It’s that time of year again, time to take the dreaded Christmas card family photo. 
This has been our most tricky year yet, my (only a little) terrible two year old could not have cared less if I got the shot or not. It has taken me a week to even want to look at the photos and transfer them from my camera to my computer because I don’t know if we actually got a Christmas card worthy shot. It was cold, windy, too sunny, Wyatt’s nose was running like a faucet & my camera was not working properly.
We take our own family photos (these shots are from last year) which adds a whole extra layer of trickery (and magic by mom, who is NOT a professional and has no photography training), and I’ll share exactly how we do that and what equipment we use in another post. But for now, here are some of my top tips to get you through the shoot, whether you have a photographer or not.
- Bribery. Yes, this is my number one and most consistently successful trick. Make sure you pack special snacks or treats for the photoshoot. It depends on the age(s) of your children…when Wyatt was two months we needed nothing, he slept the whole time, when Wyatt was one- Cheerios did the trick, and now that Wyatt is two we not only brought one special treat (chocolate chips), but two (gummy bears), and even ended up giving him goldfish at the end. The gummy bears were a new treat for him, he got them in his Halloween candy and it was the first time he had ever had them, which helped his excitement level. I like to pick small treats like cheerios, chocolate chips or gummy bears in case they do sneak into a picture, they’re hardly noticeable. Just watch out with messes…we had a few chocolate drool bombs that could have been avoided if we only stuck with gummy bears…but ya gotta do what you gotta do. I also like to make sure Wyatt has a good base of food in his tummy going into the shoot- hangry children hate photoshoots, but also we wanted him actually interested in his food bribes as well. (Bribery can also work for the husbands…ladies you can figure out what works best for your guy.)
- Play. Most often my favorite family shots are more candid- which sometimes don’t work for a Christmas Card, but make great framers. We really use our food bribe to play more than Wyatt gets to actually eat it. We “hide” it from him in our hand or make him chase us for it. A toddler also doesn’t like to sit still, so tickling, pointing out something to look at, or throwing them in the air helps to keep them somewhat stationary in one area.
- Bring a comfort object but just break it out to help “take the picture.” Wyatt loves his “puppy” lovey and puppy often helps in our photoshoots by taking the picture. It gets Wyatt to actually look at the camera (especially since no one is actually behind ours…gotta love self timers), and usually makes him laugh. We just put puppy on the tripod and it usually works for a few shots.
- Make sure everyone looks their best. Outfits are a crucial part of the family photo. We could spend hours discussing this, but just make sure you plan it out ahead of time even down to the socks & accessories, there’s nothing worse than adding outfit drama to photoshoot day. Here is a post from last year about our neutral outfit inspiration. This year we went with blues, a color we wear often which means we hardly had to purchase anything new! Also think about any props you might want to use and if they coordinate with your outfits, a festive blanket to wrap everyone in or sit on, a wreath, or even a holiday themed toy for your little ones to play with (think old fashioned red truck or Santa’s mailbox.)
- Make sure everyone feels their best. This could mean something different for everyone. Running, shooting & being in my own family photos is no small feat. I should actually have Tim record me next time (although he’s busy helping to wrangle the kid while I set up shots). I am exhausted emotionally and physically by the end, not to mention I always have two grumpy boys to deal with during most of the process…my insta husband and son don’t like pictures, can you believe it?! So this year I turned to my new Olay Mists to energize me & keep me feeling fresh (there’s also one for calming that all of us probably could have used some spritzes of as well.) I’ve been trying out Olay Mists this fall because my skin always changes with the seasons. I find that in the colder months I loose moisture in my skin throughout the day and it starts to look dull. By spritzing my face with the mists, I get an instant boost of hydration, leaving my skin looking bright & with a healthy glow. It also smells amazing and is perfect to use anytime of day for a little pick-me-up! You can find Olay Mists at your local Target. I think next time I’ll also spritz my boys, that might do the trick!
- Location. If you have a photographer, they probably know the best local spots and can give you some options, but if you’re shooting on your own, think about neutral backgrounds that won’t be heavily populated. We live by the coast, so we love a beach photoshoot, but other fun options are nature reserves or parks, hills, Christmas Tree farms, college campuses, and even your own home if there’s good lighting. Definitely plan this out ahead of time, again the less work and planning you have to do ON photoshoot day, the happier everyone will be!
Whether you take your own family photos or hire a professional, it’s an event that takes everyone’s cooperation & sometimes it feels like a miracle to pull off. Good luck!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.
What do you think?