How to Take Great Photos for Holiday Cards

Personalized holiday cards are cherished during the holiday season. Warm smiles of grandchildren delight grandparents, and family poses are welcomed by friends and family.

Taking great family photos for your holiday cards doesn't need to be a chore. By planning ahead, and trying a few simple techniques, you can create holiday cards that will be admired by everyone on your list.

Action Photos
If your holiday card will be featuring just the children, opt for an action photo. Getting small children to sit still for very long can be difficult.

Pile the children into the kitchen with a bowl full of cookie dough. Have the children hold wooden mixing spoons. Dab a little flour on their noses and decorate the scene with a cook book, baking sheets and baked holiday goodies. Let the children taste the dough with the wooden spoons, as you snap away with the camera.

If the weather outside is favorable, take action photos of the children building a snowman, pulling a sled filled with siblings or a favorite teddy bear. Even a child throwing snow into the air makes a cute holiday greeting card photo.

If the weather outside is less than enjoyable, stay indoors and allow the children to play with wrapped gift boxes or holiday ornaments. Capture them trying on Santa hats. Photograph them laughing at each other as they unwrap the gifts or pull the hats over their heads.

The key is to keep the little ones active, so they forget about the picture taking, and you end up with memorable moments on your holiday cards!

Get Comfortable
Getting that perfect family picture for your holiday card starts with everyone being comfortable. Bundling up the crew, and heading outside to stand by the evergreen when it's frigid outside isn't pleasant at all.

For great family pictures, plan ahead. An evergreen still looks full and lush in the middle of summer, or even fall. On a cool summer or fall evening, have the family try on their favorite sweaters, scarves and mittens and huddle together for a close-up family picture by the evergreen. Have fun with the pictures by color coordinating sweaters. Wear Santa hats. Nobody will know that green grass and blooming flowers were just beyond the lens of the camera.

Use the Good Ones
When in doubt, take a trip down memory lane. Did you go on a family vacation this past year? Was there a family wedding or reunion? If so, you may already have a great family photo to use on your holiday cards. Friends and family will appreciating seeing a photo from the special event, and you have a personalized photo to use for your holiday greeting cards!