All things holiday kick off in November—including family picture season! Whether you’re just shooting the kids, having a friend snap away to get the whole family in or making good use of your camera timer, capturing an impressive, professional-quality image of your brood is easier than you think. “The number one thing I tell my clients is to let their kids be kids,” says Carolyn Ann Ryan, a family photographer based in Westfield. “There is no disciplining allowed, since your goal is to capture their emotions and true personalities. Keep in mind it’s about living in the moment, not about taking the ‘perfect’ picture with ‘perfect’ posture.” 

First, Plan Out the Details

​Avoid identical outfits

“I highly suggest not having everyone match, but instead to dress in complementary colors,” like denim plus warmer tones like beige, yellow and orange, says Ryan. Also, skip the holiday colors (like red and green). “Many of the holiday card [templates] come in all kinds of colors,” allowing you make it look holiday-ish without actually having to wear holiday colors. Instead, says Ryan, if you’re looking to hang the pictures on the wall, “I tell parents to think about the colors and the style of their home.”

Incorporate props or accessories

Add a professional touch by having your kids hold something meaningful (like block letters, a street sign or holiday ornaments) or something personal, like a blanket knit by your grandmother. If being still is difficult for your littlest guys, consider placing them in something confining (but safe!), like a wicker basket, a shallow bucket, a sled, a wheelbarrow or on something they’ll find entertaining, like a rocking horse, a favorite toy with a seat or a bean bag chair.

Remove distractions from the background

Once you’ve chosen your location, get rid of unappealing or unnecessary elements in the background—anything that takes away from your main subjects. For example, if the photo shoot is in your living room, remove the piles of books and magazines sitting on the coffee table. If you’re in a park, make sure a garbage can isn’t in view. Or use this pro tip: If you’re in a public place where you can’t do much about cars and people, “consider taking a picture with the kids sitting on the grass while you’re snapping above them,” suggests Ryan.

Light it right

To make the most of gorgeous fall light, aim to take your photo outside about one to two hours before sunset, says Ryan. “Avoid photographing around noon when the sun is highest in the sky,” she adds. “And make sure the family isn’t facing the sun, because the light is too harsh—they will be squinting!” For indoor shots, think of ways you can still leverage natural sunlight. “I have often used front foyers in homes and opened the front door to let in the beautiful light.”

Have fun

Turn your temporary studio into a party zone. “Play music, tickle the kids, do whatever it takes to make them happy,” says Ryan. “A good picture captures their emotions, so you want to make sure they’re truly having fun!”

During the Shoot, Try These Ideas

Take some inside furniture outside

“Drag the couch out into your yard,” says Laurel Kate Sittig, creativity coordinator for photojojo.com. “Not only will it be easy to pose the family, but you’ll also have the advantage of taking your shot in natural light.”

Say it with chalk

All it takes is a box of chalk (and maybe a bucket of water to erase the evidence) and you can create your message on a blackboard, on the driveway or on a brick wall. Go with a straight-to-the-point “Happy Holidays from the Smiths,” or get more creative and draw Santa hats on the kids or your own winter wonderland. PS: If you want to take pics of the kids laying on the driveway, get above them by standing on a stepladder!

Cue the ham of the family to do their thing

There’s always one person in the group who loves the spotlight! So while everyone else is smiling normally, you can direct him or her to make a different yet show-stopping expression, like a funny face or a wink.  

Add a frame

Consider a frame as a pretty way to focus attention where you want it. If your kids are too young to hold the frame themselves, you can hold it for them.

Get mushy

Whether it’s your kids showing their love for one another or you guys expressing love for each other, there’s no better way to send the message of joy than by sharing a hug and a kiss. (Trust us, this is the photo you’ll keep on your desk and look at again and again.)

Shooting Solo

No photographer? No problem. Thanks to your camera’s handy self-timer you can be the picture-taker and still hop in the shot. Here are some tips to consider:

  • Set your camera to its self-timing setting. (If you’re unsure how to set it, Google the name and model of your camera along with the term “self timer.”)
  • Bring a tripod. If you absolutely can’t bring a tripod to the scene, do your best to brace your camera against railings, fences or cars to keep it steady. Use a stack of books or a bag to get it up higher and keep it still, suggests Photojojo editor Lisbeth Ortega.
  • Choose where you want to take the photo and have your family do a practice pose. Look good? Point the camera and frame your shot—Remember to leave room for whoever will be running into the frame.
  • Try to use your camera’s “continuous shooting” setting. Not all camera-makes allow you to use the timer and the continuous shooting setting at the same time, but if yours can, set the timer and then take many closely spaced photographs and pick the best one. You’re sure to get one shot that’s a keeper—and it might be the one you least expected!n Bring charged batteries and plenty of empty memory cards.
  • Have fun, experiment and take tons of photos. You can always delete the duds later.

Amy Capetta is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. Her work has appeared in Women’s Day and Family Circle, as well as on TODAY.com and Redbookmag.com.