It’s the most wonderful time of the year… as long as you are not in charge of shooting the family photo for the annual holiday greeting card.
Having to come up with a decent shot that doesn’t make your family look like a motley crew isn’t easy, especially if you are working with a group of antsy kids, who rather have their fingers turn into stalks of broccoli, than pose for a holiday picture.
If you are looking for ways to preserve your sanity during the dreaded holiday card photo shoot, then consider the following tips:
1. Don’t shoot when your kids are tired or hungry. Wait until they are well-fed and well-rested before dressing them in their Sunday best and forcing them to smile for an hour straight.
2. Select outfits that match. Your family members’ clothes don’t have to be identical, but they should complement the entire group. Ideally, you want the outfits to be in the same tonal ranges, so that no single individual stands out. Color coordinating outfits is vital, so that one family member doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
3. Consider your background. Christmas trees and snowmen are excellent props for holiday photos. However, if you plan to use a large prop in the picture, then consider the colors your family members are wearing. For example, light colors are appropriate against a white or pastel background, but don’t look very good against black backdrops.
4. Skin tone makes a difference. If you are very light or dark complected, then you’ll want to really consider the colors you choose to wear in your group photo. For example, a family with very dark complexions should not wear light color clothing for a holiday card photo. Doing so will wash out the outfits and make faces look darker than they really are. You don’t want to create a stark contrast between your clothes and the color of your skin.
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