How to Capture Christmas Lights and Other Decorative Lights in the Background Using Flash
Photographing people with Christmas lights or other types of decorative lighting in the background can create a magical holiday atmosphere. However, balancing flash for your subject with these ambient lights—especially when dealing with low-light conditions—can be tricky. In this article, we’ll go over the step-by-step techniques to help beginners learn how to properly expose both the subject and the lights, discuss the differences between LED and incandescent bulbs, and offer tips for avoiding blur in your photos.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have the tools to confidently create well-balanced holiday photos with sharp, beautifully lit subjects and sparkling background lights.
1. Understanding Flash and Ambient Light Balance
The key to capturing decorative lights in the background while using flash to light your subject is to balance the flash with the ambient light. Flash illuminates your subject, while the ambient light (the Christmas or decorative lights) adds the atmosphere.
When balancing these two sources, follow these steps:
Set your ambient exposure first: To make sure the background lights are visible, start by adjusting your camera settings to expose for the decorative lights. You can do this by lowering the ISO or adjusting the aperture and shutter speed. A slower shutter speed is often required to let in more light from the background, but be cautious of blur.
Add flash for the subject: Once your ambient light exposure is set, add the flash to properly illuminate your subject. The flash should only affect the subject and not the background lights, ensuring that the ambiance remains visible.
2. Camera Settings for Proper Exposure
A good starting point for settings is:
ISO: Set a lower ISO, such as 100 or 200, to avoid noise, especially in low-light conditions.
Shutter speed: Since we want to capture the glow of the lights, you’ll need a slower shutter speed (1/60 or slower). If you’re concerned about camera shake or motion blur, a tripod is essential (more on that below).
Aperture: A wider aperture (lower f-stop, such as f/2.8 or f/4) will help let in more ambient light and give you a nice background blur or bokeh from the Christmas lights. This also helps make the subject stand out from the background.
3. Using a Tripod to Prevent Blur
When shooting in low light with a slow shutter speed, camera shake can be an issue. Using a tripod will help prevent blur, especially when the exposure for the background lights requires a longer shutter time. Additionally, if you’re photographing people, ask them to stay as still as possible to avoid motion blur.
4. Using Rear Curtain Sync for Movement
If you’re photographing people who may move slightly during the exposure, consider using rear curtain sync with your flash. This will fire the flash at the end of the exposure, freezing any motion at the end of the frame, while allowing the ambient light to create natural motion blur behind the subject, rather than in front of them.
5. Adjusting for LED vs. Incandescent Lights
Decorative lights come in two main types: LED and incandescent. Understanding how each behaves in your photos is important:
LED lights: These can cause flickering or uneven exposure when photographed, especially at certain shutter speeds. This is because LEDs emit light in pulses rather than continuously. To avoid capturing this flicker, try using slower shutter speeds (such as 1/30 or 1/60). Avoid faster shutter speeds, as they can capture the dark moments between LED pulses.
Incandescent lights: These lights emit a continuous, warm glow and are much easier to photograph. You won’t experience flicker with incandescent lights, so you have more flexibility with your shutter speed.
6. Modifying Flash to Soften Light
To avoid harsh shadows and create a natural look, it’s important to modify your flash. This can be done in several ways:
Use a diffuser: A flash diffuser softens the light, reducing the chance of harsh, direct light on your subject.
Bounce the flash: If you’re shooting indoors, bounce the flash off a wall or ceiling to spread the light more evenly and reduce the intensity on your subject’s face.
Use a lower flash power: When shooting in darker environments, you don’t need as much flash power. Lowering the power will ensure your flash doesn’t overpower the ambient light.
7. Tying It All Together: Example Setup
Here’s an example of how you might set up for a portrait with Christmas lights in the background:
ISO: 200
Shutter speed: 1/60 second (or slower if needed, while using a tripod)
Aperture: f/2.8 (for background blur and bokeh)
Flash power: Start at 1/16 and adjust based on your scene
Flash direction: Bounce the flash off the ceiling or use a diffuser to soften the light on the subject
Lens: A 50mm or 85mm lens works well for portraits with beautiful background blur and bokeh.
8. Post-Processing Tips
After capturing the image, you may need to make small adjustments to perfect the exposure and enhance the Christmas lights. In post-processing:
Increase contrast: To make the lights stand out, increase the contrast slightly.
Add clarity: A touch of clarity will help define the lights without affecting the soft glow.
Adjust white balance: Make sure the white balance suits the scene. If the ambient lights appear too warm or cool, adjust the temperature accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Photographing your subject with decorative lights in the background can create stunning holiday images when done right. By balancing flash with ambient light, using the right settings for different types of lights, and avoiding blur through the use of tripods, you’ll be able to capture a beautifully lit subject against a glowing, festive backdrop. With these techniques in hand, you’re ready to go out and create magical holiday portraits!
Happy shooting!