Give and Take

 Oh, those holiday card photos.  We love them and we dread them, especially when it comes to getting that one perfect shot of our children.  As much as we have this fantasy of getting that perfect shot of our perfectly well behaved children that of course are willing participants, we all know the truth.  Sometimes, for you lucky ones, it works out that way.  Sometimes.  Then there are those of us, myself included, that would agree that trying to get the perfect shot is as painful as a root canal...for both the photographer and the subject. 

It took me awhile (okay, years) to realize it was just not worth the tears and drama.  Something had to give, especially when it came to photographing kids other than my own.  As much as parents want their kids to look and behave perfectly at a photo shoot, kids are only good for so long before drama or tears ensue.  I decided that instead of fighting them, I'd work with them.  So, I tell them that we're going to work together.  I tell them my ideas and then I ask them for their ideas.  I love seeing the surprise on their faces when I ask them what they would like to do.  What child doesn't want to be heard?  It's a lot easier to get a child to cooperate when they know that after I take the photos I want to get, I'm going to take their picture doing whatever they want to do.  And you know what?  Some of my best shots are kid directed, like the photo above.  That photo was all his idea, and better yet, his personality is completely evident in the photo, so much so that it made it onto the family Christmas card and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a win/win situation.  

How about you? Did you manage to get a great holiday photo? Or, did you get one that wasn't exactly what you wanted but it ended up being just the right one after all?  Please, do share.  

Comments

[Christineellen]

Luckily my "baby" is now 15 so she does actually sit still.... for the most part, so I can take her photo. I tell her that this is her Christmas gift to me to sit and pose and be pretty. I was lucky this year and got a few card worthy shots! Here is my favorite.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christineellen/6495002591/in/photostream

[busymomma66]

Mine are 17 and 12 so they were pretty agreeable. Now that I took it, I just need to mail them!! lol.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymomma66/6471329185/in/photostream

[Valerie]

I cheat. My son's birthday is December, so Christmas cards become a bridge too far. Instead, in October I send an autumn letter with a montage card of informal pictures of my son in the pumpkin patch. Much easier! And I think our letter stands out because it is so early.
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/10/silent-saturday-oct-8-2011.html
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/10/clayton-valley-pumpkin-farm.html

[Junelle]

I have had a number of family shoots, some great - some so comical I was shaking from laughing (not great for a winning shot! lol!). Still my favorites are the family shots when you get the *real* feel of the family. My fave so far~
http://www.yesandamenphotography.com/2011/12/holiday-photography-snowy-treat.html

Now that my own sons are older, I treasure these kinds of moments so much more than the "sit still or I will hurt you!" moments.

[Lisa Gutierrez]

I learned early on that posed photos of my boys will always go awry. I took many shots before getting THE ONE and even then it was one where one son is making a funny face and the other isn't looking at my camera. But it's THEM and I think conveying their personalities in the Christmas card is more important than getting the "perfect" shot. I blogged my card and many outtakes here-- http://goodknits.com/blog/2011/12/12/the-christmas-card-2011/

[Catherine V]

Our solution is to bypass the holiday photo all together! We still take pictures, but don't send them out. Instead, we have a funny custom watercolor done of our family each year and send it out as a new year's card!

[ccap]

I didn't get it together this year to send out a holiday card but if I WERE to do one it would most certainly be this shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsyblue/6428411935/in/photostream

[Michelle (Mamadunk)]

Well, it's not a very good photo technicallly....and I almost attempted to do a retake a few days later (nobody would cooperate). Then I came to my senses and realized that I got 4 kids and 2 dogs to look at me...and smile....with eyes open!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6506710041/

[brigid]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/6477327193/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/6477327849/
blurry outtakes and christmas hats with dog hair. ::sigh::

[schtanzerl]

We created our very own family version before a photo session I offerd in our daycare. Our special version of that event would have been these two santa's little helpers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schtanzerl/6507348455/in/photostream

[Heather]

I don't really do holiday photo cards but if i did, this would be my photo for this year cause it perfectly captures my daughter's dance energy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heather-cox/6508958169/in/photostream

[Wendy]

My husband has this favorite tree out by where we live and insisted our Christmas photo be taken by the tree. We went out on three miles of two-tracks to find it with one of my great friends willing to take the ride-and the photos! It turned out pretty well, then my 6yr old decided to take over and choreograph his own photo-which we used for the back of our Christmas card....a future photographer?? We'll wait and see....http://www.flickr.com/photos/55065321@N07/6513837909/in/pool-343665@N23/

[Erin O.]

I use the photo of the biggest belly laugh from the year. :)

[Liz]

Love your photo... I "cheated" this year and opted for a JibJab card with my kids' heads plunked on. Saved a ton on printing, postage, trees, etc. and gave friends a good laugh.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/rdGWRMm849gF0GCQ

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