Framing the holidays:

The Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays are swiftly approaching, bringing family gatherings, festive lights, and endless photo opportunities. Whether you reach for your phone camera or your favorite mirrorless or DSLR, capturing those moments is part of the joy. As tables fill and trees sparkle, Photography Club of Sun City Hilton Head (PCSCHH) member Tom Mills believes great photography isn’t only about the equipment, it’s about how you see.

In a recent interview, when asked about the growing role of cell phone photography, Mills smiled. “Cell phones are the future,” he said. “Cell phones are so well engineered… you can’t take a bad picture.”

Still, he prefers his traditional camera. “I happen to like it a lot,” he adds with a grin. “It’s technically fun.” For him, the difference isn’t about pixels or lenses—it’s about control, composition, and the satisfaction of shaping an image from start to finish.

A PCSCHH member for 13 years, Mills has taught many classes plus led both the Composition and Black & White Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for the past five years. His approach blends technical understanding with an artist’s eye—skills honed from a lifetime behind the camera. He and his wife Kay moved to Sun City in 2012 after years in Augusta, Georgia, where his passion for photography deepened. His father was a photojournalist, so cameras surrounded him most of his life.

Mills believes it’s important to see beyond buttons and screens to the design within the frame. As leader of the Composition SIG, he encouraged members to focus on the story behind each image—where to stand, what to include, and what to leave out. “Photography is an art,” he explains. “Pictures should tell a story.”

That belief—seeing each photo as part of a larger narrative—is central to his philosophy. “Pretend you were going to make a holiday photo book and plan the photos you would like to include to tell the story of the event,” he says. “The holiday dinner table, arrival of people, people interacting around the tree, the messy room after gifts, tired people lounging—the idea is to tell the story of the whole event.”

As the conversation turns to technology, Mills admits that modern tools have made storytelling easier. “Taking pictures with your cell phone camera is really pretty easy,” he says. “The phone camera is always with you, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice, and, best of all, modern phone cameras take amazingly good, high-quality photos.”

He notes that today’s phones “handle most lighting situations well” and automatically adjust exposure and focus, freeing the photographer to concentrate on what really matters—the image itself. “During the Holiday Season, your phone camera is perfect for capturing the colors and sparkle of holiday trees, family fun around the table, and gift openings,” he says. “You can photograph decorations, food fresh from the oven, pets in holiday outfits, or even get artsy with close-ups of ornaments and candles.”

But even the best technology can’t replace composition. Mills emphasizes that the same principles apply whether you’re shooting with a phone, a camera, or professional gear.

He offers three things to remember. First, get closer. “Move in so the subject is more prominent. Zoom in with the camera settings or actually move the camera closer—zoom with your feet.”

Second, minimize distractions. “Before pushing the shutter button, count the corners—one, two, three, four—to notice things that could distract attention from the subject. Change your point of view to exclude distractions.”

Third, avoid flash. “Flash usually is too bright and makes the picture look flat by removing shadows that give shape and contours. Cell phone cameras are very good in low light, so natural light images are almost always better.”

Mills also stresses the power of perspective. “Generally, keep the camera at the eye level of the subject because we see the world at that level and things look right,” he says. “This applies especially to small children and pets—standing over them and shooting down makes them look small. Get down to their eye level for a much more intimate image.”

He often references Henri Cartier-Bresson, the French photographer known as the father of modern photojournalism, who built his legacy on “the decisive moment”—the instant when everything in a frame aligns perfectly.

Mills compares that approach to the careful planning behind National Geographic photographs. “Those images aren’t lucky shots,” he says. “They’re the result of planning, timing, and seeing the picture before you ever press the shutter.”

As the season’s celebrations unfold, Mills offers one timeless reminder: don’t just take pictures—compose them. And remember, if you have your phone, you already have a camera—and a chance to capture the perfect photo.

For more information or to join the Photography Club of Sun City Hilton Head, visit www.pcschh.org.