How to Take Christmas Card Photos

Guide Note: Getting your family to pose for the annual Christmas card photo can be frustrating, but it doesn't have to be. Our guide on How to Take Christmas Card Photos will provide you with the steps necessary to capture an image you can cherish season after season.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • Assembling your family for the annual Christmas card photo can be rife with frustration: Grandpa's tired, the kids are cranky, and you've driven over an hour to find the perfect location. This year, use the following steps to take a great photo in which everyone looks happy and bright-eyed instead of red-eyed and Grinch-like.

Step 1: Be Realistic

  • If you don't over-complicate the holiday photo, it will be easier to capture.
  1. Focus on what's important: "I just want to see a good, clear view of the people I care about," says Chuck DeLaney, dean of the New York Institute of Photography.
  2. Don't put too much pressure on yourself; sometimes the best shots are the unexpected, spontaneous ones.
  3. If you really have no idea what you're doing with photography, consider hiring a freelance photographer or going to a studio. Ask friends for recommendations.

Step 2: Choose a Location

Consider your background. (Creative commons photo by Jason Zimdars)
Consider your background. (Creative commons photo by Jason Zimdars)
  • Where you take your photograph will set the tone for your card.
  1. Don't choose a background that will be distracting: blazing fires can be tricky, as can the ocean on a bright, windy day.
  2. Beware of obstacles. Avoid including any objects that may end up looking like they're growing out of Aunt Sally's head.
  3. If your location will be outdoors, check the weather and have a backup date in case it won't be favorable. Remember that a really sunny day can be just as difficult as a downpour.
  4. Choosing a location too far away might make for cranky subjects.
  5. Don't restrict your shooting to pre-Christmas. A family vacation creates great opportunities for that year's card. Spontaneous shots will portray genuine emotion, too.
  6. If you have set up a time before Christmas to take the picture, don't feel it has to be Christmas-themed. Going to your favorite beach might be more special than standing in front of an evergreen tree.

Step 3: Decide on the Dress Code

  • Coordinating outfits are a popular choice, but other families prefer a to-each-his-own approach.
  1. If you've decided the crew should match, keep it simple. Too many patterns is distracting. Decide to dress everyone in a white shirt, for example.
  2. The fewer the subjects in your photo, the more coordinated their outfits can be. That is, it's much easier to dress two sisters under the age of seven in the same dress than it is to get your twelve-person clan in that dress.
  3. Red doesn't photograph well.
  4. The dress code may be the only means of expression for your kids. Try to grin and bear it when your teenager insists on wearing those jeans you don't like. Draw the line at t-shirts proclaiming any obscene messages, however.
  5. Use moderation when dressing up animals. Sure, those antlers look cute, but if Spot is truly suffering, don't keep him in them for too long. Think about this from his point of view.

Step 4: Technical Points

Zoom in to tighten your composition. (Creative commons photo by Brian)
Zoom in to tighten your composition. (Creative commons photo by Brian)
  • A few basic points will professionalize your photo.
  1. Consider the light.
  2. Keep the light behind you, the photographer, whether inside or out.
  3. Compose with care. Zoom in to make your family the focal point.
  4. Blur a distracting background by staying close to the subject and having them move forward, away from the background or the wall.
  5. Avoid red eye. Ask subjects to look at the nearest light source immediately before you take your photo. Pupils will shrink, eliminating the chance of red eye.
  6. Take as many shots as your family can suffer. With digital cameras, it doesn't cost you any more to shoot additional pics. Until your battery runs out, that is.

Step 5: It's Not a Marathon

Don't force subjects to stand still for too long. (Creative commons photo by David Shapinsky)
Don't force subjects to stand still for too long. (Creative commons photo by David Shapinsky)
  • An extended photo shoot will make your family dread the Christmas card photo for years to come.
  1. Of course you want the perfect shot, but keep in mind that not everyone wants to pose for hours.
  2. Small children are likely to be especially tough to keep sitting still. Make sure they've had naps beforehand.
  3. Bring some toys to keep kids entertained during any set-up time.
  4. Bring snacks, but nothing to messy. You don't want stains on the Christmas sweaters.
  5. A little reward never hurt anyone; after the photo session, do something fun as a family. This might be the time to get the Christmas tree, or go out for ice cream.
  6. Keep your camera handy all year so you can snap Christmas-card-worthy photos at any time.

Step 6: Final Steps

  • How you print and present your photo will matter.
  1. Be sure to edit your photos if you've used a digital camera to crop, reduce red-eye, or resize your chosen image.
  2. Choose a print shop you trust for this important project. If you're unsure, give a few places a test shot so you can compare your options before making your final order.
  3. Matte or glossy? Again, a few test shots will help you make this decision. Consider how the photo will be presented this season—in a photo frame card, as its own card, as an insert in a traditional card?
  4. If your picture is digital and you're uploading it to a photo-sharing site or online card maker like Shutterfly or Kodak, be sure it meets specifications for resolution and size.
  5. If you have a number of shots to choose from, you might create a collage.
  6. Have fun with all your choices. See our guide on How to Make Christmas Cards for further photo card options and resources.

Resources for How to Take Christmas Card Photos