Taking holiday photos with little ones

Trying to take a good picture for your Christmas card is hard enough, but when you throw little kids into the mix, things can get bit more difficult. However, that’s not to say that you can’t capture the perfect festive photo to put on your holiday cards. Keep these handy tips in mind to turn the picture-taking process from frustrating to fun:

1. Be patient
You’ll need to set aside a good chunk of time to take the picture because you’re going to want to snap more than a few of them. When you go into it knowing that it’s going to take a bit longer than five minutes, the whole event might become a bit less stressful. Keep your sense of humor throughout – let your kids be goofy. Putting too much pressure on them to act like professional models may not give you the pictures you hoped for.

2. Brainstorm photo ideas
Instead of trying to come up with poses on the spot, jot down some ideas a few days beforehand. Then, if your original idea of sitting in front of the fireplace doesn’t work, you can try out any of the other options to get the best shot of your family.

3. Experiment with candid shots
It can be tough getting your little ones to stay still for a picture. Therefore, why not try taking a candid photo of them participating in a holiday activity? After all, capturing your kids in a natural setting can produce some pretty genuine photos. Take snapshots while they’re decorating Christmas cookies, sealing holiday cards, building a snowman, decorating the tree or wrapping presents. Soon, they’ll forget the camera is there and just have fun with it. This way, they won’t be forcing a smile or sitting in an awkward pose – instead, you’ll be able to truly capture their personalities.

4. Take lots of pictures
You can never take too many photos. When the picture-taking session is over, you’ll be glad you have more than a few from which to choose. After all, you don’t want to be left trying to decide between the one with your kid’s eyes closed, the one with super dim lighting and the photos with the messy pile of toys in the background (that being said, make sure to clean up before taking any pictures).