It’s that wonderful time of year when we see family and friends and share many special moments together.  Most of us like to capture a few of those moments with a photo or video.  As most of you know, I used to do “professional” photography but stopped earlier this year for some very specific reasons.  I love photography more than ever now and wanted to share a few of my tips for great photos this holiday season…

1. The best camera is the one you have. 

Camera technology these days is pretty amazing.  I have the amazing (and expensive) Canon 5d Mark II SLR with a wonderful L-series lens but more and more often that big, fancy camera sits at home replaced by the camera on my iPhone 5s.  Knowing how to use the camera you own will produce better photos than owning an expensive camera and not knowing how to use it.

The cameras on the latest smartphones are pretty amazing, if you know how to shoot with them.  Here’s a quick list of tips for shooting with an iPhone…. (I know, a list in a list….brutal.)

• iPhone Tip 1: Keep the flash off unless absolutely (and I mean ABSOLUTELY) necessary.
• iPhone Tip 2: Use the tap to focus feature.  Tapping on the subject of your photo will set the focus and exposure specifically for the subject of your picture.
• iPhone Tip 3: Use the volume buttons to take your photo instead of the on-screen button.  This allows you to have both hands firmly on the phone/camera.
• iPhone Tip 4: When shooting video hold your phone horizontally not vertically.
• iPhone Tip 5:Avoid using the pinch to zoom feature.  In a pinch it is handy but you would be better off repositioning yourself to fix the composition of your photo.

 

I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked my opinion about the best camera out there.  I am happy to give my input and it almost always involves the name Canon.  I am a huge fan of Canon products and I believe they are producing some of the best point and shoot cameras and SLR cameras on the market.  Whatever you are shooting with, know how to use some of the features on your camera.

2. Lighting is key

At family gatherings lighting can be a major issue.  Quite often we use the on camera flash to fix the problem.  Resist this urge at all costs!  The vast majority of flashes built into cameras, whether phone or SLR, produce harshly lit or highly distorted photos.

The SLR I shoot with doesn’t have a built in flash because it is made for professional and semi-professional photographers.  Those photographers don’t want a little flash that pops up out of the top of the camera because they know it produced horrible photos.  I have learned just how far I can push the exposure on my camera to produce clear photos even in low light situations.  The biggest thing is keeping the camera steady when shooting a photo.  I will often lean my elbows on a table or chair to provide extra stability when shooting in low light.

Take photos outside if you can.  Natural light can produce some of the best looking photos.  Avoid harsh sunlight and shadows from trees.  Overcast days make for some great photos.  Indoors don’t be afraid to use a lamp or other fixed lighting sources to your advantage.  Watch out for shadows from overhead lights as well.

3. Don’t Force It

If you’ve tried taking photos of little kids, you know exactly what I am talking about.  If your child (or even the adult) in your life doesn’t feel like having their photo taken then do not force it.  You might say, “But we’re all dressed up and need a photo for our Christmas card.”  Do you really want the photo where you had to yell at your kids to make them force a half-way decent smile?

The best photos come almost effortlessly and are about being in the right place at the right time.  My wife snapped one of the most meaningful photos to me earlier this week.  It wasn’t posed or planned.  She was out with our younger daughter while she and my Dad were filling bird feeders.  She popped out her iPhone 4 for a quick snapshot and captured the image that was included in this post.  She just happened to capture the photo as they were walking and along and happened to look at each other.  She was there at the right time using the best camera…the one she had with her.

Accept that there will be times when a photo just isn’t going to happen.  We recently had a birthday party for our youngest daughter at a food truck park.  The lighting was horribly harsh.  The sun was either blinding or the shadows were blotchy.  As much as I would have loved taking some photos there was no point in even trying under such horrible lighting conditions.  At times like these just sit back and soak in the memories.

Final Thought

I love a great photo, whether it is of my family or yours.  When sharing photos on social media you can really impress people if you filter your pictures down to the best one or two.  Compelling content that conveys emotion will always trump even the best of staged/posed portraits.  And no matter how many photos you take this holiday season, make sure you back them all up securely!

Happy snapping my friends!  Make sure to put the camera down occasionally and make some memories.  Do you have some tips for great holiday photos?  I’d be interested to hear them in the comments section below….