Tips To Make Your Holiday Photos Bright.

The holidays are upon us and you know what that means: photo opps galore.

It is the busy season for photographers of all level, be it families getting together for that annual portrait, Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa celebration, revelers at a holiday party or New Year's Eve shindig.

Here are some "dos and don'ts" from local photographers to help make your pictures shine and stand out.

Tips if you hire a professional photographer

If you decide to visit a photography studio for a professional photo session, the best thing to do is do a little pre-planning and figure out what clothing, accessories and hair style would work best, said Luciano Puliti, an associate with Jan Press Photo Media in Livingston.

Puliti said a holiday theme could be fun and a group could come in dressed in coordinating colors or with related props. He noted that the staff of a doctor's office recently came into the studio all wearing reindeer antler headbands.

"Dress where you don't clash. That's the simplest thing," Puliti said.

Another tip Puliti offered photo subjects is to be comfortable during a session so the photographer can get the best expression.

Families could also consider hiring a professional photographer to take a picture at their house.

If they take either route, make sure to "have an idea of what you want," in terms of themes and images, said Bart Zoni, a photography teacher from Chatham and member of the Livingston Camera Club.

"Do you want to have something casual, formal, coordinated? Just showing up and hoping the person at the portrait studio will provide creative ideas doesn't work out," Zoni said. "Have an idea of the concept of what you want."


Tips if you plan to take pictures yourself

If the do-it-yourself route sounds more appealing, especially at family functions or private parties, the most important thing is to be familiar with the camera settings and ensure it has enough battery power and memory card capacity, said Jordan Basem, president of the Livingston Camera Club.

For group shots, Basem said photographers shouldn't be afraid of posing their subjects and it helps to have people in the middle looking directly at the camera and the others to the left and right sides at a slight angle to add some interest to the picture.

For individual portait shots, it's better to capture a picture of someone in the middle of an activity or in an unusual pose, Basem said.

When taking pictures of children, Basem suggested that the photographer kneel down to eye level to get a better angle. "You might want to pose them looking at a stocking rather than stoically looking at you," Basem said. "You might want a shot of the host cutting the turkey. If meals are involved, always take pictures before people eat and mess up the table because we all mess up the table." 

Zeroing in on special objects, such as a Christmas tree or a stack of presents, can capture a good sense of the holiday, Zoni said.

Candid photos of interesting moments, like when a kid gets a present, plays with giftwrap paper, or is sleeping and taking a nap on the couch, can be great. "These candid moments are what we really remember from the holidays," Zoni said.

Also, do not be afraid of getting in close for photographs, Zoni added.

"One of the biggest mistakes of amateur photographers is you have a tiny person in a big photo," Zoni said. "You can get in real close and capture the expression. One of the biggest tips is if you think you're close enough, get a little closer."

For daytime outdoor pictures, Puliti suggested photographing in a shady area or on an overcast day so lighting isn't a problem. He noted that even simple backgrounds, like a cluster of barren trees, could create a wintery look.

And for night photography of holiday lights, Basem said using a tripod would be best to keep the camera steady and capture the decorations.

Tips on what to avoid

When it comes to taking pictures, less can be more. That translates into keeping the number of items in a picture and background low for good photographs.

"Be careful in trying to not fit too many things into a frame," said Jon Reino, a professional photographer at Livingston Camera. "A Christmas tree and an 18 person family really doesn't look nice in a photo. Simplicity is a nice way to go. Short, sweet and to the point."

Reino said photographers should also try to invest in a good camera and avoid using cell phone cameras for holiday pictures. Reino said most cell phone pictures do not look as nice as prints and they often tend to be out of focus.

And, of course, be careful of what you share online and try to get permission before putting pictures up.

"Try not to offend anybody by doing something fast, or isn't in good taste," Puliti said. "Nowadays on Facebook, people just feel they have the right to post anything."