How To Give Your Photos All The Christmas Vibes!
Oh goodness gracious my friends … MERRY CHRISTMAS! Another season is changing, so you know what that means! Our photos will change as well. & honestly that is where creativity comes into play. Yes, we could keep our photos the same & they would still be beautiful. However, when the season changes your photos it gives your photos that extra special feeling. People cannot only feel emotion in images, but they can also feel the season. Those warm and fuzzies you get when you see an image or even an old family movie that is what you are portraying in your images. So, let's break it all down.
THE SUN
Before we talk about the nitty gritty let’s chat about the sun & I know that sounds so very silly, but my friend that beautiful ball of fire that the Lord created is so very important. So, during the spring/summer months it is of course hotter the sun is closer & because of that the sun puts off way more warmer vibes and colors than during the fall/winter. & because the sun is cooler in the fall/winter & farther away it puts off cooler tones. This piece of information is huge when it comes to working with your images. Yes, you can add more warmth, which is exactly what I suggest for your fall photos (How To Give Your Photos All The Fall Vibe.). However, to give your photos more of a Christmas vibe we are going to be less happy with the temperature (blue to orange) tool & more happy with the tint (green to magenta) tool.
The Colors
The colors of Christmas are very beautiful and full of life. You have your main colors; reds, greens, browns and black, but you also have your trendy colors; soft pinks & creams. Don’t take these colors at straight value, but look at them as they have a family of different colors within that color umbrella. Have fun, be creative & enjoy the colors of Christmas.
Before The Photo
Remember when I said, “If you cannot change the background, change your outfit & if you cannot change your outfit then change your background”? The same applies for this too.
Your background can be a huge asset when it comes to your photos…
Decorate your porch or a piece of your house in your favorite Christmas colors
Go see Christmas Lights
Drink hot Chocolate or coffee out of a really christmas cup
Christmas Trees; in your house or downtown
Christmas Tree Farm
Your list of possibilities are endless and the cool thing about Christmas is it is all so cozy, which means it can be very easy to take a photo even at your house. However, be creative and create lots of new experiences with you and your family. When looking for the right background be mindful of the colors in your background and your colors in your outfit so you can dress accordingly.
If you are shooting in a Christmas Tree field, then the field already offers so many green and darker colors, so try a cream sweater or even pops of reds and pinks.
& let’s say you cannot change your background then change your outfit and the accessories that go with it. Let’s say you are wanting a photo with your kids, siblings, spouse or even by yourself after church. You go outside and you notice this well lit area, but it is a basic white wall and you really wanted your image to be more Christmas then,
A Christmas Sweater
A Trendy Sweater
Some blue skinny jeans
Brown or Black Booties
A coffee cup with Christmas on the outside.
You see you can literally control any photo you take. Don’t let it overwhelm or frustrate you. Enjoy and be creative. I know I talk about controlling your background and outfits way too much, but once you get in the habit of being mindful to look and create in those areas then you will find that you can be more creative with poses.
Let’s say you are headed to the Christmas Tree farm and you end up wearing more green or a dark colored sweater … STILL TAKE THE PHOTOS. These are your memories & I always say take the photos. You will get to the place, where you will be more mindful, I promise.
What To Do In The Editing Process
Temperature & Tint
So, during the Fall Vibes blog we chatted about warming those photos up & we did that because of the colors that fall brings to the table, but with Christmas let’s not get too crazy with the temperature tool. Yes, bring it up a touch because your photos have an extra glow, but don’t go crazy.
This time we are going to add a touch of magenta. We do this because it will add a bit more roseness to your images. If you add too much magenta it will change your skin to be red, but if you add just the right amount then it will give that roseness to your image that will be so beautiful.
Highlights & Contrast
During the Winter time your images can get very muddy, because of the moisture in the air and on the objects. That is okie, because by pulling up the highlights and the contrast just a touch we will be able to bring more glow and sharpness and do away with the dullness.
Vibrance & Saturation
When it comes to vibrance and saturation the two go hand in hand. Vibrance is how vibrant the colors are, while saturation is how strong and dull the colors are. By bringing up your vibrance to give the boldness of the colors & bringing down the saturation we will be adding a softness to the image without taking aways to true colors itself.
Of Course … PRESETS
You can always add a preset to help you make these adjustments for you. No matter what preset you go for make sure to look at the way the colors look.
I want you to enjoy this time of year and make the most out of it. This blog is to not discourage anyone, but to enhance and be a helpful tool when it comes to taking images. Christmas is such a beautiful time of year & the images you take should be a reflection on how beautiful it is. If you have questions or need help, my communication line is always open to help, but I would love nothing more than for you to tag me, so I can see How You Gave All Your Photos The Christmas Vibes.