Snap-happy Brits will be perfecting their social media content this festive season, according to new research by Sony. Topping the list of favourite shots is family and friends (51%), a group shot around the dinner table (25%) and of course, our furry four-legged friends (24%).
However, the age-old plea to ‘put your phone away at the dinner table’ will come into force on Christmas day, with 87% saying they will actively try to reduce screen time for the festive celebrations. While capturing those special moments is, of course, important to look back on in years to come, 61% of Brits will be attempting to reduce screen time around the table so they can prioritise time with family, while 33% will do so due to their irritation at others using their phones during special occasions.
To help minimise the number of shots needed before achieving one that’s Insta-worthy – and to help Brits maximise family time this Christmas – Sony has worked with Award-winning and internationally acclaimed photographer David Loftus to create five top tips to help achieve the best photos during the festive period.
Having shot photography for the books of Jamie Oliver and Rachel Khoo, as well as editorials for Red and Conde Nast Traveller, his stripped-back, fuss freestyle of photography is perfectly matched to the shooting capabilities of the Xperia 5, which takes advanced technologies from Sony’s Alpha cameras and puts them in the palm of your hand.
GET YOUR FESTIVE SHOT IN ONE, WITH TOP TIPS FROM RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID LOFTUS:
1. SILENT LIGHT
Shoot your Christmas dinner near a window. Allow as much natural light as possible to ensure the details are captured. However, when shooting in low light, be sure to keep the camera as steady as possible, using a vase or bottle as a quick and effective tripod
2. PROPS FOR SHOTS
As many as 64% of millennials claim they will be adding some decorative additions to the table to ensure the most social media-worthy shots including sequins, velvet ribbons & Christmas figurines. Try using props as reflectors or diffusers, such as white napkins, books, or greaseproof paper from the kitchen drawer, to diffuse harsh lighting or create interesting shapes and shadows on the table
3. THE LAW OF THIRDS
Use the law of thirds to frame your shot; position the subject so that it fills approximately 1/3 of the image, allowing for 2/3 of negative space. This creates a much more interesting composition, ensuring the eye is naturally drawn to the detail. The Xperia 5 has a built-in option which brings gridlines up on your screen, to make taking a perfectly proportioned shot as easy as possible
4. PLAY AROUND WITH BOKEH (AND OTHER EFFECTS)
Play around with features such as ‘bokeh’ which really help to elevate your subject matter, focusing the viewer’s attention on the thing you want to stand out the most, helping to produce stunning, professional-standard photography using your smartphone
5. KEEP IT REAL
When uploading shots onto social media channels, don’t over-edit. Keep the images authentic and avoid using too many filters to ‘hide’ how the food really looks
Xperia 5 is the perfect smartphone for capturing the best photos for social media this Christmas. Featuring a triple-lens camera with critically acclaimed Eye AF technology from Sony’s Alpha cameras, with Xperia 5 (review link) you’ll be ready for any occasion, whether you’re trying to picture a moving subject with precision focus, are taking images in a low-light environment or need a super wide-angle shot to fit your whole family in.
Taking Sony’s technologies from Xperia 1 and presenting them in a compact, more pocket-friendly smartphone design, Xperia 5 provides the same uncompromised levels of performance and quality of experience only possible with Sony, including a 3140mAh battery to help keep you going all day during the busy Christmas period.
