how to get better holiday pictures of your kids

So you know the tutorial that was written by me and featured on the Nickelodeon Parents Connect website?

Well, I just wanted to share the actual unedited tips I wrote for taking better holiday pictures of your kids.

I’ve you’ve been following my I Heart Faces series {part one, part two}, then you’ve seen most of these already, but they are good reminders, especially now when we seem to take more pictures than normal. And if you follow these tips, your pictures will stand out from the normal holiday pictures you’ll see all over Facebook next week. ;)

Tip 1: Take pictures on their schedule. Avoiding scheduling a photo session right before nap/bedtime or mealtimes. If you must, then give them a snack or lollipop.

Tip 2: Use props. Kids tend to be more relaxed and natural when they’re holding something in their hands. Around the holiday season, this can be candy canes, stockings, non-breakable ornaments or a present.

Tip 3: Give them downtime. If your kids don’t want to be photographed, don’t force it. Not only will you not get any good pictures, but you and your kids will get stressed out for no reason.

Tip 4: Use natural light rather than a flash. Open up those blinds and curtains and let the light in your house, then stand next to the window and aim your camera into the room. Take kids outside for family pictures. If they’re decorating cookies, sit them at the table next to a window.

Tip 5: Be silly, act crazy, make faces, sing funny songs, make weird noises. Do whatever it takes to get your kids to look at you and smile.

Tip 6: Don’t say, "Say cheese!" because when you take a picture of a child saying the word "cheese," it doesn’t look natural. If you can’t get a comfortable smile out of them, don’t worry. Natural images of a child not smiling is much prettier than an image of a fake smile.

Tip 7: Get down on their level. Squatting or sitting to take a picture of your child is a much more flattering angle than pointing the camera down while standing over them.

Tip 8: Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal. Get pictures of their hands unwrapping a present, or a close-up of their face while licking a candy cane, or their arm stuffed in their stocking pulling treasures out.

Tip 9: Take pictures of the everyday moments like hanging ornaments on the tree, putting sprinkles on gingerbread cookies, or writing a letter to Santa. They don’t have to be posed and looking at the camera to get a great holiday picture.

Tip 10: Take a lot of pictures. In this day and age of digital cameras, there’s really no reason to scrimp. Take as many as you think you need and then take 5 more. The more pictures you take, the more chances you have to get a great image.