Between the chilly temps and the fractious kids, your annual family photos can bring on the tantrums (from adults and kids alike). After a decade of doing holiday photos for my own family and others, too, I've learned a thing or two about how to get a great picture (and how to keep dad from losing his cool altogether).
You don't need fancy equipment or tons of props to get a really great holiday photo. These are my best pro tips for DIY pics you'll be proud to share on your holiday card and online, too.
Don't Try to Get Fancy With Your Background
Look, I totally get how awesome it would be to have your holiday photos taken in a snowy woods with everyone looking joyful and jolly. I'm not saying you can't do that (though obviously, that depends on the weather and where you live). I'm just saying the background actually matters way less than you think.
Your family is the focus of this picture, and the job of the background is actually to keep all eyes on your family. And the best way to get a photo of your family looking happy and cute? Put them somewhere they're comfortable and only minimally distracted by other kids, squirrels, the nearby playground, you name it. Think your own back yard, your living room, or anywhere else people feel chill.
Want a background that says "holiday" without being a hassle? Look for literally any pine trees around your house or neighborhood. They make a great backdrop with a festive feel, and you don't have to go far to find them.
Get in Close (Really Close)
If you really don't want to worry about your background, just don't even have one. One of my favorite ways to get a great holiday photo fast is to get in super close and make the family's faces the whole point of the picture.
You can do this in color or black and white. If you want to give it more of a holiday feel, there's no shame in adding some Santa hats. It's easy, quick, and always looks awesome.
Put Minimal Effort Into Your Holiday Family Photo Outfits
I totally get the temptation to create those curated, perfect outfits for your family in your holiday photo. I've done it many times. And while it really does look awesome if everyone matches, you've got a lot to think about already. I can't tell you how many times I've seen perfectly dressed toddlers with lots of snot or food on their faces.
My pro tip is to spend less time worrying about the perfect outfits and more time just having fun (and also cleaning snotty faces).
That said, do avoid any shirt with writing or graphics. And skip the loud prints and plaid, since these can clash next to each other. Instead, just go for solid neutrals with maybe one fun color thrown in.
DIY Your Holiday Photo, but Do Bring in a Friend
You can totally take a do-it-yourself approach to holiday pictures, but don't plan to do it all yourself. Here's the thing: you really can't be behind the camera or phone taking the photos and in front of it at the same time. Yes, you can use a self-timer or remote, and I've done this with my own family. The risk, though? You with a stressed-out look on your face because you don't know if it took the photo at the moment you wanted.
Instead, ask a friend or family member to step in here. In addition to being way less of a stress bomb, this gives your kids something to look at in the direction of the camera. That's a fairly big deal.
Break Out the Potty Talk to Get Some Smiles
Speaking of keeping kids (and immature adults) engaged, potty humor is totally your friend. Get your best bathroom-themed dad jokes ready and break them out just before you take the pictures. I promise it will look like your kids are thinking about the magic of giving, and no one will know that they're really thinking about poop.
Wait for a Cloudy Day to Take Your Holiday Photos
Good day, sunshine, right? No. Not right. Or at least not reliably right.
You can get great holiday family photos just before sunset on a sunny day, but if you want to make this easy and painless (trust me, you do), you'll go for a cloudy day. When it's cloudy, the light is super flattering and doesn't have any weird shadows that make it look like your four-year-old has a mustache or your partner's eyebrows meet in the middle. Overcast light just makes everyone look better.
Even better, taking your holiday family photos on a cloudy day means you don't have to worry about how bright the sun is or where there might be some shade. Instead, you prioritize a time of day that works for you. Think after people have eaten and before they need a nap.
Grab a Wreath for an Instant Holiday Prop
If you want your photos to have a Christmas or holiday feel, a super simple prop is the easiest way to do that. Do not, I repeat, do not try to wrap yourselves in strings of Christmas lights (it usually doesn't look that cool unless you've got pro equipment and pro photo editing skills).
The answer here is the humble wreath. Have the littlest member of your family hold it or have kids put their heads in the center like it's a picture frame. You can even have your whole family hold it. It's instantly festive, and you probably have one on your front door anyway.
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Embrace Imperfection, Especially When You've Got Littles
Have you ever looked back through your family photos from growing up and realized that your favorite ones were the pictures where people aren't exactly posing? Crying kids or those almost awkward candid moments actually make some of the very best family holiday photos.
So if your kids aren't cooperating or you're (heaven forbid) trying to include your dog in the picture, everyone will be happier if you let it be what it will be. Your life isn't perfect, and no one really expects your family photo to look like it is. And the real secret here is that those super real photos will actually end up being your favorites in years to come.
I like to get in and get out with these pictures — aim to keep your photo session to half an hour or less (ideally, way less).
Pick Your Holiday Card Design Before You Take Pictures
If you're taking your holiday family photo with the plan to put it on a Christmas card, it can actually help a lot to choose your card design first. That way, you'll know whether you want one photo or more than one, if it should be vertical or landscape orientation, and whether you need to leave some extra space for writing that might cover some of the photo.
Related: 90 Jolly Christmas Captions That'll Get You in the Spirit
Minimize the Stress and Maximize the Smiles
No matter what you see on Instagram or Pinterest, getting the perfect photo of your family is really about removing as much stress from the process as you can. Don't take too much of your own time or sanity planning and prepping. Instead, just let it be real and be you. Your friends and family will love it.
