Have a different take on the festive season with unique images for your social media
By Emeka Ikechi, Director, Vanity Studios
It is always nice to include festive themes for the imagery on your social media at this time of year. However, you want to avoid all the obvious cliches, so you stand out and attract and impress your audience. Santa, baubles, holly and mistletoe, are part of our traditions so theyare everywhere. How can you have different take and be a little different?
Look outside your own culture
On the subject of traditions, why not look to other cultures for inspiration?
Did you know that in The Netherlands they leave shoes by the fire for Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) instead of stockings? And rather than leaving milk and cookies out, they pop some carrots in the shoes for Sinterklaas’s trusty steed, a white horse named Amerigo.
Or that, in Ukraine, they decorate their Christmas trees not with tinsel, but with homemade spider webs? The story goes that a poor widow could not afford to decorate her tree, so the spiders decorated it for her with their own webs instead.
Sharing some other traditions can be interesting, eye-catching and informative, showing that you are a global citizen with interest and respect for cultures beyond your own.
UNIQUE IMAGES FOR YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
Opt for soft lighting
Christmas often conjures images of stockings by an open fire and soft candlelight on a dark night. Fortunately, this picturesque image can be easily recreated with a bit of soft lighting or candles of your own.
Rather than the usual full flash photography, you could opt for some warmer and softer lights to highlight the features of your photo. Whether it is a product shot or a headshot for your own social media, some soft, angled lighting can create the warm glowing effect that is traditional at Christmas time.
To enhance the effect, consider a background that captures some of the same feel. You could go for a frosted window, helping reflect some of that warm glow back and making the photo feel cosy and warm. Or perhaps a starry night or open fire, bringing a warm flickering glow to the background of your image.
Tap into personal traditions
The festive spirit is all about fun and frivolity, as well as tradition, so don’t be afraid to have some fun with your photos. Do you have any personal traditions that you might want to share with your followers? They could help show your personality as well as buck traditional trends, helping you stand out while enhancing your personal brand.
UNIQUE IMAGES FOR YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
Pick some creative props
While a lot of props may feel obvious, when used well, props can bring the perfect touch of Christmas without the cringe.
You could go for a traditional Christmas feel with a candy cane, Christmas tree, or some wooden decorations. Or perhaps a modern twist would fit better for your brand. Try a touch of tinsel with some fairy lights for a twinkly effect.
If your brand is more child-focused you could opt for props like elves, Father Christmas, or reindeer. You could even create an eco-feel by featuring some re-use, no-plastic props, a real tree, or presents wrapped in brown paper with string.
While it’s important not to overdo it, a few props carefully placed around the edges of your photos can quickly convey Christmas while fitting effortlessly in with your brand.
UNIQUE IMAGES FOR YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
Consider non-traditional colours
Speaking of branding, rather than using traditional Christmas colours of red, green and white, why not consider switching it up and using your brand colours instead.
You could have some more traditional props, such as wrapped presents or baubles, but in non-traditional colours. Not only would this stand out from a crowd of green and red themed photos, but it would also enhance your branding.
Try some alternative models
It’s always a good idea to carefully consider who should be featured in your photos, especially at Christmas. While product photos often use young, thin, attractive people to model items, Father Christmas is the exact opposite of that description. So, at Christmas, you can take greater risks with who you feature in photos.
Perhaps a model who looks more like Mrs Claus would help you tap into a whole new demographic.
Christmas images can be cringey and cliché if you stick to the obvious. However, it is also a time of year when you can take greater risks with your photography. It’s a fun and festive time when people seek connection and cosy sweaters over effortless cool.
With a little bit of creativity you can come up with some engaging images that will capture the festive spirit whilst also bringing out more of your brand.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emeka Ikechi is Director of Vanity Studios, a contemporary studio for photoshoots in the centre of Shoreditch in London. Since 2009 Vanity Studios has been providing clients with high quality professional photos and an excellent photoshoot experience. The team of photographers and make-up artists ensure each client receives bespoke photography that meets their requirements.
Web: https://vanitystudios.co.uk/portfolio/cosplay-photography/
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Reference:
https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-blog/wanderlust/unusual-christmas-traditions.html