Taking a Christmas card photo is hard work. You have to get everyone dressed in complimentary outfits, get them to smile for an extended period of time, and then choose a photo that everyone looks presentable in. The whole process is quite taxing. However, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your Christmas card is perfect and original.
1. Embrace traditional symbols.
Santa hats never go out of style. You can put them on babies or have 20 year-olds wear them.
Classic symbols are easy for everyone to identify and can be enhanced or downplayed. Want to do a full Santa suit? Sounds Great! How about jeans, t-shirts, and Santa hats? Seems like a great Christmas card to me!
2. Show your good side.
Play up your good qualities and features. Maybe you have a side of your face that you think looks better. Maybe you want to evince how angelic you look in white.
Whatever it is, make sure that your best features are portrayed on your card. For some, this is the only time they will see you during the year. So, make sure you look good.
3. Think outside the box.
Do not be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. Not every Christmas card has to be taken in white shirts and khaki pants on a beach.
You are free to use your Christmas card to express yourself however you wish. Do not be a cookie-cutter family. Be extraordinary.
4. Commemorate the year you have had.
You probably don’t talk very often to the people you are sending cards to. Therefore, they are probably very interested in what you have been up to.
Add a few little sentences about your life and recent events. This does not need to be a full-fledged newsletter about your family; but, a little information about your life is always welcome.
5. If you don’t want to be too eclectic then stick to the basics.
Sometimes being creative is hard. That’s okay!
Just because a Christmas card has been done before does not mean that it is a bad one. Even if the pose or idea is so old it’s biblical, it may be perfect for your family.
6. Show off your face.
Brush that hair away from your eyes. Keep your entire face in the frame.
Christmas cards are used as a way to present yourself to your closest family and friends. No one wants a picture where they cannot see how you look.
Exception: Covering your face is only acceptable if you are two years old and gripping a toy hammer is the only way to stop you from crying.
7. Work with levels.
Nothing is more boring than a photo of people standing in a straight line.
Spice up you photo by changing the pose. Have some sitting in chairs and others standing. Maybe even prop someone up on a box to elevate his or her height.
8. Don’t be afraid to play around with Photoshop.
Photoshop is not a bad thing. While you should by no means use it to adjust your appearance (this is a Christmas card not a Tinder profile), editing your photo can make a simple Christmas card much more interesting.
Change around the coloring or add in a different backdrop. But remember, you want to be portrayed in your best light without changing the essence of your person.
9. Pick a good location.
Where you take your picture is crucial. You want a place that has good lighting and an appealing backdrop.
Maybe this means taking a trip to the local park or even driving two hours to the closest beach. Find a place that matches what you wish to portray in your Christmas card.
10. Dress the part.
As aforementioned, this photo is one of the few times some relatives or friends may see you in the year. Therefore, make sure you are dressed nicely.
You don’t want to look back at old Christmas cards years later and think, “What was I wearing?”
11. Have fun with it.
Taking a Christmas card is stressful and tensions can run high as you attempt to take the perfect picture. So, have fun.
Be playful with your family and keep the atmosphere light. If things get tense, imagine you are in your happy place: relaxing on a beach or maybe riding a sled down a snowy hill.
12. Keep it simple, yet meaningful.
Sometimes, simplicity is the best way to go. Focus on the most basic virtues of Christmas time: love, happiness, family, etc.
Sincerity is often the most important.
13. Compliment each other’s outfits.
While you do not need to go all out in matching outfits, it is nice to have some complimentary aspects in your family’s clothing choices.
Maybe you want to wear the same color or same style of shirt. Whatever it is, make sure you look cohesive as a unit.
14. Pretend you are happy to be stuck next to your family.
The close proximity needed for a good Christmas card photo can be a little grating on your nerves. But, just act as if you like your family for the ten minutes it takes for you to capture a good photo.
You can go back to avoiding your family after the photo so at least pretend you are happy to be with them in the photo. It’s not like you are tied together or anything!
15. Don’t forget to smile!
Christmas is a happy time! Don’t let the stress of a taking a photo take away from that Christmas spirit.
Make sure that smile reaches your eyes. This photo is forever!
16. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Yes, you do want your Christmas card to be impressive and professional. However, don’t let that compromise your natural attitude.
Straight-faced family photos are a thing of the past. No one is perfect and neither is your Christmas card. Show off your goofy and fun self, not just the polished version you want to show to the world.
17. Get creative with items you have around the house.
Professional photographers always have fun props to use. You can find props and added decorations for your picture in your own home! You probably have a tree somewhere in your house. Use that as a backdrop.
Maybe include a wreath or other Christmas decorations in your picture. Maybe you have giant marquee letters that spell JOY lying around your house. Throw those in!
No matter how you dress or pose for your Christmas card, remember that this is supposed to be a celebration of your year. It is a time for you to get together with your family and show your relatives and friends how you have grown. Christmas cards are mile markers in your life. Treat them as a fun activity and not an annoying task you have to complete.
