Must-Capture Moments in December! 5 Recommended Winter Photography Subjects | Release #673

While capturing the entire dazzling venue is great, try focusing on small trinkets and ornaments on display. Santa Claus figures or snow globes illuminated by warm lights can evoke a cozy and heartwarming feeling.

Photography tip: Use a bright prime lens or macro mode to focus on the featured trinkets. Blurring the background illuminations significantly will make the trinkets stand out, creating a photo reminiscent of a scene from a story. Adjusting the white balance to “shade” or “cloudy” can also enhance the warmth of the image.

December shop windows are adorned with festive displays. The world seen through the glass, combining the warm light inside the store and the reflections of the cityscape, creates a unique charm.

Photography tip: Embrace the reflections on the glass. Look for angles where the store’s display overlaps with the silhouettes of streetlights or passersby. This creates a dreamy, layered effect reminiscent of double exposure, resulting in urban and sophisticated photos. After a rainy night, the reflections on the wet pavement add even more photogenic charm.

Take advantage of the cold to capture unique seasonal portraits. A person burying their face in a scarf and exhaling white breath is a perfect way to express both the chill of winter and human warmth.

Photography tip: Pay attention to the direction of light and the choice of background. Shooting against the light (with the light source behind the subject) highlights the white breath as it catches the light. Choosing a dark background makes the white breath stand out even more. Slightly softening the focus can create a film-like, ephemeral atmosphere, which is currently trending.

Enjoying a warm moment at a cafe to soothe a chilled body. The steam rising from a mug is a powerful visual element that conveys “delicious” and “warm” feelings.

Photography tip: To capture the steam clearly, use a dark or shadowed background. Choose a seat by the window where natural light enters from a diagonal angle for the best results. Since steam moves quickly, use burst mode to capture the perfect moment. Coordinating the colors of the knitwear and mug in the frame adds an extra touch of charm.

Instead of photographing the illuminations themselves, focus solely on the “lights.” By intentionally blurring the lights from street trees or car headlights, you can create a sparkling world reminiscent of a spilled jewelry box.

Photography tip: Set the aperture to its widest (lowest F-number) and use manual focus to intentionally blur the image. Blurring to the point where the subject is unrecognizable leaves only the colors and shapes of the lights, resulting in an abstract, artistic photo. Placing a light source, like a smartphone flashlight, in the foreground to create “foreground bokeh” is also effective.


Even familiar winter scenes can transform into dramatic photos worth sharing with just a slight change in perspective. This winter, grab your camera and go in search of your own “emotional moments.”