Yet to read the manual for your camera and wean yourself off that auto button? Samantha Laurie asks an expert for help in securing some fab festive pics
Christmas should be one of the best family photo ops of the year – all those twinkly lights and delighted faces (here’s hoping!). But with limited daylight and an indoor setting, even the best snapper can end up with a set of cheesy poses, flared out by camera flash. Fear not though, for Surrey photographer Vicki Knights – whose work appears in parenting magazines and the national press – has some top insider tips….
1) The big present
Make sure you’ve got your camera at the ready to capture their expression when they first see Buzz Lightyear or their new drum set!
2) The little things count
It’s the precise details like the letter to Santa and the place names around the table that will make you smile in 10 years time when you’re looking back.
3) Accept the imperfections
This photo is a great example of this. At first I was really frustrated, as the person in front of me raised their hands to clap as I took the picture. Then, when I uploaded it, I saw the proud look on my son’s face, occasioned by his finishing the play for which he’d practised so hard. I then realised that the blurred hands add to the story, as you can see that he is being applauded. Sometimes the beauty of an image is in the imperfection.
4) At the nativity play
Turn off your flash (it will only light up the area around 10 feet in front of you) and use a long lens, if you have one. The next step depends upon your level of experience. Advanced snappers should not be afraid to put their ISO really high.
If your camera’s ISO only goes up to 1600, then set it on that. But put it higher if you can (though below ISO 3200). If your shutter speed is dropping below 1/100, just put your ISO up to what it needs to be. Better to have a bit of grain than a blurry photo because your shutter speed is too slow.
5) Pay attention to lighting
Natural light always gives better results than the flash on your camera, so find out how to turn the flash off. Open the curtains and blinds to let as much light in as possible and use the ambient light you have in your house – fairy lights from the tree, screen light from the TV/ipad/computer or a lamp.
If you know how to use your camera off auto, don’t be scared of putting your ISO up high. I would much rather shoot at ISO 3200 and have some noise in my photo than use my flash. This photo was taken after dark, just using the fairy lights and a really high ISO.
6) Don’t say cheese!
Ask them their favourite thing about each other, get them to have a cuddle or kiss or to tickle each other. You’ll get much more natural photos than by asking them to look at the camera and say cheese.
7) Get outside
People always try to take ‘the’ family photo with everyone sitting round the table, but you end up with someone in focus at the front and everyone else tiny and blurred behind them. Better to pop outside into the garden during daylight hours or go for a walk.
Use a tripod or self-timer – and make sure you’re in the photo yourself. That is important. Your grown-up child will never say: ‘I love this photo of our family, but I wish Mum had waited until she’d lost the baby weight.’ In the future you’ll be grateful that you managed to squeeze in. Promise!
Lens lessons
Vicki runs half-day workshops teaching parents how to take better pics of their children. Sessions are adults only and ideally you need a DSLR (but a bridge camera is also suitable). Each workshop is followed by two weeks of email support and access to a private Facebook group. Venue: The Medicine Garden in Cobham (KT11 3LU). Next dates are Dec 3 and Jan 28; £140
Also see...
Photography for Parents, which runs five-week courses in locations such as Chiswick, East Dulwich and Nutfield, near Redhill. Babies and toddlers come too for these small, friendly sessions pitched at two levels. Courses £159, with early bird discounts.
Bright Apple Photography in West Molesey runs one-to-one classes for parents. Bring your child and professional photographer, Danielle will pass on her top tips. Classes last two hours and cost £130 (weekdays) or £150 (Sat). Add your partner for an extra £30.
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