It’s not easy to get that perfect holiday family photo.

At Must Love Kids, we know it’s hard to capture a family’s happy moments in a staged photo. It’s hard enough to get everyone together in the first place. Second, the little ones don’t always have the attention span to sit still for a photo or wait through setting changes. And that means it can be a frustrating time to get your kids to smile for the camera and achieve the picture-perfect holiday photo. But don’t stress about it! Our team has some helpful hints and tricks to get everyone to show off their pearly whites.

Create a fun atmosphere.

The best way to get into the happy holiday spirit is by literally getting into things. If you are capturing a holiday photo, make sure everyone is in the mood by setting the scene. For instance, if you want to take photos outside, wait until all the leaves have fallen off the trees so it looks like the end of fall, or, even better, wait until the first snowfall happens.

If you are taking photos indoors, add some holiday decorations like lights, garland, or a Christmas tree to your setting. You could even all sit around the fireplace and have holiday stockings hung. Whatever will help you set the holiday mood and make everyone think it is the holidays, then do it, even if it means putting on those ugly Christmas sweaters or having the entire family in Santa hats!

Another way to help set the mood is to play holiday music. Break out the old classics by Frank Sinatra or Milton Berle, or pull out some of your children’s favorites and belt them all out as a family. It may help to grab a cup of hot cocoa and a candy cane to help everyone embrace their holiday spirit.

It’s okay to be silly.

Family holiday photos don’t have to be formal and serious (unless, of course, you want them to be). They’re a great opportunity to showcase your family’s personality, so don’t be afraid to try some silly poses or funny faces while you are snapping photos. In fact, candid photos are encouraged because those are the ones that often show your family off in their natural environment. So take some candid photos while setting up your scenes, or take some photos while the family participates in a snowball fight.

Another option for capturing great family photos is using props. Let the dog join in wearing a costume, or let the little ones hold onto stuffed snowmen or reindeer. The point of a family photo is to exhibit your personality, so whatever it is that brings your family joy, allow that to shine through in your family photo.

Get everyone involved.

Another way to get everyone excited about family photos is by involving them in the process. Have everyone get together and choose where to take the photos or what types of props they want to include. And let them have a say in the wardrobe! Maybe your family isn’t the ugly-sweater or matching-pajama type, and that’s okay. Maybe you all slightly match by wearing one item that is a shade of red.

Or you all may decide you’d prefer not to match at all. Let your family members showcase their unique personalities by dressing in what makes them comfortable and feel their best. Holiday family photos don’t have to be so serious. The more you let everyone showcase their personality, the more authentic your photo will look.

Use positive reinforcement.

Sometimes, it can be hard to get children to do what you want them to do, so remember that children like to be praised for doing the right thing. Make sure to let everyone know you are happy they are all participating in this year’s photos, and praise them for all giving their best smiles. You can also keep the mood light by telling silly jokes in between shots. Keeping everything upbeat will ensure your photo shoot is a joy for everyone to participate in. 

For children that enjoy rewards, offer them a small treat or present after the photo shoot is over. That could be something as small as a sticker for their reward chart or a family treat where you all celebrate with ice cream. Whatever it is that will bring your children their biggest smiles during their photos can be used as a small reward. The entire process can also create some great family memories.

Brighten smiles at Must Love Kids.

Before you get your holiday photos taken, bring your children in for one of their biannual dental evaluations at Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry. Our team will perform a thorough dental checkup and professionally clean their teeth so they are dazzling and sparkling for their holiday photos. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment!