As moms and legacy builders, we like to take pictures of the babies. Whether on our phones or big, fancy camera. This holiday season, for the mom-tographer in us, here are 5 holiday family photo ideas specifically for siblings that any mom can use to document her legacy.
1. Photo Shoot Clothing: Take the opportunity to make a statement with their photo shoot clothing. Do they match? Are they wearing contrasting prints? For this shoot, I wanted each of their personalities to shine, while keeping a balance of formality and casual looks. For my boy, I also wanted him to look like the big little man he’s becoming.
It’s easy to get carried away with styling your holiday photos, but you don’t have to spend a small fortune. Here, my daughter is looking fancy and frilly in this adorable Textured Glitter Mesh Dress for under $10. Can you believe that price?! This George Sequin Top Chiffon dress (also for less than $10) may have landed in my shopping cart, too. To add another layer and keep things casual, she wore these polka dot Faded Glory Foil Dot Leggings. They’re cute and affordable (at less than $5/each), so I bought both white/gold and black/silver options. A simple white cardigan and brown ankle boots completed my big girl’s look for this holiday photo shoot look.
For my son, whose not even three, I decided to keep him casual with his first pair of 4T big boy jeans and a crisp white, collared shirt. (Yes, a two year old wearing 4T. My kids are giants.) The cut of these Wrangler Toddler Boy Premium 5 pocket Jeans certainly makes him look older, while the tucked in shirt gives a flair of formality.
2. Details Make The Difference: Details are my favorite part of styling and shooting pictures of my kids. I love looking back at images of their hands, toes or eyelashes. And since she no longer likes the big, flower bows that once adorned her head, I’m happy that my girl loves this gold beaded headband worn around her head. Little man’s cute loafers and way-too-small tie cracks me up, although I’m kicking myself for not buying these cute little boy suspenders! Next time, for sure.
3. Give Accurate Directives: When photographing my two small kids, I’m sure to give very accurate directions on what I want them to do. If you tell your sibling pair to “give each other a hug”, you’ll likely catch the back of a head. But, “get cheek to cheek” will have both faces towards you. Sometimes I put a marker on the ground and ask them to stand there. Other directives I give the kids are: eyes this way, smile with teeth, hold hands, stand like soldiers (straight up). To be honest, my oldest is really the one that uses the directives and is, by this time, a pro in front of the camera. My boy… he’s a different story!
4. Don’t Forget Holiday Cards!: If you’re using these pictures for holiday cards, be sure to shoot a few pictures with plenty of negative space and in different orientations. Negative space is the “empty” parts of the image where you can put festive graphics and word. I’m using Walmart’s Photo Center to order my cards and photo gifts for the family, so I made sure to take both vertical and horizontal pictures.
5. The Angles Make All The Difference: Background, lighting and clothing definitely make impacts, but when shooting your kids, don’t forget how important the your angle is. I’ve learned the importance the photographer’s positioning is to the voice of the image by using prime zens (lens that don’t zoom; you have to zoom with your feet) and, in every shoot, I try to capture s angles every time. First, a portrait image from above them makes my babies look little and innocent. Second, angles that are very linear and straight on will more accurately depict how tall your kids are. It makes them look bigger. Vary your angles and you’ll have a variety of images to choose from.
I just love taking pictures of my babies! It’s like therapy for me. And although shooting two kids is more challenging than one, I love that I can document the flurry of life and love between these two.
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