Christmas is just around the corner. Hooray! What are you most excited about: decorating the tree, decorating cookies, or building a snowman with the kiddos?! Chances are, taking family photos is not at the top of that list. Or maybe you’re one of the few that lights up in the camera’s spotlight. Taking those family photos will be the initial step to creating your Christmas cards. And everyone loves Christmas cards, right?! Sometimes it can seem like taking a great family Christmas photo is some mysterious science. Well, we’re here to let you in on the secrets. You’ll be creating your best Christmas cards in no time!
How to take Christmas photos at home
Whether you’re working with a professional photographer or having a friend take the photos for you, here are a few tips and tricks to get the best Christmas family photos at home.
1. Plan it out.
Before everyone is rounded up for the family Christmas photos, be sure there’s a plan in place. Your family’s attention span is likely not very long — especially the young ones. Be sure everything is ready to rumble (the furniture is set up, the props are in place and the changes of clothes are laid out or prepped) before getting everyone in one place.
2. When should I take my family pictures for Christmas cards?
Your photographer will likely agree — taking photos in natural light will get you the best Christmas family photos and will result in softer tones. When you’re planning the time for your home Christmas photo shoot, think either early in the day (great if you have young ones as they will be rested) or later afternoon. Midday sun will blow out all of your photos.
3. How should I pose for a family Christmas photo?
You’ll want to avoid fake smiles in your family photo. If you’re having a friend take your DIY family Christmas photos for you instead of a professional photographer, have a few stories up your sleeves to keep the kids (and everyone else) laughing. This is much better than having everyone say ‘cheese’ which will lead to fake smiles.
4. Do a little research about taking Christmas photos at home.
Do a little Pinteresting before deciding on anything (see: 30 Unbelievably Awesome Christmas Card Photo Ideas). Look around to get an idea of what kind of home Christmas photoshoot you’d like this year. Browse locations, outfits and themes. See what you like and what you don’t like so that when you begin planning — especially if you’re working with a professional — you can plan accordingly with exactly what you’d like.
5. Make it fun.
Taking family photos is often a dreaded task, but an awesome family photo makes for awesome Christmas cards. With that said — why not make your family photos a fun event? If your family’s personality calls for it — take the photos during a fun activity. Candid photos often make for best Christmas family photos. Have the photographer do the shoot while your family bakes and decorates cookies together — just make sure there’s proper lighting.
How excited are you to take your family photos now?! These five tips will get you to the perfect family photo in not time.
6. Capture genuine smiles for your Christmas family photos by embracing the moment.
Trying to get everyone to smile perfectly for the camera can be challenging, especially with little ones in your Christmas family photos. Instead of aiming for perfection, embrace the moment and go with the flow. If the kids are running around or being silly, let them—it often leads to the most genuine and heartwarming Christmas family photos. The key is to keep things light and fun, so everyone feels comfortable and natural. Avoid forcing smiles by telling jokes or sharing funny memories to get those authentic grins in your holiday pictures.
7. Timing is everything – plan around your family’s schedule for the best Christmas family photos.
When scheduling your Christmas family photo session at home, consider your family’s natural routine to get the best results. Choose a time when everyone is well-rested and in good spirits for your Christmas family photos. The morning or early evening might work best for families with young children to avoid cranky moods. Remember, happy and relaxed faces make for the best Christmas family photos. If you can, set up everything beforehand so you’re ready to shoot quickly without wasting time during the perfect lighting.
8. Let go of perfection – capture real moments for memorable Christmas family photos.
Don’t stress over getting the “perfect” Christmas family photo. The best photos often come from candid moments where personalities shine through. If a pose isn’t working, don’t be afraid to switch it up or change the scenery for your Christmas family photos. By letting everyone move around and enjoy the moment, you can capture genuine interactions, laughter, and love that make your Christmas family photos special. Remember, these imperfect, real-life moments add a unique touch to your holiday cards.
But wait, we’ve got bonus tips for how to take your own Christmas photos!
Professional photographer, Fran Dickenson, from Raleigh, NC weighs in with seven great tips to getting you the perfect DIY family Christmas photos.
1. What background should you use?
Keep that crazy, distracting background out of your shot by varying your angles and keeping the distracting elements out. You want to be able to see your faces first and foremost! Whether you choose indoors or outside, avoid distracting and busy backgrounds that will take away from your image.
If you find that your background isn’t quite up to par, Cutout Cards from Postable can be a game-changer. These cards allow you to remove the background entirely, putting the focus solely on the subjects and ensuring your photo looks clean and polished. Whether there’s clutter in the background, uneven lighting, or just too much visual noise, Postable’s Cutout Cards can help elevate your image by eliminating those distractions. This way, your loved ones will stay front and center, while your card maintains a professional, sophisticated appearance without the need for extensive photo editing. Check out our selection of customizable holiday cards to create the perfect holiday greeting this season.
2. Make sure you have light in your eyes.
The best Christmas family photos have a sparkle in the eyes called “catchlights” which are created with a reflector or large light source. Having the photographer slightly above you so you are slightly looking up also creates beautiful catchlights. This is very important to give life to your eyes and vibrance to each face your portrait.
3. What colors are best for Christmas family photos?
Busy patterns and bright colors will detract from your family photo, so keep your clothing natural and uncomplicated. Shirts with words on them and colors that are too bright should be avoided if possible. When you take Christmas pictures, you can also bring more than one outfit to create different looks. Make sure your clothing fits your family’s personality.
4. Hair, makeup and accessories must look like your normal styles.
Family Christmas photos are not the time to experiment with new hair and makeup styles. Keep your style clean and straightforward so your personalities can shine through.
5. Try a variety of expressions.
Make sure you take some pictures with big smiles and some more serious. Try smiling with and without teeth. You might be surprised that you prefer one over the other. You can also choose different looks and use more than one photo for your card.
6. Vary your poses.
Everyone has a best side, so make sure your photographer takes a variety of poses from seated and standing positions. Getting the family moving with a walking pose will sometimes result in fun Christmas family photos that everyone will love. The photographer should be able to guide you with some suggestions on the poses that flatter your body the most, including the kids!
7. Relax!
Your nervousness will come through in your family photo, so make sure you are all calm and cool during your session. You can give an authentic smile when you are happy and relaxed in front of the camera. Shake out your anxiety, have fun, and give the camera the expressions that are unique to your family and shows your family connections.
All tipped out? Well, we’re not done yet.
How to get your Christmas family photo cards taken care of in minutes.
Yes, really. You can customize (with your amazing new family photos) your very own family Christmas photo cards in minutes and Postable will print, address and mail them all out for you. You can spend your precious holiday time doing the things you actually want to — like eating all those cookies you decorated. And if you’re one of those think-ahead-of-time folks and got your Christmas photos at home taken care of well ahead of time, you can even schedule your Christmas cards right now.
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