The holiday season is ripe with memorable photo opportunities. From the excitement of gift opening to the traditional carving of the Christmas ham, and hugs galore for visiting friends and family, now is not the time of year to be without your camera.
In fact, now is the time to make the most of your picture-taking tool. I recently attended a Christmas party where the host’s camera took center stage. Rather than walk around the shindig snapping pictures of guests, my friend set-up a mock photo booth where people could shoot their own pictures. The camera sat on a tripod and used a remote timer, though it could be deactivated if one person wanted to play photographer to a large group.
If you don’t feel comfortable having others handle your camera, you could designate a “photo zone” near the entrance of your home, and snap shots of guests as they arrive to your party. The area doesn’t have to be fancy. Simply designate a space where guests can pose for a few photos before they start mingling. Just be sure the lighting is adequate and you have a nice background. For a Christmas party, try to place holiday decor in the background or use a plain red velvet backdrop. You could also leave out a few props, such as Santa hats or reindeer antler headbands for kids or adults who want to spice up their seasonal shots.
Once you are done taking shots of your guests entering the party, move your camera to a spot where you can capture images to use in a time-lapse series. Otherwise, simply use a web cam aimed at the living or dining room. Set-up the camera so it snaps a shot every five minutes or so during the course of the party. The collection of images can then be stitched together to create an incredible-looking time lapse montage.
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