Ready for some holiday photo inspiration?
For all of you procrastinators who still need inspiration for those holiday cards, how about we start with some tips for what not to do…
1. Don’t invite your dog. She will scream while the kids get buck…
2. Don’t expect your kids to look happy. Expect them instead to look sneaky, scowly, awkward, suspicious, or just plain weird (see above photo for proof). Also, they probably won’t enjoy it, or be classy enough to pretend to, so be prepared for some of this…
3. Don’t think props will solve all of your problems. They may add to the awesome…
Or, they could just cause mass confusion and distraction from the task at hand (although this is still pretty cute)…
4. Don’t expect your kids to stand still, especially not if they like to do sweet jumps and booty dance…
5. Let your kids dress themselves (he picks all of his duds, I just pay for them). Then, let them have fun. For your part, try not to stress yourself out, and do some pre-photo-shoot trigger finger exercises, you’ve gotta be quick if you want to capture something pretty…
Bonus tip: solo shots don’t necessarily work better than group shots. When you have big personalities and intense swagger to deal with, you’ve kinda gotta take what you’re given…
Have a photo-licious Wordful Wednesday post to share this week?!
Link away, and be sure to visit my co-host at Seven Clown Circus, and all of this week’s lovely features too!
- Cutest picture ever of the unexpected from Multiple Mama.
- I just love seeing pictures taken from the sky. These ones by Stacy Uncorked of High Flyin’ Fun are great.
- The Real JZ captured what kids will do for food perfectly!
- This Christmas Card photo of Marlie and Mereminded me it’s time to take mine! It’s gorgeous.P.S.: Dear Target, You should probably just go ahead and hire this kid to sell this Harajuku Mini jacket. He wears it every day and people compliment him on it constantly. It set me back $25 but he HAD to have it. #Werk
P.S.S: No children (or pets) were harmed in the creation of these photos. Mommy, however, twisted her ankle and has a suspected case of mean tennis elbow. Or, um, something.
Um, your kids are so cute I don’t think it matters what they’re doing. Although… that one where he’s sitting with the lights all around him is adorable!
I’m first!!!!
I tied my kids up in Christmas lights just to get them to sit still. It didn’t work but I managed. Why can’t photographers get decent pictures of their own families?????
I laughed through this whole post. Even if you hadn’t put a word on this page I would have laughed through it. Your kids are all personality and I love it. I have two boys whose personality shows in all their pictures too. They’re so much fun to look back on.
The photos are wonderful! You have such a beautiful family!!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting!
These are so much fun! Love the dog in the photos. Thank you for sharing.
That picture of the tangle of lights and the dog— love love love. What a moment to catch.
Um, this is just in time. We’re going to attempt to take our Christmas picture this weekend and I’m already stressing!
You really are dealing with an intense amount of swagger over there. Dang lady. They are too cute.
Ok the booty dance is beyond cute!!!!!
That first picture is totally cracking me up. Gotta love the dog.
We got a few good pics at Disney World and I chose one of those for our cards this year. I don’t have enough time to try a photo shoot, nor do I have the patience!
Love Love LOVE them all! Never a dull moment at your house, is there? ;)
Once-In-A-Lifetime Date 12/12/12 makes Mike & Merri’s Birthday Extra Special
You are so talented behind the camera. :-)
The far left photo of the booty collage? Total fashion ad. AND I LOVE IT!
Your little one has it GOIN on!!! I love his clothes…one day his wife will love it too!
Laurie
I’m totally cracking up!!! These are great. I always love seeing the outtakes & always tell people that they should use those instead of the others. But then I never use my own. Funny I never like mine as much as other’s :) I’m really LOVING that one of him tangled in the lights & the dog looking at it all. FABULOUS!!! Hope you are having a blessed holiday season my friend! Hugs!
That youngest boy of yours steals the show all the time, doesn’t he? I’m just sayin’… ;)
Love the lights and dog shot SO MUCH!!! :)
LOVE the one w/the lights and dog…
I know what you mean, though…We have 3 girls and the youngest is 2 and a 10 month old lab…holiday pics this year were almost too stressful to have fun with!
I love you kids’ style!
Those dudes of yours are SERIOUSLY good lucking. And I really can’t get over the fact that #3 picks out his own clothes. I wish I was as stylish as he is!!!
Love these shots. Thanks for the reminder to get my booty in gear in the holiday photo department.
Yeah-we tried the dog thing last year. Totally left him off unis years card
Oh my! You have the best kids!! Personality jumps off the screen!! I love all the moments joy capture ;-)
Moments of joy you capture. Stupid phone
Oh wow! There I am in your blog post! Haha, I totally didn’t expect that. Thanks for the shout out. I love your photos as always! Even if your kids aren’t smiling, your shots are always great. I have to say that your boys remind me of GAP kid models!
the dudes can’t take a bad photo. they are too dapper, cool, and all that!
thanks for the WW mention!
My seven year old is finally learning how to cooperate. Mostly.
#3 is the man. For realz. And that booty shot? I have several like that of of James. What’s up with the booty shots?
Such awesome photos!
Thanks for stopping by my blog from the SITS card link-up! LOVE these pics! Your kids are super cute! :)
I didn’t end up with any pictures I liked for our card. I will have to remember your tips.
Your kids are awesome! And when I say kids, I mean the dog, too!