Five Spots to Grab Christmas Photos Around Lake Guntersville

The holidays are here, and you may be looking for spots to grab your Christmas card photos. Don’t fret! We curated this list with beautiful Christmas lights for you to snap your photos and get the perfect picture that you will cherish years from today. Even if you don’t have your own photographer, we are listing some tips to help you tweak your phone camera to the best settings.

City Harbor at Lake Guntersville

This tree is the perfect background for the perfect Christmas photo. Bringing in plenty of light within a classic spot, you will be thankful to look back onto this memory at City Harbor in Guntersville.

Christmas in the Park

With over ONE MILLION Christmas lights twinkling throughout Arab City Park, you can’t go wrong with setting up your camera here. Christmas in the Park is magical all season long. You can even get several poses within this area too.

Frazier Farms

There is nothing quite like Christmastime at a Christmas tree farm. Your photos here will be sweet and charming among the evergreens waiting for their perfect family home. Find this farm in Albertville!

Downtown Boaz  and Tinsel Trail

Downtown Boaz has their downtown bright and colorful every year for Christmas. They also host a Tinsel Trail located just a couple blocks away within Old Mill Park. Both areas showcase a picture perfect backdrop for your photos.

The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park

Want to stay inside for your photos? Then head up to the Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park. Their fire place roaring and rustic look makes for a classic Christmas feel for your photos. 

Holiday Photo Tips

If you are not a photographer, its A-OK! Here are some tips to help you capture the picture perfect memory you will love forever.

1. Lower Your Exposure for Better Glow

Christmas lights look best when they aren’t blown out.
– Lower your exposure or brightness so the lights stay colorful and defined.
– On phones, tap the screen and drag the exposure slider down slightly.

2. Use Portrait Mode (or a Wide Aperture)

Portrait mode on phones (or f/1.8–f/2.8 on cameras) creates beautiful background blur.
The lights will turn into soft, glowing bokeh circles, giving your photo a magical feel.

3. Steady Your Shot

Holiday scenes are often dim, so your camera may slow the shutter speed.
– Hold your phone with two hands
– Lean on something stable, or
– Use a tripod if possible
This keeps the image sharp while still capturing warm ambient light.

4. Add a Foreground Element

Place something closer to the camera: a person holding a mug, ornaments, pine branches, etc.
This adds depth and gives the lights in the background more visual impact.

5. Shoot During “Blue Hour”

The 20–30 minutes after sunset provides a deep blue sky.
Christmas lights pop beautifully during this time, and the sky prevents your photos from looking too dark or black.