Holiday picture time!!

**This post was a long-time coming, but hopefully some of you can use it for next year or even some of those party pictures the next two weekends!  Enjoy!

It's Holiday Picture Time! 

Yes, the time for crying and shrieking children and trying to get them to smile real quick has come upon us.  When we have that one stray hair or eyes slightly closed or that pudge didn't get hidden in time...

"Lights"

Apparently, photographers like having lights included in pictures, whether in the background or in the center theme of the picture. Taking this picture from the right angle may include standing on nearby stairs.  Make sure to have the right balance between natural and artificial light, so taking multiple angles and pictures is sure to come in handy!  Aperture high and slow speed on your SLR will do the trick for having no outside light on these pictures.

"Good sunlight"

Between 2 and 4pm EST, outdoor parks have vibrant leaves in the background of most pictures on a sunny day.  A little bit of cloudiness can provide for better pictures sometimes due to less glare.

Also, taking pictures in parks is great in capturing the vibrant RED leaves in the background.

"Christmas tree pictures"

Capturing your little ones in front of the lit up Christmas tree would be great without glare and fuzziness, wouldn't it?  Have all the other lights in the room turned off and just the Christmas tree light on.  Then, place the little one/s 2 to 3 feet in front of the tree.  Keep your f-stop setting as low as possible on your camera and come in closer to the child/ren as you take your pictures.

Another idea:  Taking a picture of kids opening up a gift with a battery-operated nightlight inside the box gives off the best glowing effect.  Make sure to have all other lights in the room off and stand 2 to 3 feet away for best quality.

"Kids"

Obviously, plan around nap times, changing times, the shorter and quicker time used, the better.
If possible, using an object or a new personality will get kids' attention better to hold still for pictures.

Action shots: Aperture: f/2.8, Shutter speed: 1/1000 second, ISO: 1600

"Number one tip"

Use the self-timer and get in the picture! Set your phone on a tripod or a stack of books and have fun with the family! 

Special thanks to Dawn Trenka Caputo, Janice Joseph, Navdeep Singh, and Kayla George.