Capturing memories with children at Christmas is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and create lasting gifts for loved ones.

As a photographer based in Portsmouth, I can share some tips to help you make the most out of your holiday photo sessions with kids.

Here are 6 top tips for photographing children at Christmas that will ensure you capture their joy and the magic of the season:

Use the light

No matter how old your phone or how new your camera, the only thing you really need is light. Take a moment to see where it is coming from (usually a window) and position yourself with light behind/90 degrees to you. But watch out for your shadow!

Get In The Frame

Christmas is one of the few times we feel comfortable being photographed so make the most of it, pass the camera to a family member and get some shots of yourself with your child for once!

If you're feeling bold you could ask them to follow you around for 10 minutes just capturing, you with your child and pick the best shots later.

Get low...or high!

Shooting from ground level always adds a great perspective, especially when the floor is covered with wrapping paper, pulled crackers and tinsel Equally, grab a chair, aim down (use your wide angle if you have it) and capture the chaos from above. This is a quick/easy way to add a little comph to your photos.

Speed shooting

If you've got a toddler or older you're going to need a fast shutter speed, and here's the kicker, if you're using an automatic camera the less light there is the slower your shutter speed will go resulting in blurry photos. Solution? You got to add more light or if you're using a DSLR get that shutter speed up 200 minimum.

Shoot from the hip

Eye-contact is everything, especially for children on Christmas day, so if you have a display screen make use of it by lining up your shot then holding off the shutter for a minute until your child looks at your face not the camera Seeing how your child looks at you and not your camera is way more personal and emotive

Depth of field

It's another technical one but if you're using a DSLR try lowering your aperture to around 3.5, this can create what we call bokeh, that dreamy effect where chosen elements are in focus and others are blurred.

If you are still struggling to capture your children !! ( of course in the photographic way !! ) Please do not hesitate to contact me to book a photography session today or consider buying a gift voucher for a loved one this Christmas.

www.besidetheseasidephotography.co.uk

info@besidetheseasidephotography.co.uk

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With thankyou to my clients to allow me to share their images on my blog,

also to https://wylds-farm-christmas-trees.co.uk/ for their beautiful backdrop simply a stunning farm to get your natural and REAL Christmas tree every year.