Holiday Family Portrait Tips

Our family loves to both give receive Christmas holiday greeting cards with family portraits tucked inside. We are lucky enough to have a professional photographer in the family so our costs are low and the pictures turn out great every year. Even if you don't have access to professional, there are some excellent digital cameras on the market that will help even the novice photographer create high quality photographs.

Here are some tips to get the best results for holiday family portraits to give as gifts, put inside greeting cards, or use on the greeting cards themselves.

Setting

If you go to a professional studio, they will provide an area. If you plan to take your own portraits, you'll need to clear a space big enough to where every subject can be seen in the picture. Use fabric or decorations to create a festive backdrop to showcase each person. If you will be including your pets in the photo, be sure to create a special location for them to sit. Or have someone hold them so they will be still.

Mood

If young children will be in the pictures, make sure they have a nap before setting up the shoot. It's easier for a well rested child to be in a good mood and be ready to sit, pose, and smile. Have everyone eat a light snack before the picture taking begins. A rumbling hungry belly can be an unnecessary distraction. Choose your snack food wisely though because heavy greasy food can cause drowsiness and sugary food can cause restlessness.

Clothing

For a look of continuity, it's best to stick to a consistent color scheme when choosing attire. For holidays, the classic red and green shades made for nice vivid pictures. Pick out the clothes each person will wear the day before the photo shoot. This will give time to repair wrinkles, rips, stains, and be sure everything fits properly. Make sure everyone is comfortable in the clothes they will be wearing. Clothing that is too tight can cause people to fidget and be unhappy, especially young children. Try to involve kids in the decision-making process as to what they will be wearing. If they are happy with their clothes then the happiness will show on their faces and smiles ... but the opposite is true as well.

Makeup

Women should go light on makeup for a holiday portrait. Plan your look around the color of clothing you and the rest of the family will be wearing. If you have a teenage daughter and she wants to wear makeup, be sure to give her guidance on choosing appropriate colors for her age. If your teenager likes to wear heavy dark makeup, you might be forced to come to some sort of compromise with her. It's best to approach the subject with tact. Let her know you don't disapprove of her everyday look but make it clear you would appreciate her cooperation in toning things down for this special occasion. If she gets too upset, then don't make too big of an issue out of it.

Hair

Avoid getting a new trendy the haircut the day before having photographs taken. It's better to experiment with your hair after the photos are made in case you end up with a disastrous cut. Cutting or trimming your hair is a good idea, just get the cut at least a week before the shoot. This will give the hair time to grow out a bit and have a more natural look. As for the hairstyle, experiment a couple of days ahead of time if you plan to change your look dramatically.

Equipment

If you are taking the photos yourself, make sure your camera has fresh batteries and that the lenses are clean. Gather all necessary lights, cords, flashes and other equipment before hand. Being prepared will cut down on stress and allow more time to capture the right poses and perfect smiles.

It's a wrap!

The most important tip to remember is that family photo shoots should be fun for everyone. Christmas holiday portraits are a great way to capture, share, and create memories.