December is a magical month to photograph
It is a season of quiet beauty and glowing warmth against the winter cold. From frosty mornings and holiday lights to cozy gatherings and snow-covered landscapes, every frame holds a story ready to be captured. The low winter sun paints in golden light, perfect for portraits or serene outdoor scenes. Whether you’re photographing nature’s stillness or the excitement of celebration, December reminds us that even in the year’s coldest days, there’s warmth, hope, and beauty waiting to be captured and shared.
Grab your camera (or phone), and let December guide your eye. Wander through quiet streets where lights shimmer on wet pavement, or hike beneath bare trees that frame the winter sky. Capture the laughter of loved ones bundled in scarves, the delicate patterns of ice on a window, children anticipating the magic of the month, or the soft glow of candles flickering in the darkness. Every shot you take this month is more than an image—it is a reminder that beauty doesn’t fade with the cold; it simply changes and waits for you to notice.
As Christmas approaches, the world seems to shimmer with an extra touch of magic. Cameras become storytellers of the season with the capturing of ornaments, the lights on the tree, the delicious holiday treats and the warmth of families gathered close. Remember to photograph the small details: hands tying ribbons, snowflakes melting on mittens, candles flickering in windows. These moments hold the heart of December—the quiet anticipation of Christmas Magic that fills the air. Through your lens, Christmas becomes more than a holiday; it becomes a feeling you can revisit long after the celebrations have ended.
We will be continuing with many of the same prompt categories as last year but we do have a few changes for you to note. We hope you like the modifications that we have made.
MONTHLY CHALLENGES
A PICTURE IS WORTH...
You know the saying that “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words? Well, on the 13th of each month you will have the opportunity to include words in your photo. You can use a letter board, include a saying on a photo using a writing app or even photograph something that has words on it such as a sign. The choice is yours.
PICTURE A CHARACTER
This one is for all you lego enthusiasts! Each month you will be encouraged to break out the lego, playmobil, little people, action figures or any other type of toy character you want to use with your prompt.
IN MY HANDS
We are replacing the monthly Where I Stand prompt with a monthly “In My Hands” prompt. On the 15th of each month, you are encouraged to photograph what is in your hands on that day. You can be as creative as you want but the challenge is to include you hand in your daily photo.
COLOUR WEEK
We are returning back to a colour week instead of just a day. The colour will be introduced on the Sunday and you can include it as little or as much as you’d like during that week. You can choose to include the colour for only one day of the week, three or four days, or even the whole week if you like.
MACRO MONDAY
On Macro Monday we focus on the little details! On the first Monday of every month we are asking you to use your macro skills to enhance the prompt of the day. We encourage you to get in close! You can use your macro lens, macro filters or simply crop your photos.
CHALLENGE DAY
We introduced this prompt last year and it was well received. Therefore, we will continue to include it in our monthly prompts. On this day we will be offering you a photography challenge and ask you to recreate it.
TECHNICAL DAY
This one is for the inner techies in all of us! On Technical Day we will be giving out instructions on specific photography technical skills. There will be a variety of skills explained to help you learn or enhance your abilities. We can all learn from one another.
PICTURE ME
It's selfie day! On the first day of the month, we will be asking you to include a picture of yourself in the daily prompt. This gives us a chance to let our community members know what we look like!
QUARTERLY CHALLENGES
SCAVENGER HUNT
The scavenger hunt is a quarterly challenge. We will give some specific words to use to go camera hunting with. You will be asked to take 4 photos while on your scavenger hunt. This is a fun challenge that also includes your chance to make a collage.
SEASONAL PHOTO – MY WORLD
We will revisiting the My World prompt again this year but it will be quarterly instead of monthly. Once a quarter, starting in January, you will take a picture in the same place. You will be asked to revisit this prompt once each quarter and document the noted changes. This will show the changing seasons or changes in your environment. If you cannot be in the same place each quarter, just take a picture of where you are and what your world looks like on that day.
GUEST PROMPT
Once a quarter will honour a member of our community with a Community Profile and the chance to write a prompt with an accompanying photograph! It is a special day for community members and a chance for all of us to get to know one another just a little better.
