8 Tips and Ideas for Thanksgiving Photography
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the USA celebrated usually during November. It is a celebration of the harvest season and people celebrate with a grand Thanksgiving dinner. The festival is also a great occasion to take photographs.
If you love photography, then don’t miss the chance of getting great photos on this occasion. We present eight tips and ideas to help you get the best Thanksgiving photographs of your family and friends as they celebrate Thanksgiving.
Best Tips and Ideas for Thanksgiving Photography
Use the right equipment
The best tools produce the best results. If you want great photos, you need good-quality equipment. Ideally, you need a DSLR camera. A zoom lens is a good accessory to help you get the best photos. This will help you take close-up shots of food on the table.
An external flash is a good option to get the best lighting effect. This is the time of the year when days are short. Instead of using the in-built flash, use an external flash since it offers ambient lighting for the room. You can even consider getting a reflector to create shadows for a depth effect.
Keep the lighting in mind
Lighting is the key for a great photo. As far as possible, try to use natural light to illuminate your photo. A simple way of doing this is to shoot from near a window. The window not only offers lighting but will filter the natural light giving a diffused look.
Plan your photos well
During Thanksgiving, you will have your loved ones together at the dining table. This is a great chance to capture them all on film. The more people, the greater the challenge of getting a great shot. Each person may be looking in a different direction and some may even close their eyes at the time of the photo.
This is where you need to be both a photographer and a director. You need to direct your ‘models’ to get the best photograph. A key point is to ensure that the photo does not look artificial. Let them not pose as though for a school photo. Try to capture people in their natural poses.
Take food photographs when it is hot
You will, of course, want to eat the food when it is hot. It is equally important to shoot the food when it is hot. Thanksgiving is when you get a chance to show your skills as a food photographer. Always, shoot the food the moment it comes out of the oven and is laid on the table.
The reason is simple, when the food is hot it looks fresh. Once it starts to lose heat, then it becomes dry. This makes the food look different. You can even consider brushing the food items with a little oil to make the food appear good.
Shoot from different angles
One of the best ways to get great food photos is to experiment with the camera angles. Take photos of both people and food from different angles. Food photography especially calls for photos from different angles. You can try to take photos from a height and also at eye level. Use the burst mode while shooting, so you get different photos. You can choose the best one later.
Shoot behind-the-scenes photos
Thanksgiving is not only about the food and the celebrations. It is also about all the hard work put in to make delicious and sumptuous food. A couple of behind-the-scenes photos should be a part of your Thanksgiving photo collection. Take photos of the food being prepared, the chopping of vegetables, the loading of trays into the oven, etc.
Don’t miss out on the emotions
Thanksgiving is all about celebrations where people get together with families. It is a joyous occasion and many emotions come out during the festivities. Don’t miss out on capturing the emotions. Good Thanksgiving photography is not only about the food but about the people. Take photos of people smiling, laughing, and being excited about the festivities.
Focus on the details
Great photos always focus on the details. You will have photos of the dinner table and people. But you also need photos that tell you the details. The antique plates used to serve food and other such details should also be captured. This is where your close-up photo skills come into play. Ensure your camera settings are optimal, so you get the right balance.
With these simple tips, your Thanksgiving photos will serve as beautiful memories for years to come!
