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Have you ever been to a mall photographer, or worse yet one offering photo portraits in a department store? The lines are generally long, and the wait is always longer than they predict. Babies and small children are crying. Moms and dads are on the verge of a breakdown, and meanwhile little Susie and Bobby have soiled their pretty outfits and cried so hard their little faces are red and blotchy.
Sound like fun? There is a better way. In addition to preserving patience and the sanity of both the parents and the children, this method will also save quite a bit of money.
If your aim in having these photos taken is to enclose them in or utilize them as photo holiday greeting cards, then plan to take your photgraph about a month before the holiday.
Enlist the help of a good family friend. This should be someone with whom the entire family is comfortable. Arrange for everyone to be home at the same time. Give the family two weeks notice, and refuse to accept any excuses for absences. Coordinate matching or complementing sweatshirts, sweaters, or other article of clothing that will portray a nice color scheme for the photo.
Assemble the family in an arranged position. Everyone's face must be close to one another's. This will definitely feel a bit peculiar, but the results will make a significant impact.
Have your photographer take an entire roll of film. There should be at least one or two viable options from a whole roll of film.
The type of camera really doesn't matter. From fancy and expensive digital models to inexpensive disposable cameras, you're going to get a family photo regardless of make and model.
Arrange a room in the house to accommodate the size family in the photo. A mantle makes a wonderful backdrop, especially when decorated with a festive mantle scarf and holiday greenery.
Have the photographer peek through the lens for things that might look strange. For instance, if there are candle sticks on the mantle, will they appear to be growing out of anyone's head in the photo?
Another fun way to arrange the family is in front of the Christmas tree, or borrow the wreath from the front door and hang it up as part of the backdrop. Some families wear matching Santa hats. Others opt for a more serious photo, and arrive for the photo shoot in dresses and jackets with ties.
Some families like to hold a handmade sign, of course made with colors that coordinate with those in the picture, and show the date on the sign. Others hold signs that say "Merry Christmas from the Jones Family".
Outside pictures are nice, too, especially in climates where there is snow for the holidays. Make a snowman, and gather the family around it. Decorate a tree for the birds and small wild animals and stand around the tree for your photo.
There are endless possibilities for where to take the picture. The most important consideration is that the family looks natural in the photo.
There are two options when actually creating a card, if that is part of your plan. One is to go to an actual printer and have the photo put on card stock. The second option is to generate a similar version from your own computer. There are plenty of kits to purchase that help with making cards. They include card stock, instructions, and often access to graphics and fun things to say. By adding a scanned photo to one of these cards you have indeed created a family heirloom.
Another option, which is even less expensive, is to enlist the help of children in making the Christmas cards themselves. Construction paper, glue, and glitter can be tranformed into beautiful Christmas cards. Fasten the picture to the cover or the inside with corner photo tabs, found in photo supply and department stores.
Either way you choose to cerate your cards and display your family photo, the end result will have been a fun time with family members, as well as the joy of sharing the day with friends and extended family.
And isn't that one of the greatest of all holiday gifts?
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