onto your face.
Chimney Box
Another fun photoshoot idea for children is the chimney box. What’s more, this is one where you can get crafty! First, find a box that will fit your child. Next, you can draw/paint the box to look like bricks or cover the box with a brick-look vinyl wallpaper. Finally, set your child inside! They will look like they are climbing out of a chimney like Santa!
Surely, Christmas photos don’t have to break the bank or stress you out this year. In summary, get creative with what you have at home. In the end, you will have some amazing pictures of your family that everyone will love!