How to get the best pictures on Christmas morning and tell your holiday story
It’s easy to get caught up in a rush of excitement on Christmas morning. So caught up, that we often don’t think about the pictures we’re taking until well after. This year, a little bit of planning can go a long way in sharing your family’s holiday story. Smilebox has teamed up with professional photographer, Lisi Wolf, to share insider tips for capturing the excitement on Christmas morning and other important holiday moments. Below, Lisi gives a few simple ideas to ensure that you won’t miss a beat this holiday season!
Prep the Photos, Ditch the Chaos
To truly capture the essence of the season, it is nice to get detailed pictures of ornaments, wrapped presents, the set dinner table, the tree and other decorations.
These pictures can easily be taken at any time, so don’t worry about getting them done in the midst of all the chaos on Christmas Day. Instead, take a few minutes a few days before Christmas to capture these shots. Try to pick a time when natural light is maximized for best results. Stand with your back facing the window to get the best lighting.
Instead of focusing on the whole tree, one of Lisi’s favorite detail shots is a close up of one of her children’s hands touching a special ornament on the tree. This kind of photograph captures the spirit of the holiday without being the same old “tree picture.” Don’t worry about getting photos of the tree top to bottom, focus on the details and the mind can fill in the rest.
A Day in the Life
Capture the spirit of the holiday from start to finish. Take pictures of your kids and family on Christmas Eve getting ready for bed, putting out cookies for Santa, etc.
Get close up pictures of decorations, stuffed animals, and notes to Santa. Remember that you are trying to tell a story with your photos, so make sure to capture all of the intricate details that help to tell that story- even if it doesn’t directly read ‘holiday.’
On Christmas morning, make sure to get pictures before the opening of presents commences. Snap a photo as kids are waking up or rushing down the stairs.
The Big Moment
When your kids finally reach the moment they’ve been waiting for, you want to be there to capture all of the excitement that Santa has created for your children.
Try to get photos from different angles, like taking a picture from above while your child is looking down at a present. Also experiment with side angles, and taking pictures while lying on the ground.
You can also vary your photos by making sure to get different combinations of people in them. Instead of focusing every picture on your kids opening presents, have Mom or Dad in the shot as well. If one person in your family seems always to be the photographer, make sure to pass off the camera and get in a few shots too!
Don’t forget that this special morning is not just about your kids and presents! If you have special family traditions like hot chocolate or a unique breakfast, make sure to capture that. Also remember to get pictures of the whole family, to share the spirit of togetherness. Take a picture of everyone in pajamas, and other things that makes your family special!
Now that you’ve captured these special holiday moments, you’ve got a story to tell and share with loved ones. What better way to share it than in a Smilebox of course?!
Check out our holiday scrapbooks, photo albums, collages and slideshows. We especially love Winter Wonders, below!
6 Comments
The photo tips from a pro photog were great ones
Thank you for advise about hand on ornament, I have 4 gandchildren under the age of 5 and try to take special shots. Unfortunately we live in South Africa and it is very hot here over this period so we dont have the snow and cosiness you have. We are mostly outside, braaing and swimming. So most of our Christmas photos include the pool.
I am offical photographer and have realised since Oct I am not at one function. Will have to change that.
Do you have “clip art” or borders that we can copy and paste around our photos?
Why when I try to print at home do my photos come out looking like they have been taken through gauze?
This was a great article! THANKS for all the wonderful insight and suggestions. I will definately put them into prcatice this year. I alsways seem to do the “FOCUS” on the kids and however cute they are it’s just not what I am looking for. I will try to be more creative with angles. I appreciate your advice. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS y’all!
Like the rest of you I am an amateur! I drive my family crazy with poses and pics!! But I do have a suggestion that seems to make OUR holiday GREAT!
My family is in “middle mode” as far as having children! BUT…..I still give everyone a “special ornament” which has an attached engraved tag that states the “why” they are getting it this year! It’s turned into everyone’s favorite gift! Kind of a more mature version of a “stocking”!
The anticipation and focusing IN on their huge smiles or laughter is what it is all about! I have never seen more candid happy and genuine smiles than when they open these gifts.
YOU all should try it! HOLD the camera steady and just wait! IT’s perfect!