Holiday Picture Guide!

I guess you could say I have an insider’s look on this topic. My husband is a photographer so I can go on and on about all the tips and tricks when it comes to family pictures. I have been on more photo shoots than I can count, and have had my picture taken as well. The world has gone a little crazy over photography the last decade and it seems like obtaining the perfect family picture is something everyone stresses about this time of year. Hopefully, with a few tips from a pro (like me!) you can get that perfect Christmas card that people hang on their fridge year round!

First things first; picking the location. Location isn’t everything but it definitely helps when you find a good one. Do a little research to see what areas you like and what style of picture you are going for this year. Feel free to ask the photographer what locations they have in mind as well. Try to remember that the people in the picture are more important than the perfect background :) You might want to try and pick a spot with your photographer first, because that will help you decide what outfits to put together. You don't want to wear bright colors and then shoot in a woodsy area. An urban setting needs brighter colors, and a woodsy setting needs more fall colors. That brings me to my next big one…

Clothes!!!! You have to be so careful about what clothes you pick. If this card is strictly your holiday card photo then choose whatever color you want. You want to dress in red and green? Go for it! But if this is your family picture that you are putting on the wall year round...please, please don't wear red or green!!!!!! Or anything that looks too holiday-ish. Trust me, come May...you will thank me!

Picking out outfits for your family is tough. I like to use the word coordinating....not matching. Matchie matchie outfits are pretty cheesy. You don't all want to wear the same thing. I tell people to find one cute pattern and then pull outfits that compliment the colors in the patterned shirt. But don't choose plaid and then find different shades of the same plaid shirt. And please be nice to your husbands!!! They hate pictures enough as it is...so don't put them in something they would never wear normally.

My biggest tip is to use Pinterest!!! Just plug family picture outfits into your search bar and you will get a million ideas down to shoes and accessories! I use it every time I need to plan outfits. You get great combos like this and then you can screen shot all your ideas and then head off to your favorite store. Old Navy is a great place because they usually have items in all sizes that you can coordinate together, all in one convenient location!

My next big tip is about kids. If you have kids, please consider bringing someone to help the kids smile. It's really not the photographer’s job to do this. He doesn't know your kid and he is busy trying to get a good picture. He can't be jumping up and down making silly faces at your kids if he is trying to get a good shot that is in focus. I often will schedule an assistant to go with Joe when he shoots but that is just a nice gesture. Most people do not do that. I just know that a child will smile much better for their grandma or Aunt than they will for a total stranger. Also, bring treats for your kids! Yes, I believe bribing your kids is totally acceptable when it comes to getting a good picture. Kids can be grumpy when you shove them into a setting they are not comfortable with. Bribe them!!!! Bring a wrapped toy, promise them ice cream, bring fruit snacks or anything small they can put in their mouth and hide in a picture. When you are spending all the money on the photographer, the outfits and the printing you can splurge on a new toy to make your kid smile. It's worth it!

Another thing....candid pictures are fun!! I wish more people would try for a candid shot. We know family pictures are stressful so when everyone is looking at the camera perfectly, sometimes it doesn't feel real. My favorite pictures when I am going through the images are the ones where the mom is yelling at the kids, the dad is looking off in space, and the kids are all elbowing each other because they are too close. Now that is real life people!

My last biggest tip is to try your best to control your expectations. Photographers are not magicians. They are people that point their camera at what you actually look like!!!!!!! They can't make you 20 pounds lighter, they can't open your eyes if you have them closed in your favorite shot, they can't make you look 10 years younger. Technically, a good edit will do all those things but people get paid hundreds of dollars to do that to one image. I guarantee the small amount you pay for your holiday card pictures does not include that type of editing. Sorry, that is what you look like. Also, remember that this is just one shot of what your family looks like this year. It doesn't need to be perfect. If your 6 month old is not looking at the camera and smiling, people understand! Kids have bad days and they might just choose not to smile in any shot. I promise people won't think you have a grumpy kid when they get your Christmas card in the mail.

Try to remember that we are all just real people trying to get a good picture of our family to show how we have changed over the past year. They don't have to be perfect. Oh...and please, please, please be on time to your sessions!!! Don't show up 30 minutes late to your 45 minute session. If you want your photographer to get good images of your family, don't put him in a bad mood before it starts. Also, this allows for the best use of your time during the session. He may have someone booked directly after you so you want to make sure that you have as much time as you can in case the children are not cooperating. If you want a variety of pictures to choose from, you need to use your time wisely.

Oh, and easy on the props!!! This brings me back to the red and green....if you take all your pictures with a big sign that says JOY, you are limiting your images to just this season. Chairs make a great prop. They give your image some dimension. But when everyone tries to fit into a picture frame, it can look a little cheesy. Keep it classic :) You don't want to look back 30 years from now and see your pictures on the awkward family photo site!