The holidays approach quickly and for a lot of families it’s the time to get everyone together to take a family photo for a holiday card, so I thought I would share some tips and ideas for making the family photo fun and festive.
Color Scheme
When it comes to planning your holiday photo think I start by thinking about a color scheme. Remember the rule of 3 tends to works best. We tend to go with Red, Green and White, but Blue, Silver and maybe a pop of color is more your style for a wintery feel. Maybe you would rather pull in a pattern like a buffalo check, plaid, or snowflakes. There’s also the idea of everyone wearing holiday pajamas or maybe you all like to rock the ugly sweaters or sweatshirts. Just because you’re coordinating doesn’t mean you have to be matchy-matchy. It’s nice to let the kids show their personality a little sometimes, big and small.
Location
Location is also something to think about. Maybe you want to showcase your home, inside or out. We’ve done everything from the front door, to the back yard. For us, it’s all about getting the photo done fast and as easily as possible. We’ve set up a tripod and used the timer, or called a friend to come over for 15 minutes to snap some shots, or hired a professional to take some fun ones. Don’t forget about using your town or local holiday market. Walking through a lovely decorated downtown or even a Christmas tree farm can be the perfect backdrop. It’s whatever works best for you and your family.
Make it fun
Don’t be afraid of props. It could be a cute little sign or banner, or you could add some fun blankets or read some holiday stories. Maybe you want to wrap everyone up in holiday lights. I’ve seen some very create holiday cards over the years so the possibilities are endless.
More than anything a holiday card photo shouldn’t be stressful. You are sharing your family with family and friends. And remember: It doesn’t have to be a holiday photo! If the photo you took on vacation in July with the selfie stick encompasses your family, then use that.
Does your family take a holiday photo for holiday cards?
