Kelly’s Outfit: Tartan Ruffled Shirt (Size down. This one is adorable, too!), Knotted Pearl Necklace (Here’s the traditional multi-strand pearl necklace. Also love this sparkly holiday necklace!), Bow Coat (Runs TTS — I always wear a size 2 in J.Crew Factory coats, and that’s what I’m wearing here!), Similar Red Block Heel Pumps, Pearl Earrings, Gigi Pants (The velvet pull-on pants are back in stock, btw! Order now before they sell out!) // Mitch’s Outfit: Plaid Shirt, Reindeer Sweater, Corduroys, Topcoat (And love the pea coat!) // Emma’s Outfit: Plaid Skirt (Here’s the dress!), Toddler Cocoon Coat, Striped Turtleneck (Have you seen the bow sweater?! It comes in women’s sizes, too… and there’s a sweater dress version as well!) c/o
It’s that time of the year! Right about now, parents across the country are starting to think about (or perhaps freak out about) holiday photos and cards. There’s so much planning that goes into them, and they can understandably be a little stress-inducing. The mere act of making sure everyone’s available at the same time can seem downright impossible; never mind the fact that you want them to turn out good!
So today, I’m sharing my best tips for taking great family holiday photos. Because it doesn’t have to be torturous!
Select seasonally appropriate outfits that complement each other
This is the #1 question I get about this topic! Last year, we wore J.Crew Factory for our Christmas card photos, and loved how they turned out. The brand was the obvious choice for this year’s pics, too. (Note: Tons of sales going on at Factory right now! When you buy one clearance item, you’ll get one free… and you can take 40-60 percent off “wear now” styles (like my bow coat, camel blazer, ruffled plaid skirt, ruffled houndstooth skirt, super comfy bow flats and knotted pearl necklace!) + sweaters under $35! Looking for the perfect gift? Check out the new One-Stop Gift Shop.)
Women
Men
Girls
Boys
Look for outfits that:
- Are warm: Listen, I would have loved to have worn beautiful Christmas dresses for these photos. (For Emma and me, at least.) But when we took them, it was 30 degrees outside and that’s a no-go for everyone. Kids will cry, everyone will look tense, and you’ll likely throw in the towel pretty quickly. If you live in the south, by all means: wear those dresses! But if you live in the arctic tundra like I do, embrace sweaters; coats; and hats, scarves and gloves. It’s more natural-looking, anyway. (We actually forgot to wear our hats and mittens for these photos, but I picked out these earmuffs, and Emma loved this hat. You’ll see them on the blog soon! Also, for those of you who’ve been asking, the adorable bow coat runs TTS. I normally wear a size 2 in J.Crew Factory, and that’s what I’m wearing here! The tartan ruffled shirt runs a little large, though. I went one size down.)
- Complement each other and “pop”: There are a few ways to do this. First, you could pick a theme. We obviously went with plaid for these photos, because I’m obsessed and it’s perfect for the holidays… but you could also go with a bunch coordinating Christmas colors, like navy, dark green, gold and especially red. (Splashes of red always make pics pop. Note Emma’s bow, my shoes, and Mitch’s collared shirt peeking out of his sweater. I think those little touches totally make the photos!) Want to make things even simpler? Go with one color. In the family photos we took with my parents and brothers over the summer, everyone just wore white and it looked fantastic! (And like we tried really hard. Which we did not. Another example of a 10-minute shoot!)
- Are timeless yet something your family would actually wear: Avoid super trendy looks in favor of more classic clothing. At the same time, don’t force your spouse or children into wearing stuff that isn’t “them.” Age-appropriate clothing is always preferred since we don’t want to embarrass our kids… and again: when in doubt, go simple.
- Don’t break the bank. No one needs to go broke for the sake of a cute Christmas card. It’s easy to fall victim to the idea that the pricier the clothing, the nicer the photos will turn out. But this just isn’t true! Since outfitting an entire family can add up quickly, opt for a brand like J.Crew Factory, which prides itself on classic styles at affordable prices. Also, don’t think that everyone needs to to be decked out in head-to-toe new stuff. Consider what you already own, and then fill in holes and add in some festive pieces.
- Are comfortable and wrinkle-resistant: I distinctly remember my brothers crying about their turtlenecks and ties when we’d take Christmas photos as kids. It was only when my mother gave up on those things that we got good pics. ;) Aside from the fact that you don’t want your subjects to be (and look) miserable, you also want them to be able to freely move around in their clothes! Choose materials that don’t wrinkle easily, or patterns (like plaid) that’ll disguise them if they appear. Linen is the absolute worst, btw… with heavier sweaters being the easiest to photograph.
Iron/steam and lay out clothing in advance
If you leave it to the day of, you may never get to the actual shoot. Do it the day before and lay out everyone’s outfits so getting ready is quick and easy.
Find a location
I place a lot of importance on backgrounds, as they can make or break a photo. I’ve found success when I:
- Shoot outside during “golden hours.” Nine times out of 10, outdoor photos come out better. The lighting is more flattering and you don’t need to rely on flash, which can have a harsh effect. The easiest time to shoot is during the “golden hours”: in the early morning, before the sun is blazing, or an hour before the sun sets. If this timeframe doesn’t work, try to shoot on an overcast day. Everyone should be in the same lighting, too; if one person is in the sun and the other is under a shadow, you’re going to have exposure issues. I look for locations that are slightly shaded. If I can’t find them, I shoot into the sun so my subjects are backlit and not in harsh, direct sunlight.
- Choose a location that’s close to home: Organizing family photos takes time and effort, and the last thing everyone wants to do is pile into the car and embark on a mini road trip for ’em. Instead, I think creatively about what’s near our house, and try my hardest to pick somewhere that we can walk to.
- “Think within the frame”: Who cares if there’s literally a dumpster and an abandoned lot next to a bunch of gorgeous evergreen trees? No one needs to know that. Some of my favorite shooting locations near our home would look absolutely hideous if I “zoomed out.” ;) Think more deeply, and consider locations that you otherwise wouldn’t have. Frame the photo in your head, and don’t worry about what’s outside it!
- Aim for a spot that isn’t crowded: It’s unfair to expect strangers to recognize what you’re doing and steer clear, but there’s nothing worse than random people innocently and accidentally ruining your shot. Don’t shoot in a super public place!
- Choose evergreens over dead trees and plants: Your photos will look a zillion times better without dead branches in the background. Evergreen trees and plants can be difficult to find–especially if you’re in the city like I am–but put the extra time in and find them. I think I know every single evergreen within 10 blocks of our house. 😂
- Include twinkle lights: They look beautiful when blurred out in the background. If you can’t find any, though, you can always bring along your own battery-powered ones. (I also love the look of string lights!) Just make sure you have permission if necessary.
- Shoot while it’s snowing: SO MAGICAL! This rarely happens, but if there are flurries in the forecast, take advantage. Shoot with a high shutter speed to capture ’em. More on that below.
Make it fun
I’m not exactly saying that you should bribe your kids, but I kind of am. 😂 If you fame the day as just “taking family photos,” chances are that your family members will not be excited about it. (And less likely to cooperate and smile!) If, however, you plan things out well and hype it up as a super fun family day, you have a chance. ;) For example:
- 8 a.m.: Holiday breakfast at home
- 10 a.m.: Family photos
- 12 p.m.: Lunch at a fun restaurant
- 2 p.m.: Ice skating
- 4 p.m.: Hot chocolates and cupcakes at a local bakery
- 5 p.m.: Visit to the book store (Everyone gets a new book!)
- 6 p.m.: Pizza and a movie at home
I’m sorry, but what kid wouldn’t agree to this and be a good sport about it?! Even Emma, who’s two years old, was game when we told her that we were going to the book store afterwards.
Do a test run with your spouse (or dog)
Most of us don’t operate cameras on a daily basis, so familiarize or re-familiarize yourself with your gear ahead of time. Bonus points for doing a test run with a subject. Spouses and pets are great, but you can also use inanimate objects, as they’ll never put up a fight, haha. If you don’t shoot regularly, a test run can boost your confidence and help you identify potential problems/issues. (For example, when I was scouting locations last week, I realized that one of my potential spots had some drainage issues, which would have made for wet and muddy feet. Glad I avoided that!)
Learn how to get the blurry background
The out-of-focus background is called “bokeh,” and it’s achieved by changing the aperture settings on your camera. Using a fast lens with wide aperture capabilities (f/1.6 to f/3.2) is preferred, but don’t worry if you aren’t working with one. The majority of cameras allow you to control the depth of field to some degree. If you’re a newbie, simply set your camera to “aperture priority,” and go with a wide aperture. The camera will do the rest for you!
Btw: A wide aperture = low number. Kind of counterintuitive, but f/3.2 is wider than f/5.6, for example, and therefore f/3.2 will give you more depth of field. Keep in mind that if your aperture is too wide, getting your subjects in focus can be challenging. For example, when I shoot people at f/1.2, I often find that their noses are in focus but everything is else is blurry. It’s a cool effect when shooting objects close up, but it’s too much depth of field for portraits. Instead, I normally shoot people between f/1.6 and f/3.2. Find your sweet spot!
Learn how to capture moving children and pets
Young children and pets are particularly difficult to capture, as they have trouble sitting still. But that’s okay! As I mentioned, my favorite photos are the candid ones; the ones that are more true to life. To capture Emma and Noodle’s quick movements, I use a fast shutter speed, which is another term for “exposure time.”
Think about the shutter as a curtain that’s in front of the camera sensor. When you click the button, that curtain is pulled back for a certain amount of time and then closed. The longer it’s open, the blurrier that moving subjects will be. If it’s opened for a very short amount of time, you likely won’t have much (or any) motion blur.
When shooting Emma and Noodle, I ideally go with a shutter speed between 1/800 and 1/8,000 of a second, and then snap as quickly as possible so I don’t miss great moments. Of course, shooting with a fast shutter speed is difficult to do when in low-light situations, as a quick shutter = less exposure time and therefore darker pics. So I make up for that with a wider aperture (which is great, since that achieves bokeh!) and a higher ISO (or the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light). Doing so brightens the photos back up.
Again, if you’re a newbie, simply select “Shutter Priority” and set the shutter speed. The camera will handle the aperture and ISO settings for you! Just make sure to snap as quickly as you can, so you don’t miss any of those smiles or cute moments. There will likely be 100 photos you end up trashing, but a couple of gems that you’ll treasure forever.
Mix up the groupings, but keep it quick
Do not torture your subjects! A photoshoot should take no more than 10-15 minutes, so know which shots you want ahead of time, and bang ’em out quickly. I usually shoot in order of difficulty, with most challenging first:
- Group family shot: Mommy, Daddy, Emma and Noodle (if she’s with us)
- Emma with Mommy
- Daddy with Emma
- Emma with Noodle
- Emma on her own
- Mommy and Daddy together
Of course, you do NOT have to do all of these combinations. Admittedly, I’m a psychopath and like having a lot of options. ;) If I were in your shoes, though, I’d probably just take a pic of the kids and call it a day. But I completely understand if you want the whole family together, too!
Note: If kids are being difficult, I’ve seen some great holiday cards featuring separate portraits. (Three pics in a row on the front of the card, for example.) And hey: You can always go with humor. A friend of mine sent a card last year with her two littles who were clearly throwing tantrums, with the caption “Well, we tried.” It was hilarious, something I thought everyone could relate to, and one of my faves!
Employ a friend or a tripod/self-timer for group photos
Those group photos can be difficult. If you have a friend who’s willing to take the picture for you, go with said friend, and profusely thank him/her. If you don’t, or don’t want to trouble someone, use a tripod and self timer. The Amazon Basics one is cheap and gets the job done, but I recently upgraded to this one because I wanted something a little sturdier. We use this remote, which is $8 and works right out of the box with Canon DSLRs. No setup required; simply focus on your subjects, set your camera to the self-timer, join the group, and click! (If you don’t have the remote, you’ll have to run… which totally works! It’s just a little more stressful.) This is the tripod we currently use, but we used to have this ultra-affordable one, and it’s great.
Consider composition
Again, photos do not need to be completely posed, with faces smiling at the camera. But do a quick Pinterest search and notice how the best group shots usually have the tallest people in the middle with shorter subjects surrounding them or slightly in front of them. This can translate to babies being held; kids on stools, boxes or crates; or kids hugging parents’ legs or holding their hands. Save a few favorite Pins to your phone for inspiration in case you get stuck!
Embrace candid shots
Some of my favorite ways to get kids to act natural, smile and laugh are:
- Telling them to whisper secrets to each other.
- Having them hug each other.
- Having them tickle each other.
- Asking them to laugh as loudly as they can.
- Having them play a game, and giving out prizes. (Non-chocolate candy works great!)
- Making a complete fool out of yourself. (In truth, I make Mitch do this since I’m usually taking the photos.)
- Having them jump up and down. (Or jumping with them in your arms if they’re little!)
- Having a list of cheesy jokes ready.
- Putting them on your shoulders or giving them piggy back rides.
Use props
Props make photos feel extra special, and they also give kids something to do. Holiday favorites include:
- Wrapped presents
- A giant wrapped box that kids can stand inside
- Christmas crackers (Capture their surprise as they go off!)
- Battery-powered lights (But do NOT wrap babies in twinkle lights.)
- Faux snow (Have them throw it up into the air)
- Santa hats
- Classic Christmas books, like “The Polar Express.” Just my personal favorite; there are so many other great ones!
- Blankets
- Signs
- Wreaths
- Garland
- Ornaments
- Mistletoe
Consider bringing treats
Bribery at its finest. Just make sure it’s not chocolate, as that can wreck an outfit very quickly. Christmas sugar cookies are my favorite because they double as props!
Change up your shooting angle
Shoot from above, shoot from below, shoot from the side. Shoot portraits, shoot their feet, shoot their middles, and shoot their hands in each other’s hands. Get creative!
If all else fails, use a selfie stick
Kids love seeing the photos in real time, and they love it even more when you let them take turns clicking the button. Make it a competition to see who can take the best photo, and you’ll likely end up with a bunch of keepers! (Also, newer iPhones allow you to digitally adjust the aperture after you take the pic, which is a game-changer! You don’t need a fancy camera to get a good shot.)
Be confident that you captured something awesome
Walking away from the experience, remember that there are likely a handful of photos that will work–no matter how poorly the shoot went. ;) Honestly, I didn’t think that this shoot went particularly well, and I was so surprised to see how many keepers I had on my camera card! Like I said before, you don’t need a perfectly posed photo. You don’t even need a photo of everyone together! Embrace the collage holiday card or the humorous one.
“Well, we tried.” ;)
Do you have other tips for capturing great holiday family photos?! Let me know in the comment section below and I’ll be sure to add them to the post. Thanks, guys!
Shop the post:
Kelly’s Outfit: Tartan Ruffled Shirt (Size down. This one is adorable, too!), Knotted Pearl Necklace (Here’s the traditional multi-strand pearl necklace. Also love this sparkly holiday necklace!), Bow Coat (Runs TTS — I always wear a size 2 in J.Crew Factory coats, and that’s what I’m wearing here!), Similar Red Block Heel Pumps, Pearl Earrings, Gigi Pants (The velvet pull-on pants are back in stock, btw! Order now before they sell out!) // Mitch’s Outfit: Plaid Shirt, Reindeer Sweater, Corduroys, Topcoat (And love the pea coat!) // Emma’s Outfit: Plaid Skirt (Here’s the dress!), Toddler Cocoon Coat, Striped Turtleneck (Have you seen the bow sweater?! It comes in women’s sizes, too… and there’s a sweater dress version as well!) c/o
(Note: Tons of sales going on at J.Crew Factory right now! When you buy one clearance item, you’ll get one free… and you can take 40-60 percent off “wear now” styles (like my bow coat, camel blazer, ruffled plaid skirt, ruffled houndstooth skirt, super comfy bow flats and knotted pearl necklace!) + sweaters under $35!Looking for the perfect gift? Check out the new One-Stop Gift Shop.)
Holiday outfits for the whole family:
Women
Men
Girls
Boys
This post was sponsored by J.Crew Factory, but all opinions are my own. As always, thank you so much for supporting the partnerships that keep Kelly in the City up and running!