It’s the annual holiday event that camera-shy adults and squirmy kids absolutely dread: Christmas card photo shoots.
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Time to don your holiday best and say “Cheese!” for the camera.
If your family is anything like mine, then gathering for a semi-formal photo session can be enough to drive you to the spiked punch bowl… more than once… in less than an hour.
Still, the long Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times of the year to snap a holiday photo, since it’s one of the few times that entire families are in the same place at the same time.
If you are planning to hold a photo shoot this weekend, consider the following tips to ensure the event is picture-perfect:
Location: Scout out your location a day or two in advance. Choose an area that is well lit. Ideally, the location should be flooded with natural light, but if you are forced to shoot indoors, be sure to find the right mixture of artificial and natural light, so you don’t have to rely on your camera’s flash.
Color Coordinate: I’m not suggesting that everyone should be dressed identically, but it helps to choose one color tone as your theme. Find a color family (e.g. blue or ecru) and have everyone in the photo dress accordingly. In addition, it’s important to choose color tones that will complement the photo’s background. For instance, lighter tones work well against darker backdrops.
Arrangement: Once you find the right location and agree on a color to wear, you can turn your attention to the arrangement of your subjects. If you are shooting a large group you will want to find different vertical levels for everyone. Start by lining up people to determine spacing. Each subject should get the same amount of space in the finished shot. You can accomplish this by choosing an “anchor” of the photo. The “anchor” is usually the largest person or someone in the family who may need assistance or needs to be in a comfortable position. Once you choose an “anchor,” arrange other family members around him or her. If you are arranging subjects outdoors, be sure the sun is behind them. Doing so will add depth to the shot, as well as to help avoid squinting.
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