6 Tips to Take Better Christmas Photos of Your Kids

Struggling to get the perfect holiday pics of your little ones? Here’s 6 Tips to Take Better Christmas Photos of Your Kids + exclusive Oshkosh coupon savings. This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all festive thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

6 Tips to Take Better Christmas Photos of Your Kids

Wasn’t it just Halloween?

I’m still in shock that next week is Thanksgiving. You know what that means? It’s “panic because I totally forgot to get my kids photos for Christmas cards” season! We’re soon going to be in the midst of the busiest time of the year, and I haven’t even started my Christmas cards yet. But I always look to send out the cutest pictures of my kids to my family and friends. I won’t settle for anything less.

So in case you’ve put off holiday photos (ahem, I’m speaking to all of you fellow procrastinating moms), here are 6 Quick Tips to Take Better Christmas Photos of Your Kids – so we can get them mailed before New Years! (Ha! Am I right?)

Get in Touch with Nature

Don’t rush to get a fresh cut tree. Don’t stress over taking down the 30 Christmas boxes. Instead, opt for outdoor photos of your kids. Nature provides perfect and simple backdrops to take photos. I tend to gravitate towards wooded areas with Charlie Brown Christmas trees. Need a prop idea? Try this easy Christmas Kissing Booth idea!

Lighting is Everything

Lighting can make the different between perfect photos and odd fake-tan induced alien looking children. When in doubt, go for natural light. If you can’t get your photos during that “sweet” spot time (and hour before sunset), look for shade during daylight hours. Try to avoid direct bright sun whenever possible.

Adjust Your Camera Settings & Expectations

Capturing those balls of energy during those fleeting moments can be absolutely exhausting! Your best bet for capturing professional quality photos is to adjust your camera settings to match your on-the-go kids.

For my DSLR camera, I always adjust my shutter speed first. A set my speed to at least 1/320 and as high as 1/1000 for those darling princess twirls. From the shutter speed, I’ll adjust my ISO and F-stop accordingly to my desired photo look.

No DSLR? No problem! Use your phone camera and hold down the button to capture those quick burst shots of smiles.

Variety is the Spice Picture of Life

Take better Christmas photos by mixing things up! Don’t get caught in the same pose rut every year. Try something new! Before I take any photos of my kids, I do my research. I look up popular poses, reference old shoots that I love and bookmark new ideas to try. Then setup and shoot! Try these suggestions:

• Close-Up & Far Away
• Individual & Together
• Posed Smiles & Candid
• Front of Camera & Artistic Angles

Go with the Flow

Taking pictures of your own kids can get frustrating, especially when their behavior is unpredictable. The biggest tip I have is to go with the flow. I usually start with easy poses and move into full-on silliness by the end of the shoot.

Keep things light, changing and most importantly FUN! Encourage, play and allow your kids’ true personalities shine through. We love to have dance and shake breaks in between photos to keep things entertaining.

Coordinate Outfits Like a Boss

It’s all about matching outfits when it comes to perfect Christmas pictures. I fall hard for an adorable holiday style pairing! Look for great color coordination (think matching reds, greens, whites, and golds) and patterns that aren’t too loud and that won’t clash with other patterns. This year’s holiday fashion inspiration is from one of our favorite stores, OshKosh B’gosh. With lots of high quality and affordable items from their classic jeans to their trendy skirts, I love getting the most bang for my buck for my growing kids.

Floral Shirt / Skirt / Shoes (similar)

Plaid Shirt / Jeans with included Suspenders / Bow Tie

OshKosh Coupon

Grab your exclusive OshKosh Coupon now for even better holiday savings! I love when you get the 20% off $40 purchase coupon – that’s one of my favorites. Print now and use in-store code: 037264 or head over to oshkosh.com and use online coupon code: OKBG3418 between now and 12/31/17 for a sweet deal on your kids best holiday styles!

Be sure to head into your local OshKosh B’gosh store this holiday season to make sure your kids look amazing for your Christmas pictures this year! Hopefully these quick tips to take better Christmas photos of your kids is helpful as we get ready for a super fun and super busy holiday season!

Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more of your favorite giveaways!