How to Get Out From Behind the Camera Christmas Morning and Still get Great Pictures!

One of the things I strive to do as a photographer is capture memories.

Isn't that why we take photos?

Whether you are shooting with a cell phone or a DSLR we are trying to freeze time in an image that will allow us to look back and hold on a little tighter to a moment in our lives we never want to forget. Sometimes (especially in the age of social media) our attempts to capture memories can actually rob us of making them. I can tell you from personal experience there has been more than one celebration that I have almost no memory of because I spent the afternoon hidden behind a camera lens...and that my friends, defeats the purpose. But I promise this post isn't a lecture about the dangers of disengagement in the age of selfies and social media, this post is about how to help you take just enough images to capture your memories so you can get back to being a part of making them.

3 Easy Steps to Capturing Christmas Morning and Still Being a Part of it

1. Make a must have photo list 2. Take the photos on your list 3. Put camera down

Seems simple right? It is! The key is planning. It may seem ridiculous to pre-plan Christmas morning photos but if you are prone to being snap happy, this is the single most important thing you can do to avoid spending your entire morning behind a camera and still ensure you have some beautiful images to share of those few magical Christmas mornings when your kids are young, the first Christmas in a new house, the first Christmas you spent away from home etc. etc. etc. you get the idea.

Step 1. Make a Must Have Photo List

Since the introduction of digital photography people no longer have to be sparing with their photos. Be honest, the last time you took your camera to a wedding or child's birthday party how many versions of each picture did you end up loading onto your computer? Did you need 16 pictures of the birthday boy blowing out candles on the cake or would one have been sufficient? And how many of the hundred or more pictures that you took throughout the day did you use to share the story of his 5th birthday? Without a little forethought, chances are your Christmas morning will end up being 200 pictures of the kids opening Christmas presents and maybe one shot of the tree. Instead, take a few minutes to make a game plan! Go into it knowing (in general) what images you want to get and you will not only spend significantly less time taking photos but you will be much happier with the variation of photos you have to tell your story of Christmas morning.

See the bottom of the page for ideas on a basic Christmas morning shot list. It doesn't matter what you have on your list, just have one.

Step 2. Take the photos on your list

One great thing about narrowing your focus to a few key pictures to tell your story is that you are more likely to think about how to make those images great. Instead of snapping everything and hoping you get a handful of good pictures, focus on the 5 or 6 images you want and spend the time you need to get a good shot of each. If you're only taking one photo of each person opening a gift it's ok to ask them to move a little closer to the tree or by a window. Trust me, if given the option of having a camera in thier face all morning or being given a little direction for one photo then getting to look at your smiling face instead of your camera your family would probably happily shift a few feet to the left for you.

Step 3. Put the camera down

Once you have captured your list...and this is important...put the camera down. I know it's hard. You may need to designate a support person to physically take the camera away from you. I'm not saying you shouldn't have the camera in reach in case your toddler climbs in a box or sticks a bow on their head but once you have your list captured take your face out from behind the camera and enjoy the morning.

Here is my must have Christmas Morning photo list to start you off:

1. Christmas tree surrounded by untouched presents (taken the night before)

2. Dogs hanging out with the presents (poor pets can often get forgotten Christmas morning)

3. A detail shot or two of a nicely wrapped gift or a Christmas ornament

4. Kids coming down the stairs to see if anything is under the tree

5. Dad drinking Christmas morning coffee

6. A picture of each family member opening a gift (maybe two - one close up, one farther back)

7. Mom and dad together (let the kids take it but make sure you get in a picture or two yourself)

8. Christmas aftermath around the tree

9. Self timered family shot