DIY Family Photos Like a Pro

Holiday photos are ones you'll look back on each year and cherish. These are the pictures you send out as Christmas cards and post to your Instagram and Facebook 

pages. Each year, taking family photos for the holiday offers a chance to showcase your loved ones. Holiday family photos become great snapshots of each stage in your life - giving you the opportunity to look back over the years and see how children have grown, how styles have changed, the excitement of welcoming new additions to your family and most importantly the joy each person has brought over the years. With fantastic quality images on most cell phones and access to great digital cameras, even a novice can take some wonderful, professional quality photos. Rather than spend a great deal of money on a professional sitting, a DIY photo shoot can capture the essence of your family. This can be a fun project for you and the entire family. The great thing about your own photo shoot is that you're not paying by the hour. You can try as many different backdrops and ideas as you like. If you're not sure what kinds of photos you might like, do a little research and see what other families have done. Besides the camera, there are some supplies that will help make your photos more polished and professional looking. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Lighting. Any photographer will tell you that the right lighting makes all the difference. While you won't have professional lighting equipment at home, you can still play with different ways to enhance the lighting for your photos. Using natural light can be excellent, whether outside or inside near a large window. If there's snow on the ground, that can also add to the effect. You can add lamps and maneuver or remove shades to add more light to the subject. Another idea that a lot of people use for holiday photos - Christmas lights! Using different size and style Christmas lights in your photography can add just the right festive touch.

Backdrop. The backdrop might be elaborate or very simple. You could use a favorite room of your home or set the stage using blankets or fabric as a backdrop. You could also try using large rolls of Christmas-themed wrapping paper and bows. Another great thing about taking photos during the holidays - you likely already have a ton of holiday decorations which can serve as the perfect backdrop for your photos.

Props. If you have a theme or vision for your photos, props can bring it all together. This might include favorite Christmas books or a cup of cocoa and cookies for Santa. You might take photos of children waiting by the fireplace, or the family all wrapped up in Christmas lights and garland. You might stage reindeer tracks on the lawn, or use your own tree as the perfect prop for a photo of your family decorating the home together.

Costumes & Clothing. Depending on your vision, you should get all of the outfits and costumes together ahead of time. This might be as simple as matching pajamas for the family, or everyone wearing their formal holiday outfit. Looking to add a little fun to your photo, consider dressing up as your favorite holiday themed characters or wearing matching reindeer antlers or Santa hats.

Location. Your own home can provide a great backdrop for holiday photos. You might all gather around the tree, on the stairs, or even set up props in an area to make the setting look like Santa's workshop or a winter wonderland. You might also choose a favorite outdoor location for photos. Remember outside natural light can be excellent for good quality pictures. You might take family pictures sledding, building a snowman, or picking out your holiday tree. One thing your DIY photo shoot will have that a professional photography session can't offer is your own unique personality. Some photographers may be great at working with your family, but the extra person will change the dynamic a bit. You're far more likely to get great, authentic photos when just the family is relaxing together and having fun with your custom photo shoot!