Did you know Santa is taking reservations for portrait shots right now? According to an email I received from my local mall (on the day after Halloween), my young daughter can be one of the first to pose with St. Nick in all of his holiday splendor.
You know, just in case we want to bypass the crowds that wind through the mall post-Black Friday.
Needless to say, I didn’t respond to the offer. In fact, I’m not sure I will be featuring any traditional portrait shots in our family’s annual Christmas greeting this year.
This summer I saw a photo card option which featured a collection of unconventional portrait poses that I would love to duplicate with my own family members. I want our portraits to have a unique look this time around. Hopefully, our holiday card will stand out from the rest of the pack. However, since I refuse to allow my kid to get a funky hair cut, wear make-up or get any of her body parts pierced or tattooed, I will have to rely on my modest picture-taking skills to spice up the seasonal shots.
One of the portrait shots that caught my attention on the photo card I saw this summer featured a sharp focus on the models’ eyes. All eyes are uniquely shaped, but rarely do portrait shots highlight their distinctive curves. By shooting close-up shots which draw attention to appealing facial features or bone structure you can really make a picture pop.
Another tip I garnered from the sample card was to keep props to a minimum. If you have good-looking subjects, your focus should be on them, not a Christmas tree, stocking or wildly wrapped present. By keeping the photo’s composition simple you can show off your models’ most attractive features. Too many props, especially in a holiday picture, can be distracting and subtract from the emotion you are trying to convey.
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