This weekend marked the official start of Christmas season in many theme parks. The decorations are up, holiday ride overlays are running, and the first food festivals have begun. Here in Southern California, the season opened with a good amount of rain.

Rain can feel like a hassle, but it’s a gift for photographers. Wet walkways turn into reflective surfaces. Even a small puddle gives you a simple way to create fresh angles and mirror-like shots. Holiday lights look even better on wet pavement, especially after dark.

If you shoot with a cell phone, get your camera down low. A low angle near the ground makes small puddles look huge and gives you richer reflections. And since rain keeps some guests home, you get more room to shoot without people blocking your view.

Just stay dry. Protect your gear. And never underestimate how fast wet socks can ruin your day. I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.

Overcast skies help too. No harsh shadows. No blown-out highlights. The soft light is perfect for simple, clean photos. Overcast days also make great black-and-white shots. And when the skies stay dark, the night lighting comes on earlier, which gives you more time to shoot during the transition into evening.

The early part of the holiday season is also your best bet for crowd-free photos. You can capture the full Christmas decor before peak crowds arrive. Look at the photo with this article. The walkway below was packed, but by shooting higher and framing carefully, you don’t see a single person.

Don’t skip the holiday food. The seasonal treats are fun to shoot and even more fun to eat. Try framing the treat with the park’s decorations behind it. These simple shots give your friends and family a serious case of “I wish I were there.”

And take a moment to ride the holiday overlays too. For me, it’s a small world Holiday is always worth a visit. The regular version isn’t always on my list, but the holiday one is a must. The extra lights and decorations fill the whole ride with color, and you’ll find tons of chances to get photos you won’t get any other time of year.

Watch for characters in holiday outfits as well. Even a simple meet-and-greet feels more special when the costumes match the season.

Welcome to the theme park Christmas season. I hope you get out there and capture photos you’ll treasure for years.

If you want to share your holiday park shots, I’d love to see them. Come join me in the Fairy Tale Photo Academy Theme Park Community by clicking here. It’s always better when people bring their photos, their stories, and their joy for the parks.