Tips for Taking Photos Indoors this Holiday Season – So many holiday photo opportunities take place indoors and we all know that photographing in low light can be a little tricky. To capture memorable indoor Christmas photos this year here are a few quick tips.
1. Find as much light as you can – you’d be surprised how much of a difference opening up the curtains, the blinds or a door (if the weather allows) can make on the amount of light available in the space where you’ll be taking photos. When possible shoot photos as close to one of these natural light sources as possible.
2. Change your camera settings – to compensate for less light try increasing your ISO. Read up in your camera manual (because every camera is different) and learn how to do this. When you change your ISO you are adjusting your camera’s sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO the more sensitive it’s going to be which is beneficial when you aren’t working with a lot of light. Just be careful you don’t set it too high because depending on your camera, higher ISO settings also mean an increased chance of grainy photos.
3. Switch to AV (or A) mode – you can also adjust the aperture on your camera to compensate in low light situations. Switch into AV (or A) mode where you can adjust the aperture and the camera will automatically take care of all the rest of the settings for you in order to achieve a properly exposed photo. Change the f-stop to a smaller number. The smaller number = a wider aperture (the size of the opening inside your camera lens) and in turn allows more of what light is available to enter your camera.
4. Let go of high expectations – I personally would rather trade a slightly soft image that is naturally lit for a sharp image using flash 9 times out of 10. I prefer the more natural light. I like the mood it creates and the softness of it compared to a harsh, shadowy photo that can be the result of using flash. If you’re working in low light just keep in mind sometimes it won’t be possible not to use your flash and still get a super sharp photo – and sometimes that’s just fine.
5. If you must use a flash – bouncing the flash off of a wall or other reflective surface. To ‘bounce’ the flash simply point the flash away from your subject towards a reflective object (could be a wall, the ceiling, a mirror, etc.)and the flash will bounce off of the reflective surface and light your subject. The result will be more ambient light created and a photo that doesn’t look quite so shadowy as it would by pointing the flash directly at your subject(s).
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Great tips as always Rebecca! I would add use a tripod or rest your camera on something to help reduce camera shake to get a bit sharper image in low light too. I’m so with you on the flash! I always struggle with my house being too dark and I dream of having a really bright sunny house if only for my pictures lol. One thing I’ve done at Christmas is NOT put our tree in front of our living room window, even though it seems like the perfect spot, because I don’t want it blocking the light 😉
I am just wondering how to add holiday layouts to my element 15 I does not of much on there for holidays, I am wanting to do Christmas pictures and I no we don’t have snow in tx I was wanting to add some snow in the pictures to make it look more like Christmas. if you can help me out or point me in the right way thank you lots