Tips for taking a great photo

For best results, take your photo in landscape orientation.
A smartphone or basic digital camera will take a great shot.
Photograph around twilight/dusk - for a short period of time the atmospheric light will perfectly complement the twinkling Christmas lights.
Plan your shot ahead of time and take multiple images to get the best final result.
Forget the flash - even if it shows up it can interfere with how the colour of your lights appear in the image.
Use a tripod if you have one or improvise by putting your camera on a fence or rubbish bin to keep it steady. You'll need a longer exposure to capture the lights so the camera will need to be nice and still to prevent blurry images.
Remember use landscape orientation on your smartphone.