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« brand new day | Main | the (kinda dreaded, to be totally honest with you) annual holiday family portrait »
Tuesday
Dec222009

Oh Christmas Tree

I use to be very picky about how my tree was to be decorated.  I would spend weeks looking for just the right ornaments and would always have some sort of theme for my tree.  Now that I have kids, that no longer is the case. Instead, there are homemade ornaments made my tiny hands from years past and special ones given to me by friends over the years.  I love them all and I love to photograph them.  However, that’s not always so easy.  Many come out blurry or they are overexposed or underexposed.  It’s taken me awhile, but if I take my time and do it right, I get some pretty good shots.

If you’ve tried to take photos of your ornaments but it’s just not working for you, Me Ra Koh shares a great, step-by-step tutorial on her blog that is extremely helpful.  Give it a shot and share with us.  We’d love to see the ornaments that make you smile. 

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Reader Comments (25)

I posted a couple shots of my tree on Flickr back at the beginning of December. It's an artificial tree (about 4.5/5 feet, but narrow and small) with a Sugar Plum theme... I love it and it's perfect for my little apartment (and previously my dorm room).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleach226/4149095833/in/set-72157622787159917/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleach226/4149094605/in/set-72157622787159917/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterbree
Now I have seen it all, a Starbucks Christmas decoration, love it.

Si
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSimon Lawrence
The lovely Starbucks ornament hangs on my tree too! Love it.
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commentermelissa
I took this last year - I like it better than anything I've taken this year AND it is of one of my favorite ornaments. http://www.flickr.com/photos/konehead/3120728141 My tree holds a wide variety of items. This one is a tiny stone charm that my parents brought me back from Nepal.
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTracy Sutherland
I am so boring, but I love a simple bow or star at the top of the tree. This year we are going with a rosemary small tree, it's perfect because we are limited in space and I can still use it after the holidays.

http://www.nancyorozcoblog.com/2009/12/22/our-christmas-tree/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterNancy
Our tree DOES have a theme. We're a fire(fighter) family and, as such, we've decided that our tree will reflect that since many gifts over the years have been firefighter related. Our whole tree is here: http://stopdropandblog.com/2009/11/29/weekend-outtakes-fire-tree/

Here is my favorite, Santa as a firefighter:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4144146238_0c5b49596a.jpg

And two others that I love:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/4144137546_4cdce3d76b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4143385001_6d77ddf5e1.jpg

The boys already have a tiny tree in my oldest son's room. I think we'll eventually be like my parents and have another full sized tree somewhere downstairs so that we can have an un-themed, everyone's decorations tree.
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterFireMom
Here it is, and the story that goes with the whole christmas tree thing for me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4180048287/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJulie Alvarez
I will definitely have to check out that tutorial! This was my attempt at highlighting some of our ornaments:

http://yeptheyareallmine.blogspot.com/2009/12/of-all-trees-most-lovely.html

Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKimberly
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterkaren
I have that same ornament on my tree. One white and one red. I used to be picky, too. The older I get the more tacky I get. ;)
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commentermichelle sidles
Here's a ink to my blog post where I have some images I shot this year of our tree. This was the first time taking pictures like this of the tree. They turned out alright. But I truly love the handmade ornaments my kids have made over the years the best. I should have taken pictures of those!

http://www.honeysweetphotography.com/2009/12/holiday-cheer.html
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterDannie
fun to see all the different ornaments ~ Merry Christmas

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/4190286910/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterelk
this post had me taking countless photos of my favorite ornament. the tutorial was really helpful. i don't know why i hadn't really thought of changing the white balance.

these are my two favorite shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/4207148924/?edited=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/4207149316/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commentergonzomama
my mother-in-law handed me a box of christmas ornaments that were my husband's this one was from 1977 I was 7 he was 5 wow

http://kbondphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/1977-ornament.html
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKiesha
this year we kept it simple with a little tree on the hearth and vintage ornaments on the mantel.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/4177827512/
December 22, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterlucy
So glad the tutorial was helpful ladies! Your photos are awesome! Keep up the beautiful work and courage!
December 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMe Ra Koh
my tree is a collection of ornaments that i've acquired over the past 30 years. here is one of the ornaments i photographed this year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/credd/4204829618/
December 23, 2009 | Unregistered Commentercheryl
Christmas tree photos do make me happy - i have a few here that i like a lot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/sets/72157623019336832/
December 23, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterspread your wings
Here's one that I love. Reminds me of a warm Christmas.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/12/december-19-mele-kalikimaka/

But my favorite ornaments are the ones made by my kids long ago.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/12/december-20-journe/

Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterPuna
I love this starbucks ornament! FUN! thanx for the link also.
December 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAbby
I loooove me a Christmas tree. Well done!
December 31, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKellee
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March 30, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterMcmillan22Rena

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