The holidays are upon us. It's a festive time filled with casual gatherings and over-the-top parties. Lots of time spent with family and friends means that there's ample opportunity to take dazzling photos. Typically, family photos are made a priority as for some, the holidays are one of the only times of year that they see certain family members. But with so many festive parties, chances are you spend a lot of time looking your best.

Capturing these moments when you are the best version of yourself is important for confidence. Knowing how to take great photos can be difficult, however, especially if you're not one to indulge in selfies throughout the rest of the year. That's why we've devised 10 useful tips that you can use to take amazing photos and videos during the holidays. Use them whether you're at a Christmas party or you're taking festive photos in your own home.

1. Have a great canvas

Looking after your complexion, especially during the winter, is crucial to being able to take amazing photos and videos during the holiday season. Having a strict skincare routine is the best way to ensure that your skin continues to glow in the colder months. Using our Birch Tech Hybrid overnight treatment will firm up your skin while also softening your complexion, giving you a great canvas to work with when taking photos and videos during the holiday season.

2. Choose the perfect background

When it comes to taking holiday photos, there are certain backgrounds that people think work best. The truth is it depends entirely on the location you are in. Some areas are better photo backgrounds than others. The one you choose will depend on several factors. For the holidays, chances are you'll want to take photos in a background that clearly indicates it's the holidays. You may also want to consider whether the background blends well with what you're wearing. If you're taking photos at home, it's easy to create the aesthetic you want as you have control over your background, but if you're going to an event and you're planning on taking selfies it's important to consider these factors before you go to be prepared.

3. Take lots of photos

Have you ever noticed at weddings that professional photographers take a lot of photos, yet they only use a couple of shots? The reason they do this is that they are particular and need time to experiment with different compositions, angles, etc. before they get the perfect shot. Adopting this way of photo-taking is especially important when you're out at a party as you're not yet accustomed to the location. In this case, identify several locations at the place the party is and then take lots of photos in each location before you take a photo you really like. At home, it's a bit easier to get the perfect shot as again, you are in control. When at home, experiment with different backdrops, outfits, angles, and lighting to get the best shot. You do not need to rush to get the perfect photo here.

4. Experiment with lots of different angles

In the last tip, we spoke a lot about taking lots of photos. One reason why professional photographers do this is to find the perfect angle. They may have a vision in their mind about the angles that will look best in a particular environment, but you won't know what really works until you test different angles. This is an important step you shouldn't skip as the angle of a photo can dramatically change the final result.

5. Be yourself

Photogenic people are good at being themselves on camera. It makes them an interesting subject as they are happy to show their flaws while also looking their best. Of course, when taking photos, there is an element of setup, but to be the most natural version of yourself in photos or videos, just do what comes first. If smiling is the first thing you do when going to take a photo, then do that. Fundamentally, being your natural self will make for a more charming holiday snap.

6. Have great lighting

Lots of people like to work with natural lighting because it can produce detailed photos. But given the time of year, some locations might not have the best natural lighting and if you rely on it you could end up with dark, shadowy photos. If you live in an area where the sun doesn't always come out during the holidays, you may want to opt for additional lighting just to get a cleaner end product.

7. Wear what makes you feel good

When we say where what makes you feel good, we mean wear what makes you feel amazing. As it's the holiday season it will likely be something glamorous, but you don't have to wear a sparkly red dress to feel good. You just have to wear something that makes you feel your best self. This is especially the case if you are taking holiday photos at home. Where what you feel comfortable in but also where what makes your body shape look its best.

8. Be strategic with your makeup

From the day-to-day, people wear makeup to enhance their facial features and illuminate their complexion. When it comes to professional photoshoots, makeup artists will strategically choose their makeup to ensure that the subject's features look their best in artificial lighting. This means using certain types of foundations, eyeshadows, and concealers, etc. to highlight your features. While you may not be using artificial lighting, you want to ensure that your makeup adds a natural glow to your face which should show up in the photo. You should also consider what facial features you want to be the focal point of the photo. If you have really big eyes, then you'll likely want to have a winged eye and volumizing mascara to make them pop in the final photo.

9. Invest in a good camera

If you're serious about taking good quality photos and videos, it might be a good idea to invest in a good camera that will be able to pick up on all the details you want. High-quality cameras also have lots of additional features that your phone camera simply does not have and because of that, if you are in a place where the natural lighting isn't so great, your camera will compensate for that if you adjust the settings appropriately.

10. Understand the rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is a widely adopted methodology by photography professionals as it ensures that the final composition of visual works together. While you can be a bit more sporadic with your compositions when taking holiday selfies, it's important to consider the rule of thirds if you are filming any videos. This is because it will ensure that your video is easy on the eyes and ensure that all other subjects in the frame don't take over the main subject (you!)

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