- Photography
Portraits with fairy lights
For some time now, you have been seeing more and more pictures with fairy lights on social media. All those little lights conjure up …
Archive post from 25 December 2020. It describes the state at that time.
For some time now, you have been seeing more and more pictures with fairy lights on social media. With the right settings, all those little lights conjure up a background that is blurred and sparkling at the same time. If you want to get it really beautiful, though, there are a few things to keep in mind.
For some time now, you have been seeing more and more pictures with fairy lights on social media. The effect is similar to a portrait in front of a Christmas tree. With the right settings, all those little lights conjure up a background that is blurred and sparkling at the same time. If you want to get it really beautiful, though, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Whether it's a Christmas tree or fairy lights, the aperture has to be fully open. The lower the f-number, the more beautiful the photo will be in the end, because the more blurred the background appears. So place your subject in front of an existing light display – a Christmas tree, a string of fairy lights or an illuminated house front.
If the background is bright, it is important not to expose the picture for too long, otherwise the small points of light would literally be blown out by the background. The ISO must not be too high either. Depending on the ambient lighting, we recommend a medium to high three-digit value. If the surroundings are very dark, however, the ISO value can be considerably higher. The following example shows this:
If you want to capture a face, keep in mind that the lights wrap the person you are photographing in a kind of dark silhouette. To avoid this, you can place a fill flash in front, for example, or use the fairy lights to light up your subject at the same time by placing a few points of light directly in front of the face.
Ideally, let your subject interact with the lights. A sense of depth also looks particularly beautiful. To create it, place a few of the lights close to the lens while the rest of the string runs back towards your subject. There are no limits to your imagination. Have fun experimenting!
