How to get great pics with Santa this year…
The Christmas holiday photography season is here again, and you may be cringing thinking about past experiences of trying to get that perfect shot of your child with Santa Claus. Or, you may be a new parent trying to figure out how you can get a great photo of your little one with the big man. This year, your photos with Santa can be as fantastic as those you see on magazine covers. Here are some really simple, basic tips to help ensure you capture a great Christmas picture and memory of your child and Santa Claus.
Don’t go see Santa anywhere near nap time. Your child will be cranky and probably clingy. This will make for tear-filled pictures, and not one with smiles and happy looks.
Feed the children before you see Santa. Kind of like the nap time tip, a hungry child is a grumpy child. Don’t feed them anything too heavy or immediately before seeing Santa, though, or you may end up with a picture of your kid vomiting on Old Saint Nick.
Don’t go during peak times. The lines will be too long and your child will get tired of waiting, which will result in a meltdown before you even arrive at Santa’s lap.
Introduce your child to Santa in various ways before you decide to take the picture. Show them photos of the jolly guy, or videos about Santa. Point him out at events and get your child excited to meet Santa. This will help eliminate fear of Santa Claus when the time comes to snap a photo.
If you are taking these pictures yourself, do not use portrait mode. This will make the picture out of focus and blurry. It also darkens the photo and takes a long time to capture, which may mean you get a squirming child in your picture.
Leave extra room in the shot in case your child moves. You can always crop pictures, but you cannot expand them if your child moves out of the frame.
Dress your child in complimentary colors. You know Santa will be wearing his traditional red and white outfit, so dress your child in colors that will compliment Santa’s attire to get a great photo.
Work on your child’s expressions with stuffed animals and toys they enjoy. Make sure their face is the center of the photo and try to get them to look at you or Santa and smile.
Be ready to capture a photo at any time. Even if you’re getting professional photos done, be ready to snap your own. Is your child going to run into Santa’s arms? If so, you don’t want to miss that picture- it may be the best one of the day! Be ready at all times.