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Christmas is the most magical time of the year, filled with dazzling light displays, stunningly decorated Christmas trees, and enchanting outdoor street decorations that make the holiday season truly unforgettable. Grand, sparkling Christmas trees in malls add a touch of warmth and wonder, capturing the spirit of the season perfectly.
Holiday decor and displays create a magical backdrop for photoshoots. Be it a giant outdoor Christmas decoration in your neighbourhood or sparkling mall Christmas decorations, everything makes shoppers stop in their tracks to capture the moment.
In this blog you will explore top tips to capture your holiday displays like a professional. Whether you are photographing your own home decoration setup or capturing professional commercial holiday displays.
So, grab your camera (or Smartphone) and let us bring your holiday displays to life through the lens!
Lighting is the key! It is important to keep track of time and light when it comes to photographing holiday displays, especially when you are dealing with large outdoor Christmas decorations like a 20-foot Christmas tree.
Golden hours are hours right before sunset as well as blue hours are right after sunset offer the best natural lighting for outdoor shots. The soft, calming natural light during these times highlights the glow of commercial Christmas lights, enhancing the decorations without washing out their brilliance.
See our Monza Tree.
During the nighttime or in low-light photography, longer exposure times are needed which can lead to camera shaking if you’re manually holding the camera. This becomes more difficult if you are capturing commercial-grade Christmas lights.
Always use a tripod to give your camera the stability it needs to capture clear and crisp photos even in low light. A tripod is particularly helpful when photographing high Christmas streetlights or when you are capturing large displays where every twinkle counts.
See our Half Snow Crystal.
To capture the details of Christmas decorations or mall Christmas trees, always keep the following camera setting in mind:
ISO: Keep your ISO low (around 100-400) to avoid graininess.
Aperture: Keep your aperture at a low f-stop setting (e.g., f/2.8). This will give you a nice depth of field and a bokeh effect, blurring background lights slightly for a dreamy effect.
Shutter Speed: Always set a slower shutter speed, especially when photographing professional Christmas lights where a lot of twinkling is happening at night. A shutter speed of 1/60 or slower allows the camera to capture the light glow in more detail.
If you are using a smartphone, do manual settings, or always switch to “Night Mode” that can help adjust these elements for you.
Reflections always amplify the beauty of your holiday decorations. If you are photographing where there are reflective surfaces like a window, a pond, or even shiny ornaments like on a mall Christmas tree, try to capture the decorations with the reflection to get a magical capture.
Many commercial holiday decorations companies use reflective elements specifically for this purpose. Reflections add a unique twist to get a sense of depth and scale to your images.
Focusing on intricate details can help create a compelling photo experience, especially if you are photographing professionally decorated Christmas trees or displays with fine ornamentation.
For instance, you can zoom in on a cluster of ornaments, or a single shining star atop a 20-foot Christmas tree. Capturing minute details give watchers a close-up look at the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into expensive commercial holiday displays.
The bokeh effect refers to creating blurry light circles in the background. It is a holiday photography favourite. To achieve a mesmerizing bokeh effect, one should set their camera to a lower f-stop if you are using a DSLR and try to focus on a nearby subject, like a single ornament or a small portion of your home or commercial Christmas trees.
By doing this the lights in the background will appear as beautiful, blurred circles which are perfect for enhancing the holiday mood in your photos. This effect works well with commercial Christmas lights and commercial LED string lights that have smaller, consistent light points.
Instead of the usual straight-on shots, try capturing photos with different angles. For instance, if shooting a 20-ft Christmas tree try to capture it from below which will give a sense of immense height and glory. On the other hand, always try photographing mall Christmas decorations from ground level though it tempts us to capture it from a height. Shooting from ground level, will make them appear larger than life and will capture shoppers in awe plus adding a candid holiday atmosphere to your shots.
If you are photographing indoor displays, try to use natural light from windows as much as possible. Do this by turning off overhead lights and allowing window light to illuminate your Christmas trees. Natural lights are softer and more flattering than artificial indoor lighting. They help capture the true colors and textures of ornaments and commercial holiday decorations.
If you are going to shoot a massive display, like a 20-foot commercial Christmas tree or giant outdoor Christmas decorations, consider adding people to your frame to show scale. You can ask a child to gaze up at a tall commercial Christmas tree or a couple admiring mall Christmas decorations which can add a heartwarming human touch while also emphasizing the size of the decorations. This technique is very impactful for commercial Christmas displays where the scale is a big part of the attraction.
See our Bilbao Polar Bear.
Exposure bracketing is a technique that involves taking multiple shots at different exposure levels. When you are trying to photograph challenging lighting, like a blend of commercial LED string lights and low-light surroundings, exposure bracketing technique comes in handy. It will help ensure you capture the right balance of light and shadow. You can then use post-processing software to blend these images by highlighting the brightest lights without losing detail in the darker and dull areas.
Holiday decorations often create interesting shadow patterns because they use various kinds of lights and are also lit from different angles. You can create dynamic effects when capturing, by playing with shadows and contrast. You can create a dynamic effect, especially on textured surfaces like trees, wreaths, and walls. Shadows also add depth, which can take a photograph of any large outdoor Christmas decorations appear more three-dimensional and vibrant.
For a fun twist, try to capture a bit of motion in your holiday photos. You can do this by setting a slow shutter speed to show the movement of twinkling lights or create light trails with cars passing by decorated commercial holiday displays. This technique adds an energetic vibe and works particularly well when photographing outdoor Christmas light displays.
Editing can take your holiday photos to the next level. Always try to edit your photos using professional software like Adobe Lightroom or built in Smartphone apps. Try to adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation to make colors pop. Subtle tweaks can emphasize the glow of giant star decoration and bring out the full detail of your Christmas tree. Just remember to enhance, not overdo—keeping the edits natural will maintain the magic.
The holiday season is all about joy, and that should come through in your photos! Whether you are photographing grand commercial Christmas trees or a cozy home decoration, just remember to enjoy the process. Capture the little imperfections, like slightly off-balanced ornaments or playful shadows. These details often make holiday photos feel more personal and relatable.
Capturing the beauty of holiday displays takes a bit of planning and a willingness to experiment, but the results can be stunning. With these tips, you will be ready to photograph everything from giant Christmas reindeer decorations to intricate mall Christmas decorations with confidence.
Remember, whether you are photographing for fun or capturing professional Christmas displays, the best holiday photos are the ones that evoke the warmth and joy of the season. So, grab your camera, head to your nearest display, and start snapping away!
Classic Displays leads the way in creating stunning, modern commercial holiday displays. From grand installations to elegant lighting, we have designs for every occasion, transforming any space into a festive wonderland filled with light and joy. Let us help you create unforgettable holiday moments with our state-of-the-art decorations. Do not wait—contact us today to make your space shine before the Christmas season slips away!
Oh, and don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media! Tag Classic Displays in your photos and we’ll be sure to check them out!
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