How To Guide For Holiday Pictures

1.  If it is dark, don’t be afraid to use the flash.  In the images here, I used an off-camera flash with a remote.  I know the majority of families don’t have that, but you can still create your ideal family picture.  If the flash is too bright (as you can see below in the 2nd picture), then grab a white piece of paper or a white note card and hold it directly in front of the flash.  This will diffuse the flash so it will be spread more evenly and not be focused too much on one thing (like the tree).  If it’s possible, you can also grab a floor lamp and put it next to the camera to provide extra light instead of using the flash.

2.  If you see shadows in your picture, then try moving where you’re shooting from.  Try a different angle or move to the other side of the tree.  If you’re outside, your best bet is a cloudy day.  I know, I know, everyone wants a bright sunny day in their picture.  Have you ever noticed that some pictures outside look washed out?  Or, the background is really bright but the people are too dark?  Since every day can’t be perfect for taking pictures, try to find a covered or shaded area, like under a tree or a side of a building.  Wait until the sun is going down (since I know I’m not awake for sunrise pictures), go to the side of your house and snap away!  Don’t be afraid to move…inside or out! Moving where you’re taking the picture can sometimes fix all your problems at once (except for crying babies and unhappy kids).

3. Speaking of babies and kids….try to take family pictures when kids are full and rested. Right before nap time is probably not the best time. Mid-morning before they’re upset you’re not doing what they want, is probably a good picture time for kids.  When you’re doing kids alone, make sure whoever they want to look at, mom, dad, grandma, the cat is behind the camera.  If not, you will get some beautiful shots of them looking away (see picture 3).  Giving them what they want to look at behind the camera is a lot easier than trying to get them to look at the camera when they don’t want to.  Go ahead, nod your head. 🙂

Picture 4 isn’t too dark, or bright and the kids are looking at the camera and happy, whew.

4. When doing a family picture, don’t have everyone stand side by side. Have some people stand, some kneel, some sit on the floor (or a purple stool, like dad is doing in Picture 5).  When everyone is the same height and standing, the picture can end up looking very flat and uninteresting.  If someone has a hard time standing or getting on the floor, then grab a chair and have people stand/kneel/sit around the chair. Or grab two if you need.

5.  The most important tip of all….HAVE FUN!  If you aren’t having fun in your family pictures, it will show.  So go ahead and laugh, smile, joke around, grab the dog and take some pictures!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A special thanks to the Roy Family for allowing me to do their Christmas pictures and all the examples for this post.

Elizabeth