Since I’m taking a break from the “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Wednesdays, I thought I would share some of my past posts from last year, especially those related to Christmas and how to photograph Christmas lights.
It’s Christmas time!! You know what that means–Christmas lights! Here are a few simple steps to help you photograph Christmas lights. Whether you have a point and shoot or a DSLR, you can use these steps to improve your photos.
1. Use a tripod! You will need to be able to take photos in low lighting and with longer shutter speeds. Get a tripod! If you want crisp sharp pictures of Christmas lights you need to use a tripod. Did I mention, use a tripod???
Photo taken by Megan Cieloha Photography
I wish my house looked like this! No, this isn’t from a Pottery Barn catalog. My friend, Megan, has the most amazing house and she actually did wrap all her presents in wrapping paper that matched her ornaments. I love it!
2. Turn off your flash. Your camera, whether it is a point and shoot or a DSLR, will want to put the flash on in low lighting, unless you are shooting in manual mode. Make sure you turn it off so the flash does not wash out your photo. Let the lights illuminate your subject.
3. Open up your aperture. Who doesn’t love Christmas light bokeh?? In order to achieve this you need to have your aperture pretty wide open (a smaller number).
Photo taken by Megan Cieloha Photography
This shot makes me want to get a nice shining ornament just so I can do this :O)
4. Close up/narrow your aperture. Okay, I know you are scratching your head and saying “But you just said open up your aperture.” This is true, if you want some bokeh have your aperture wide open. However, if you would like the starburst effect in your photos then you need to close it up to at least f/18.
5. Wait until 30 minutes after sunset to take outdoor shots. I think most people typically think they need to wait until it is completely dark outside to take photos of their house or a light display. If you go out shortly after sunset, it is still dark enough to see the lights but you are able to capture a lot of the surrounding details.
P.S. So this isn’t my house. I was super nervous about taking a picture of someone else’s house, so as I’m trying to get this picture very quickly, this little kid comes around the corner and say “What are you doing?” Busted! :O) Oh well!
Great tips! That last capture of the house is excellent! Ha ha. That’s too funny that the kid asked you what you were up to! :)
Wonderful tips! Thank you! And LOL at the last part. It’s unseasonably warm here right now, so we took a walk tonight to look at lights and I wondered too if I would get questioned snapping photos. Amazingly, very few people were out so no one seemed to notice. Will try to remember to try again at an earlier time per your last tip – we went after dinner and it was fully dark by then.
Awesome tips! :c)
Great tips! Thanks for reposting! I wasn’t reading your blog last Christmas and hadn’t read these before.
Beautiful photos! And great photos.
Ok, so random question… where are you located? I ask because the pic of your neighbors house, looks a lot like the old FL houses around where we live (SWFL). I am a newer follower, so maybe you’ve mentioned it in the past… ? Anyways, just curious… ;) Thanks for all the awesome tips you post! Though I don’t comment a lot, I do enjoy reading your page! <3
Thanks so much! Great tips. I have a point and shoot at the moment, so it probably won’t look nearly as great as your pics, but it will get me somewhere! Thanks again.
You would be surprised what you can do with a P & S :O) Good luck!
Thanks for posting this! I am going to go give it a shot tonight (ha, a shot).
Thanks for the great tips! I’m going try the starburst tip now!
Found you on Pinterest and love your photo tips!
Thank you! Welcome!!