“I find that it’s the simple things that remind you of family around the holidays.” – Amy Adams, actress
TIP 01 – Cozy Up
There’s no better time of the year to grab a warm mug and gather with those you love. With shorter days in our midst, you’ll be happy to know how to capture your best experiences — inside. To accomplish this on an iPhone, seek out a light source (could be a lamp, your well lit tree, etc.) and tap to focus on the light. Drag down the exposure to make a moody, yet peaceful, photo. Looking to create blur? Put your camera into portrait mode and back away from the subject (at least eight feet away).
TIP 02 – Capture Surprise
‘Tis the season of surprises. And thankfully, capturing them has never been easier with that camera that’s never far from your side. Whether it be little feet running down the stairs, or that split-second reaction upon opening a gift, you’ll want to return to this type of joy. To quickly snap a photo, swipe left on your locked screen and put your camera into burst mode. Shoot continually and later pick your favorite shots. Another option? Put your camera in video mode and press the white circle on the bottom left to capture images within the video.
TIP 03 – Get Outside
Alongside sweater weather comes ample opportunities to get outside and mark your season with adventure. Whether it be a long walk in the woods with your beloved pup, a thrilling sled ride down the neighborhood hill, or your search for the tree with the most character — you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take out your camera. If you find yourself in snow, make sure to use the blank canvas to your advantage. While shooting falling snow can be tricky, you’ll have the most success when you avoid direct sunlight. Also, highlighting a vibrant subject (like a jacket or sled) can help bring contrast into your photo. Once you’ve taken the photo? Bump up the exposure to make the whites stand out.
TIP 04 – Gather Around
We’re big fans of the candid, but this is the time of year to capture that one photo — with everyone in it. In honor of just that, it’s time to pull out the self-timer and gather everyone around to get the group picture you’ve been waiting for. To do this on your iPhone, you can balance your phone against a stack of books, 10 feet away from the group. Then, tap the self-timer option at the top of the camera screen. Select the amount of time that you need, and you’ll have a photo together in no time. (Hint: sometimes the outtakes make the best photos!)
TIP 05 – Change Your Perspective
Changing up your perspective will make your season uniquely yours; do your best to find ways to bring this to life. Whether it be getting on the eye level of your littles (or even giving them the camera for a short while for a look into their world!), you’ll be happy to capture their perspective. Some of our favorite ways to do this? Snapping the small details that are so easily missed, cropping your photo in to create a new view, and peeking into a window to capture a genuine moment… just to name a few.
TIP 06 – Tell The Story
When you’re in the mindset to document the season, you’ll find that your camera roll fills with images that make your heart skip an extra beat. Make sure to capture details of your days: the big, the little, the messy, the joyous. Welcome in both the good and the bad images —finding beauty in the blurry and authenticity in the imperfection. The entire story will be waiting on your camera roll for you to revisit, year round.
A REMINDER…
At the end of the day, the best photos are the ones you take…just for you. The happiness captured, the meal shared — they’re the experiences that make up this season. So do your best to take the photos that matter to you, but maybe even more importantly — put the camera down to experience it for yourself. It’s all waiting for you.