Festive compositions to try this Christmas

Add fairy lights for magical bokeh  

One enchanting technique to try is using fairy lights to create bokeh balls, where the lights themselves are out of focus. “Incorporating bokeh lights adds a magical, dreamy quality to your photos and is ideal for capturing a cosy, festive ambiance,” says food, beverage and product photographer Anna Janecka.  

“To achieve this effect, use fairy lights from a Christmas tree or strings of twinkling lights as part of your composition. Placing them in the background creates a soft, glowing effect that doesn’t detract from your subject but enhances the overall mood. Alternatively, you can place lights in front of the lens for an even more immersive, sparkling effect. This gives the photo an added dimension, wrapping your subject in a halo of warm, diffused light, as in the middle photo above.”   

Specialist tip: “Consider adding seasonal props such as fresh herbs, cranberries, or citrus slices to complement the bokeh backdrop,” suggests Anna. “In the picture above (middle), I used cranberries as a garnish and paired with the subtle glow of bokeh lights to transform a simple cocktail into showstopper.” 

Capture candid party moments  

Celebrations, parties, packed spaces full of loved ones… is there a better opportunity to photograph memorable moments than at Christmas?

“Whether it’s wedding dances, birthday parties or festive celebrations, there is nothing I love more than capturing scenes of joy from people completely present in the moment,” says wedding photographer Paul Santos. With mixed lighting and spots of darkness, plus small and crowded spaces, candid photography is no easy feat. How does he manage?

“With the lack of space in the venues, a zoom lens is essential – the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is perfect for this,” says Paul. “For sharp and focused nighttime shots, turn off autofocus, set the aperture to f/16 and prefocus to a couple feet in front of you (or a rough distance from which you plan to capture your subjects). To combat low light, use a slow shutter speed and a manual ISO of under 1,000. Use a speedlight flash. Leaving it on TTL works great, but you can dial in a little more or less power if needed.

“Using these settings not only creates easy and striking results but it’s fun! Concentrate on what’s in front of you. Go low, or hold high above your head, point and press, and enjoy being part of the celebrations.”  

Specialist tip: “Use black and white to elevate the joy and emotion in your photos,” Paul adds. “It’s also much more flattering than red and blotchy faces – something else that comes with the festive period and party celebrations!” 

The perfect pet portrait 

Our furry friends aren’t always the easiest of subjects. Here’s how to keep everyone happy with festive props, backgrounds and lighting.

“Set up your background and frame first, whether it’s a lit-up Christmas tree to get some bokeh or the frosty outdoors on a morning walk. That way you can focus on your pet rather than composition while capturing the moment,” says pet photography expert Carolina Wlodarczyk. “Patience is key, as it will take a lot of trial and error when photographing any animal. Remember not to rush your subject. Let them adjust to the set-up you’ve chosen and over time they will become more comfortable, allowing you to capture their personality in your photos. Keep your eye on the scene and have a fast shutter speed so you are ready to catch that perfect festive moment. Set autofocus to animal subject detection and AF-C.”

Indoor lighting can also be a real challenge to master. Set your camera to Aperture Priority, choose your ISO and aperture, and the camera will choose the right shutter speed. “Try a soft box and position it one metre in front of your pet so that the light falls in their direction,” Carolina adds. “For beautiful bokeh as in the photos above, set your aperture as wide as possible, ideally at f/1.8, 400 ISO (if the photo is too dark, you can always go higher) and then a shutter speed of 1/320 secs.”

Specialist tip: “Complement your festive portrait with some props or accessories for your pet,” says Carolina. “Add in a Christmas ball in front of the pet’s nose, or a candy cane to give that extra Christmasy feel.”  

Embrace the city lights  

Every year, city streets, attractions and Christmas markets are bedecked with festive lights, attracting locals and tourists alike to enjoy shop window displays, fairground rides and luxury hot chocolate and mince pies.

Nikon Creator Marcello Zerletti knows a thing or two about avoiding the bustling crowds when capturing his festive street photography. His top tip? “Pack light. Taking too much equipment gets heavy quickly, and a backpack in crowded streets or markets means you are always in the way,” he says. “One lens and one camera should be plenty. To capture the atmosphere of markets I prefer to use prime lenses. My typical kitbag this time of year is the Nikon Zf with the NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 – a small, lightweight combination that is perfect for this type of situation. If you’ve got room, I also like using a black mist filter. This helps soften the lights, emphasising the feeling of warmth and festive joy.”  

Specialist tip: “Long exposure looks great with Ferris wheels, car light trails or just to remove crowds of people,” says Marcello. “Typically, you might need a tripod to successfully achieve a crisp picture. So, while travelling light, look out for benches, tops of bins or even the floor to place your camera on to keep it steady.”