Keeping Holiday Photos Jolly

For most of us, this time of year feels like it has been put in fast forward. The weeks between Labor Day and the holidays seem to get closer every year, and there is always an endless to-do list to accomplish before Santa is hauling his happy butt down the chimney. At the top of many lists is taking a family photo for holiday cards or gifts, and this task can be about as much fun as listening to cats sing “Jingle Bells.” Here are a few tips to make this annual ritual a bit more jolly:

1. LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD – It is easy to sit the kids on the floor or pose them standing around a tree and then stand over them and start snapping away. You might do better to get down on their level to take the photo. By coming down to their height, the perspective of the photos will be a better representation of you child’s personality. Being on their level also makes it a more interactive experience, and may motivate your little one to cooperate a little more.
2. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – A photo of everyone seated around the fireplace is nice, but try changing it up a bit this year. Take it outside and capture them playing in the leaves. Let them have a pillow fight in your bed in their holiday PJs. You will get great, relaxed shots of your family if they don’t realize they are being photographed, and your photos will be unique and stand out from the crowd of holiday cards.
3. CUT THE CHEESE – I’m guilty of this, but I truly wish that we didn’t teach our kids to say “CHEESE” as soon as the camera comes out. It seems to cause kids to plaster these giant fake grins on their face, and makes it very difficult to capture the “real” side of who they are. Instead, ask them to say funny sounding words or tell them a joke as you click the shutter. A shot of your child laughing will always be better than one of them looking like a wax replica of themselves.

And when all else fails, bring in some help. Make an appointment with a photographer, or even enlist a neighbor to take the shots while you dance like a monkey to entertain the kids. Friends and family just want to see a picture of your family, and no one will care if it isn’t the “perfect” shot. So take some of the pressure off yourself and have fun. Maybe even bring back that recording of the cat’s version of “Jingle Bells” to capture some giggles from your little elves.