I took my kids out to the woods on Sunday to take Holiday pictures. I was so proud of myself this year since we were doing this so early this year, it was still warm out AND I took them to nature instead of the highway overpass that I took them to last year..you remember that don’t you?
So after many years of experience – I have my top 10 tips for you to have a successful do-it-yourself Holiday photo shoot.
1. Purchase new wool sweaters for your kids. THEY ITCH. and THEY BITCH through the whole session.
2. Take your children to the woods and listen to their screams because you make a joke about bears being nearby.
3. Take your children to a place where they just happen to see a friend and then eldest child is visibly humiliated that she is “dressed up” and “with her mother” and “posing for pictures with her sister”
4. Serve them chocolate for breakfast so they are bouncing off the walls and then CRASH HARD.
5. Forget any and all candy bribes to try to get just “one more shot and then we get a lollipop” so they start running away almost immediately.
6. Yell at your kids once they start the “she’s touching me” crap after you’ve told them to move closer together and act like you like each other.
7. Make sure the shoot starts infringing on lunch and/or nap time because nothing says “perfect shot” like a toddler throwing herself upon the ground.
8. Have toddler, upon throwing herself upon the ground, get a big gash in her cheek from the brush. In the woods, Where the bears live. Blood. Blood is perfect for a photo shoot.
9. New shoes! Love the comfort of new shoes for a photo shoot. Bitching of sore feet from new shoes only starts about 3 minutes into the shoot.
10. Take your kids holiday photos yourself. Don’t bother hiring this out because nothing says holiday cheer when you are yelling to your child “just effing smile NOW or you are going to have to move out so I can find a new family for the card this year!!”
I think that about captures it perfectly, although I really think you should have waited until it was really cold in the woods with the bears.
I still have a feeling you captured a great shot (or 10) of your girls!
We did ours last week (hired out, can I get an amen!) because I never did get a good photo myself last year, after many attempts or near attempts, and so I was not able to send out cards. Won’t make that mistake again.
You are brave!
Can you believe I am thinking about dragging them all back out there to do it again this weekend as I do not love any of our shots. gah.
Yes, I can. It is the Christmas card photo, after all!
Oh my…. blood, bears, embarassed preteens. Go big or go home is what I always say. You rock family photos! I personally am waiting for snow, which is scheduled for this Thursday. Sounds like fun doesn’t it.
Dana
We are suppose to have snow also. Crazy.
Um…. love Astrid’s hat??
I say you give it another go when you have copious amounts of chocolate and wine in tow, you know, for you. Oh and no wool sweaters.
Love ya!
NuxieMade. We have 15. Is that too many? I couldn’t decide on the color so I just got them all. lol
Oh man, did you ever nail this one! Perfectly.
(We did our pictures on Saturday, too! The whining and the perfect weather was the same. I’ll one up you with running off mid-pictures, though!)
Oh I love running off mid-pic. Those are classic!
You crack me up all the time, Tracy.
At least you got in some prize shots – right??
It sounds like you will have some lovely cards this year.
We haven’t done our pictures yet because I am still waiting for all the leaves to change!
I will say that we have had more than one photo shoot like this. One time we had a horrible time and I came home soo frustrated. As I was scanning through the pictures I found the best picture I have seen of my three children. It is truly one of those moments. Now to be fair they are probably laughing at me, but I don’t care because they look gorgeous!
And you girls are so beautiful even when they are complaining!
I know – some of the candid shots are truly the best. Our leaves have already fallen!
I recently wrote on a photographers group forum … taking photos of your own children is like
(damn phone). childbirth, you forget how painful it was before you try it again. {& again … in my case.}
Perfect analogy!
Hey, at least it’s close to Halloween – so now the blood will seem like a theme!
you make me smile…
Love the picture of your youngest! I can so see her frustration.
At the next photo shoot, bring a friend to film it and put it on You Tube and see how many hits you get!
You are so brave….
The holiday photo shoot is a always a NIGHTMARE.
Thanks for the giggle!
Oh good lord…. I was totally planning on doing this with my family…. all of them and using a handy remote for the camera. Now… now I’m not sure if I’m going to.
Too funny! But even with blood running down their faces, your girls still look gorgeous. I’ll keep these tips in mind. Or maybe I’ll hire some professional models to pose as my kids.
m.
Next year I am totally getting stand-ins.
We are doing our family photo in a couple weeks. I will remember these tips.
I hope the scent of blood didn’t bring the bears out of hiding
Just find a stock photo of three girls and photoshop their faces onto it
And their outfits.
My kids are completely uncooperative when it comes to taking photos. They just will not do it. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a photo of the two of them together that turned out really nice.
This all sounds like Holiday Spirit and Hugs to me.
Teenage angst, toddler antics, and bears.
That’s what family is made of.
All this is why I usually don’t get a holiday pic done!
LOL, maybe this is why I’ve avoided the holiday photo in recent years.
Haha!! Why do we torture ourselves every year?! I always think I’ll do better/do it earlier and it always ends up being torture for everyone involved!
Trying to get the perfect family photo gives me hives and makes my eye twitch. I give up. I have a feeling you got some good ones regardless of the blood & tears!
I’m crying laughing so hard!!
And our family shoot is this weekend! Can’t wait!
This really made me laugh. It is so true! Last year, people got a photo of one of my kids because they wouldn’t all sit together so I got 3 semi-decent photos, one of each child. I’m hoping I can get one of all 3 together this year.
LOL – I did that two years ago also when Astrid was a baby – just 3 separate photos of them. I’m quite determined this year even if I have to glue them together..physically.
And I think the card should read:
Merry.Effing.Christmas.
Simple, bold, makes a statement. People won’t soon forget it.
My best holiday photo shoot was the year Jack was driving me so very absolutely totally crazy, I finally slapped his face to get him back under control.
Not hard, people. Don’t call CPS.
But.
Everyone commented that year about how rosy Jack’s cheeks were in our Christmas card picture.
Yep.
Why not just get a picture of the kids riding the bear when the bear comes to investigate the blood?
I had plans to try Take 1 of holiday photos on Monday, when I was home, sick, but with the kids so that my wife could get some peace & quiet. Just as I pulled out the camera, the boy decided to give the cat a hug. The cat didn’t appreciate the hug, and the scratch, though barely visible, kept him from even bothering to look at a camera . . . and, when he did, he just pointed to the scratch on his wrist.
I’m printing this so I can refer to it for our picture. Hope it works.
I haven’t taken my photos yet, so I’m very excited to follow your helpful tips =) I’m sure you have lots of gorgeous photos that came out of it though!
I’m with Mark on this one, why not just hire kid models? I’m thinking of just ordering the holiday cards with the family already on them and saving myself the trouble of family pics this year.
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Okay, this is just HYSTERICAL… If you don’t mind I would love to re-post on my blog http://www.kristaleephotography.blogspot.com, I laughed so hard after reading this. Hope you ended up getting a few good ones, LOL!
yes – you certainly can – thank you so much! xo
As a photographer, I had to tell you that you made me laugh SO hard! Mostly because…I’ve been there…with MY OWN KIDS!!!! And, of course, customers. Thanks for such an honest post!
Here’s a crazy thought, let the kiddies run around and play together for your pictures. Who says kids have to stand so boringly with half smiles on a card? You get great pictures of happy playing children and they are happy because they dont have to stand still and smile.
Oh believe me – we did. We did. This was just meant as a joke.
[...] Mum – I stumbled onto her blog via her hilarious post Top 10 Tips for a Successful Holiday Family Photo Shoot that a friend posted on [...]
OMG I clicked this on Pinterest thinking I was getting some great hints for a family session I have on Sunday. Little did I know I’d be treated to some great laughs from a friend. Great stuff as usual, T!
My photo shoot is in two weeks. Should I cancel?
Found your great blog through Amy at Eat. Live. Shop.
We have a lot in common. Same age, young children.
Wanted to say hi.
[...] mom knows what I’m taking about. She describes the experience of the family holiday shoot with young [...]