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Christmas

Permalink Comments (7)13 December 2007 at 17:10 by Alexandra Bortkiewicz
Posted under Picture needs

Person hanging Christmas wreath - Image ANTNMC © MIXA Co. Ltd
© MIXA Co. Ltd
This month’s issue covers situations related to the Christmas season and coinciding with availability of props and seasonal considerations. We recommend contributors to look at current home and décor magazines like Country Homes, Ideal Homes and Fashion magazines to see the contemporary styles that are de rigueur but enduring and latest interpretations of Christmas.

There is far more diversity in styles and trend for more individual celebrations of Christmas though the traditional look continues to be in demand. The vast majority of Christmas requests come from gift card, calendar and poster companies so composition is paramount when photographing these scenes. Cut-outs continue to be very popular with customers and particular gaps include contemporary lifestyle images of model releaed families or friends celebrating Christmas. Many Christmas themed images are usually sourced by buyers during the late Summer and early Autumn months so look to expect to see the fruits of your Christmas themed labour around this time!

There is more advice on shooting different subject matter in Photographer tips.

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Gingerbread cookie on red background - Image A27YPA © D. HurstHouse and home

  • Lifestyle: family, together, indoor-outdoor, interacting, culture.
  • Food & drink: seasonal, celebration, cooking, dining, sweets and treats.
  • Decorations: traditional, classical, contemporary and kitsch.
  • Presents: giving, receiving, discarded wrapping paper and gifts.
  • Traditional: christmas tree, fireplace, centre piece, table setting, wreaths and garland.
  • Example images of Christmas around the house and home.
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Christmas snow - Image AX18N1 © ETCbildOutdoors

  • Rural: landscape, villages, community, homes and churches.
  • Urban: buildings, architecture, snow covered objects and ice sculptures.
  • Weather: snow, frost, magic hour, people and warm clothing.
  • Wildlife: woodland, gardens, parks, flowers, animals and pets.
  • People: playing, walking, socializing and communicating.
  • Example images of Christmas outdoors.
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Christmas holiday season house - Image ABFC8F © IMAGINA PhotographyCommercial

  • Retail: shops, displays, shopping malls, markets, and lighting.
  • Events: ice skating, rides, santa’s grotto, christmas lights and switch on.
  • Humour: groups, individuals, parties, fancy dress, animals and environment.
  • Location: villages, streets, cities, society, consumers and culture.
  • Travel: holiday season, destinations, tours, rides, couples and family.
  • Example Christmas themed commercial images.
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Add your own commentComments (7)

  1. 13 December 2007 at 20:30 Phil

    Happy Christmas everyone !

  2. 14 December 2007 at 09:28 Andrew Paterson

    One of your examples in the lightbox of Christmas in commercial environments is an interior of The Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester that is licensed as RF with no property release. Should you not be showing examples only with correct paperwork in place for the new keyword annotation?
    Andrew Paterson.

  3. 15 December 2007 at 02:21 Stephen Cooper

    Nice to see that cut outs are popular. Just as well i've upload my only cut out. It just happens to be Christmas related.

    Anyway, Happy Christmas to all.

  4. 15 December 2007 at 17:32 Lisa Valder

    I have just removed the keyword Christmas from my outdoors snow images, because they often came up in searches and were not clicked. Whatever next!

  5. 22 December 2007 at 10:04 Alan Copson

    Lisa!
    Yes, you did the right thing... if the image is nothing to do with Christmas, then it should NOT have Christmas as a keyword!!!
    Alamy!
    Why are you encouraging people to keyword with irrelevant keywords?! Just because an image has snow in, it does not make it a Christmas image. Searching for "Christmas" should give santa and Xmas decorations. If a researcher wants snow, with no Santa, they'll search for snow!!!

  6. 26 December 2007 at 17:54 Dennis

    How do we know whether some Christmas prop and decoration may be covered by trademark or copyright laws?

  7. 09 January 2008 at 16:09 Deborah waters

    AWY3F7 - what makes this a commercial christmas image??

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