logging in...
DIY Projects
Holiday Family Photo Recipe
Learn how to take great family photos this holiday with tips from expert photographer, Me Ra Koh.
-
Fun Family Photos
When you think of trying to take your family Holiday Photo, do you feel stress or excited? If you are like most people, especially most moms, you feel super stressed. As the deadline approaches for holiday card companies the pressure is on to get the photo done. As a mom, I don’t look forward to the idea of nagging my kids to cooperate for a holiday picture. So I have found ways to make the experience as successful as possible, whether it’s for my family or my clients. It’s all about a plan. Here are a few of my favorite tips to capturing a great holiday photo that not only looks great, but is FUN!
-
Tip 1: Wear Complementary Colors
Instead of planning a shopping trip for cute kid outfits, have mom wear an outfit she feels beautiful in. Then have everyone else compliment her! (If mom is happy, the whole family is happy…at least in our house!) If there is a mother and daughter, find a way for them to both wear the same color but in different ways. Notice how mom has the lilac cardigan and her daughter has almost the same lilac colored scarf. This strengthens the presence of the ladies in the family. Don’t be afraid of patterns, as long as there isn’t a distracting logo, your good! -
Tip 2: Scout Out a Fun, Creative Location
Before you take your family photo, scout out an interesting location. Look for fun textures, old barns, wheat fields, abandoned buildings, brick, ivy, cement steps, etc. It’s always fun to mix up your family photo shoot with unique backgrounds! -
tip 3: Share the Spotlight
Take turns focusing everyone’s attention on each person in the family. The simple act of everyone turning and giving the youngest daughter a BIG smile brings out the best reactions! And when the middle one, who is a little more shy, is authentic to herself when it’s her turn…what more could you ask for! This is about capturing the story of your beautiful family. -
Tip 4: Keep Smiling As You're Shooting
If the kids see you having fun, they will keep having fun too. Whenever I’m doing a photo shoot with little ones, I make sure I bring high energy to the shoot. I don’t want them to see a stressed face trying to take photos because they will reflect anxious faces back to me. Sometime I grab my focus and then move my face out from behind the camera so they can keep eye contact with me and see my smile. If I keep smiling, the kids will keep smiling. So bring as much joyful energy as possible to your picture taking, it makes ALL the difference in the world! -
Share Your Family Photos
I’m so excited to see what you capture for this year’s Holiday Photo! I invite you to upload your family’s holiday photo to my fan page on Facebook! Can’t wait to see what you capture and give you a BIG thumbs up! — Me Ra
-
More with Me Ra Koh
Me Ra Koh loves cameras, kids and parents, and spends her life bringing them together. Her work and Photo-Recipes have been featured on national television several times, including the "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Her bestselling book, “Your Baby in Pictures: The New Parent’s Guide to Photographing Your Baby’s First Year” is available at your local bookstore or online. You will also be seeing Me Ra on "The Nate Berkus Show" this season! To learn more about Me Ra, visit her blog at merakoh.com or her Facebook page!
Community Question:
Leave your comments and questions for Me Ra Koh below!
Join or
Follow Nate:
Attach A Photo To Your Comment
Photos must be in JPEG, PNG, or GIF format (no progressive JPGs or animated GIFs), 100 MB limit
Do not upload copyrighted materials without the original author's permission!