Forget getting everyone together at Christmas for a photo opp and having them all say, “Cheese!” Instead, use words that end in “ah.” These sounds put the muscles around the mouth to work, creating a genuine smile. Try “yoga,” “mocha” or “banana.”
Now, I’ve got more great tips you can use for your perfect Christmas pics!
How big is your group?
- Just a few of you? Focus on capturing candid moments, take a few selfies and use your phone’s timer to take a group shot or two. Pro tip: For selfies, switch your camera to .5x or .7x magnification for a different look.
- Lots of folks? Have them stand or sit at different heights to add depth and dimension to the photo. If you have someone who can take the pic, have them use burst mode. All they have to do is hold down the shutter button to take a bunch of pics in a row — more chances to get a winner. If everyone needs to be in the photo, use your phone’s timer.
Let there be light
Lighting is the most critical factor in whether your pics will turn out great, so-so or downright terrible. A few tips:
- No direct lights: Don’t photograph a person standing directly under a light — that highlights bumps, wrinkles and blemishes. No thanks.
- No squinting: Have your subject face the light so it illuminates their features. Ask the person to look toward the light or sun (just not right into it).
- Clouds are good: Photographers swear by cloudy days for portraits. There’s enough light to make everyone look nice and bright, but no glaring sun to squint at. Try it!
- The Magic Hour: The hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise will give you a warm, soft light that’s perfect for holiday photos.
Tired of the same old posed Christmas photos?
Spice things up this year with some creative ideas that capture the true spirit of the season!
- Cozy up by the Fireplace: Gather everyone around a roaring fireplace adorned with stockings and twinkling lights. Capture the warmth and glow of the fire reflecting in their faces.
- Pajama party: Embrace matching pajamas! Cuddle up on the sofa, playing games, reading stories or sharing holiday memories.
- Head outdoors if you have snow: Build a snowman family, have a snowball fight or create snow angels.
AI can help, too
I always meant to learn how to use Photoshop. Now I don’t have to because it has handy AI features even I can use. You can upload a pic and type in a prompt like … “Remove the telephone pole,” “Blur the background” or “Make the sky brighter.”
Pro tip: If it’s not working quite how you want, open ChatGPT or Bard, tell it what you’re trying to do and ask for help generating a prompt to give Photoshop.
More AI tools to try
I’ll warn you: Most of the free AI editing tools out there are packed with ads, do a subpar job or are trying their best to get all your data.
- Luminar Neo is simpler than Photoshop but still very powerful. Starts at $14.95 a month.
- Topaz Labs Photo AI is even easier and good enough for professional use — but they only offer annual plans starting at $149.
- Fotor is an app that’s been around forever, and it’s even better, thanks to AI. Score, there’s a free version!
My best advice: Don’t stress it
You’ll get better photos if you relax and let it happen instead of trying to wrangle every child (and adult) into smiling the “right” way. Heck, I prefer those candid shots where I can tell folks are actually enjoying themselves.