Capturing the Magic of Christmas

Picture this:  Christmas morning before the children have awakened.  The soft light of dawn is slowly creeping through the windows, the lights are synchronized dancing around the tree, the gifts are packaged perfectly with care, and you carefully snap those first few shots before mayhem ensues. 

Photographer Unknown

Okay.  Let's be more realistic.  This is probably you the night before because I don't know about you but I was never out of bed before my kids on Christmas morning.  Don't you wish they had that same enthusiasm jumping out of bed for school each day? 

You take a few precious photos to prove it looked just like an image right out of a Christmas catalogue, crawl into bed hoping for a few hours of sleep, and then the first screams of joy hit your eardrums and reverberate off of each and every brain cell with an equally loud echo.  Ah, let the games begin.  

 

One more hour, PLEASE!!

After bargaining for one more hour of sleep, you hide under your pillow while stockings are yanked from the fireplace and dumped onto your newly polished hardwood floors. What seems like only minutes later, cherub faces covered in chocolate treats and candy cane sticky hands come peering into your sanctuary with a choir of "Please, please, please, may we open our presents now?"  

Fully surrendered, you grab your camera and prepare yourself for the most adorable photos that everyone will admire and will no doubt share all over Facebook.  How could they resist?

By the time you manage to pick up your camera, aim and fire, amongst a blur of wrapping paper frenzy, a few "Ohs" and "Ahs," you pause to make sure you got that last pic because that was absolutely the cutest when you realize not only was Susie's sweetest smile completely hidden behind Johnny's arm but all of the gifts are opened and your perfect pictures nowhere to be found.  In a panic you flick through your digital previews and sudden all your hopes are dashed of winning any Christmas photo contests this year.    

What is a photographer to do?  

First of all, slow it down!  Certainly racing down the stairs and blasting through unwrapping presents has its own charm if you like it like that, but it will not make for great, or even good, pictures. There's nothing wrong with one child at a time, one present at a time, rule, at least until you've gotten a few acceptable shots or you are ready for your coffee.  Trust me if your little boy or girl knows that a few angelic smiles is all that is standing between them and the rest of their gifts, they will give you their full cooperation.

Photographer Unknown

Second of all, don't be a control freak.  Let them be themselves and capture that!  They will have more fun and so will you.    

Photographer unknown

Third, if your pets get in on the action, please let them!  They may be some of the cutest photos you get.

Tip:  A photo of a child with their gift from Grandma and Grandpa, Auntee Jen, or that special someone makes for a more personalized thank you card.