Guest Post By Sarah Coffey Photography
Let’s be honest with ourselves…all we really want are Instagram-worthy photos of our kids on Christmas morning. We’ve spent the entire holiday season shopping, wrapping, cooking, baking, cleaning, prepping for parties, and we just want some decent snapshots to show for it. But of course, kids don’t always cooperate, and neither does life, and sometimes…well…we just get frustrated.
If this sounds like you, maybe I can help. While I can’t guarantee that your kids won’t wake up grumpy Christmas morning or that your cinnamon rolls will look like the ones on Pinterest, I can give you some tips to help put you on the right track towards some great Christmas day photos. Here are my 5 tips for documenting your holiday well.
1. Be Prepared
If you want to be one step ahead of your kiddos Christmas morning, you’re gonna have to make like a Boy Scout. I would encourage you to think ahead about what kind of photos you’re looking for. Do you want more formal poses in front of the tree to show off those new Christmas jammies? You might want to re-do their hair. Are you into more of a lifestyle approach? See if you can’t catch the them waking up in their beds that morning. If you know what you want ahead of time, it’ll be easier for you to nudge the kids in that direction while still having a great morning. (Coffee also helps with this.)
2. Remove the distractions
This is a big part of my philosophy on portraits in general, and it sort of goes along with #1, but pre-scanning your living room for items you don’t want in the background of your images will put you one more step ahead on Christmas morning (e.g. That rainbow colored vase your aunt Margaret gave you might be a family heirloom, but you definitely don’t want it sticking out of the back of the kids’ heads.)
3. Try another angle
Most of us snap photos of the kids opening presents from the comfort of our couches. Try breaking out of your comfort zone and look for different angles. Getting down on the floor and taking a photo that is eye-level with your child, or using the branches of your tree to frame the foreground will add interest to your photos.
4. You need LOTS of light
When I first started photography, it amazed me just how much light is needed to create a photograph. The more light you have to work with, the better. So open those curtains and blinds! You’re going to need it. If you don’t have a lot of window light in your living area, you’re iPhone has a handy little trick: Open your camera and point it at the scene. Tap on the area you want to focus on and a box appears there with a sun icon beside it. Slide that little sun icon up or down to adjust the brightness/darkness of your photo. Ta-da! Even the darkest of living rooms don’t stand a chance against you!
5. Don’t be afraid to pull out the props
There are so many fun things you can add in on Christmas day, and the kids don’t even have to know you’re staging great photos. Let them have some hot chocolate in their Christmas PJs, play a fun board game or get them in the kitchen to help with a batch of cookies. All of these are great photo-ops and they make the day extra special!
BONUS TIP: New Years Cards are totally a thing now
Okay, this one may seem unrelated, but hear me out. This is for the mom who struggles with getting Holiday cards out on time. You know who you are, and I’m not going to name names or shame you because…well…I’ve been there. Some years you get them out late…some years you throw your hands up and ditch them all together, only to give yourself a guilt trip when you get your fellow mom’s picture perfect (pardon the pun) card in the mail. You know, the one that makes it onto your fridge and fills you with envy every time you go to grab the milk?
If you’re still reading this and not frantically trying to book a photographer, let me put your mind at ease, because New Years cards are quickly becoming an acceptable alternative to Christmas cards. These cards can be similar to their christmas-cousins, but sometimes include fun photos of things you did that year, or even an “update” letter that talks about the highlights. The best part is, sending New Years cards will give you more time to schedule a professional portrait session for your family. This way, you can make sure that your cards look amazing and reflect the personality of your clan, sans all the holiday stress. The kids can even wear those new outfits Grandma bought them for Christmas! I’m telling you people, this is a win-win.
In case you need a bigger voice of authority, the Huffington Post did an article on this very subject:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-years-cards_n_6350114
So with all that being said, I hope you find yourself well equipped to capture whatever holiday memories come your way. Remember, these days are fleeting, so after you’re done taking those picture-perfect photos, don’t forget to cuddle your littles for a while. Happy Holidays!!
Sarah
BIO:
Sarah Coffey is a photographer based out of Morganton, NC. When she’s not taking photos, you can find her jumping head first into a project for her church, traveling, and exploring new restaurants with her husband. Sarah specializes in black and white portraiture, and is also available for everything from natural light sessions and events, to product and food photography. Find her on her website www.sarahcoffeyphotography.com or Facebook and Instagram @sarah.coffey.photography for more info.