10 Tips for Taking Great Holiday Card Photos

Do you dread getting all the kids together for a holiday card photo shoot every year? Here are 10 tips to help you get the best results, stress free.

1. Dress for Success- When choosing outfits for the little one to wear, steer clear of any busy patterns, no matter how cute the fuzzy bears all over her sweater are. Patterns distract attention away from the cute faces of your kids, and make the photos busy. Avoid dark red if you are going to have black and white pictures--it comes out very dark, creating a lot of contrast and loss of detail. White, denim, and neutrals are classic choices of professional photographers for a reason.
2. Say No to Cluttered Backgrounds- Try to take your photos in a setting that is free of distracting details. Avoid the kids' toy strewn playroom and if you're outside, look out for trees growing out of the kids head when you frame your shot. Textured concrete walls, a pond, or uniform foliage make for good backgrounds. Taking some time to find a good location will make a huge difference in your photos.
3. Flash is evil- Whenever possible, use natural light. Flash washes people out and makes everything look flat and unnatural. Get outside in the late afternoon light--it is beautiful and warm this time of year. Avoid taking pictures at high noon on a sunny day--the shadows and glare will make the photos harsh. Take pictures on a cloudy day or in open shade, such as that under a shady tree or an open carport. Indoors, try to find a window that lets in indirect light (there should be no harsh shadows on the ground), and place your subjects beside it. Or, go the opposite route and experiment with photos of your baby playing with a string of lights in a dark room without using the flash.
   
4. Focus- Be smart about how you use your camera's autofocus. To focus on most point and shoots, press the button halfway down and hold to focus before pressing all the way down to take the picture. Usually the camera focuses on what is in the center. You can compose interesting shots with your subject off center by first framing the shot with your subect in the middle and pressing the button halfway to focus. Then, still holding the button halfway down, move your camera sideways and reframe the shot the way you want it. When you are satisfied, finish pressing the button all the way down to take the picture.
5. Have fun, relax!- put on some fun music, get your subjects relaxed. Photos taken when the kids are comfortable will look less stiff and posed, and will show more of their personalities.
6. Get on the level- many people stand fixed in one spot and try to snap all their pictures from that one vantage point. Instead, try and get on the same level with your kids, and move around to try to get an interesting angle.
7. The Eyes are the Windows to the Soul- ever hear that saying? Try making sure that the eyes of your subject are in focus. This can give your photo a lot of impact. One favorite trick of photographers is to capture the reflected light in their subjects' eyes--called catchlights. This really makes the eyes pop. Lighting your subject from the side (such as seating them next to a window) will often give you catchlights.
8. Get in close- This has 2 parts: get in close to your subjects, and have your subjects get in close to each other. In photos, even small distances between people can look like big gaps. Get your kids to squeeze in close together, and fill the frame with them. This is a great thing especially if you can't find a super scenic backdrop for your photos. Getting in close minimizes distracting backgrounds, and puts the focus on those cute faces.
9. Observe- If you have more than one child, try standing back and letting them interact with each other instead of making them pose stiffly. Sure this may not result in the most traditional portrait, but you have a chance at capturing their true personalities and relationship in your photos.
10. Take lots of shots- Ever notice how a professional photographer takes tons of shots? Even the pros need to take a lot of shots to get those few stunning ones. So, experiment, and take pictures from different angles and keep shooting. Many cameras come with a burst mode that will snap a series of shots in quick succession. Often times the most real expressions and interactions will come after the initial photo is taken--make sure to capture them!

I hope these tips will get you thinking outside the box and inspire you to take stunning portraits of your kids. It doesn't require fancy equipment or lighting--just a little planning and time to try out some different ideas.

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