It’s company Christmas party time, and if you want to elevate the photos you take on the night, here are 5 easy to do tips:
- Use Portrait Mode (When You Can) – Most phones have Portrait Mode which blurs the background (bokeh effect), making your subject stand out. It’s ideal for close-ups and medium shots. Just make sure there’s enough light for it to work effectively.
- Find Good Lighting – Lighting is everything in photography. Natural light is your best friend, but Christmas party venues are usually dark so look for light from table lamps or other sources such as the stage, bar or signage. Face people towards the light so the light falls on their face. Try not to use the light from overhead spotlights as it’s really unflattering.
- Focus on the Eyes – Tap on your subject’s eyes to focus. The eyes are the most important part of a people photos, so keeping them sharp draws viewers into the photo.
- Keep It Steady – Lots of phones have a night mode that kicks in when you take photos in the dark. It takes a while to take the shot. You’ll get better results if you hold the camera steady during this time, this gets harder as the night wears on and the drinks kick in!
- Experiment with Angles – People can look slightly better if they look up towards the camera when you’re shooting, rather than down towards you as it plays havoc with the jawline. You can also try placing lights close to your phone and having them out of focus in the foreground to get some Christmas atmosphere in the shot.
