Thanksgiving Photo Tips

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday of getting together over gorgeous tables for a beautiful meal. While you’re feeling grateful for those around your table, for the centerpiece you created, and the food your loved ones made and brought you can whip out your camera, or more likely, your phone and take some photos.  Here are some tips and ideas.

1 – Photograph everyone and everything BEFORE sitting down to eat.

Gravy will be spilled, wine will make faces red, and food will make everyone sleepy. Not to mention that the food and tablescape will look gorgeous before forks dig in.

2 – Go wide and get close.

When you think you want to take a picture of something – a flower, a dish, a table – step back or lean in. You’ll get much more interesting photos than if you stand at the normal viewing distance, where we all see it. Not to mention that food looks best close in, where you can almost taste it in the photo. (That’s why cereal is always “enlarged to show texture” on the box. )

3. Break groups up

Instead of trying to cram everyone around one side of the table or into the living room, why not break them up into smaller groupings. Siblings, sub-families, couples, best-friends. Then no one needs to be left out of all the photos, and it makes for easier composition. AND, someone can be making sure the sweet potatoes don’t burn at all times.

4 – Put flowers in a window.

Overhead light isn’t helpful when trying to show the depth and textures of a gorgeous arrangement. You need light coming from the side, and you want to make sure all the light is the same color. Don’t let window light  (which is blueish)mix with light bulbs (which are yellowish) because mixed light color will make your flowers look muddy in the photo.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! And while you probably shouldn’t flood your Instagram feed with all of your photos, I would love to see them! Share them on my Facebook Page HERE!

Florals by Bella Calla
Table Styling by Mark Christopher Weddings
Food by JW Marriot Denver Cherry Creek