If there is one thing that is bound to add more stress to Christmas at Lighty HQ, it’s capturing the annual Christmas card photo. Yet every year, we still go ahead and take another one. Why? Well, before I was even pregnant, I always imagined that once I got my little baby, I’d want to send out cards with a photo of my precious bundle on. And I have to say, we did make a cutie, so why not?! (Yes, yes, I know I am biased!) So every year, we persist, and attempt to create another Christmas card photo.
I guess in a way, it actually started the year that I was pregnant, with our pregnancy announcement photo. Although we didn’t have this photo made into Christmas cards, I did send it out within our Christmas cards to friends and family who wouldn’t have seen our announcement on Facebook. I love this photo so much! It’s probably the only photo that I’ve ever had in my head, and been able to recreate in real life, exactly as I imagined!
Our Christmas pregnancy announcement!
Our little elf!
Then year two came around. Baby Lighty was now 18 months old. Quite a difficult age, in any respect. And so, of course, we decided to make things worse, and capture our Christmas card photo, right at this critical time. We decided last year to recreate a classic Christmas scene: bringing the Christmas tree home…strapped to the top of his Cozy Coupe car, of course! Surely this would be a doddle?! After all, we’d managed it with a tiny baby last year, how card, I mean, hard, could this year be?!
Bloody hard. That’s how hard this could be! I kid you not when I say it took two attempts, a professional camera, a husband trained in photography, lots of singing and dancing in the garden, our neighbours looking on and laughing and, eventually, an abandoned attempt because of a meltdown from the toddler!
Driving home for Christmas!
Driving home for Christmas: the outtake!
Well, actually, kind of…yes! This year was actually probably the easiest of the three! Maybe it’s because Baby Lighty can communicate so much better this year, that he could actually understand what we were trying to do. Or maybe it’s just because he understands the concept of Christmas. Either way, somehow, this year, our Christmas card photo took all of about 15 minutes to take! No tears, no tantrums…no threats of divorce!
So what was this magical Christmas card photo this year?! Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until after our cards have been sent out, and then all will be revealed!
Top Tips for Taking a Toddler Christmas Card Photo:
We are far, far from experts in taking toddler Christmas card photos, but these are the things we’ve learnt over the years:
- Do your research: have a clear idea in mind of what your want the finished photo to vaguely look like.
- But don’t be disappointed: don’t be disheartened if the photo doesn’t come out quite as planned. It may be different, but it’s probably not worse than what you were trying to achieve (most of the time, anyway!).
- Choose your time carefully: pick a time when your toddler is likely to be cooperative. For us, this was just after his afternoon nap.
- Prepare in advance: make sure you have all of your props ready to go. If your toddler has to wait for you to prepare, they’re likely to get bored and tire of what you’re trying to do. Similarly, them setting eyes on your props for the first time may actually make them willing to cooperate, because they have these new, shiny things in front of them to play with!
- Time is of the essence: be quick! Your toddler is unlikely to have patience with a long photoshoot. It may be that you have to be quick, and then work with what you’ve got.
- Don’t force your toddler to do anything they don’t want to do: a pretty good rule for life in general, really. Even a comedy Christmas card photo isn’t worth the parental guilt. If they don’t want to play bauble, give up, and try again another time. And if they still don’t want to play bauble?! Accept that you might have to forgo the photo Christmas cards this year.
What would you add to these tips? Any little gems I’ve missed when taking toddler Christmas card photos? I’d love to know in the comments below!
•••
For All Things Spliced, follow The Lightys on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
I love this idea! The driving home for Christmas pic is perfect – along with the outtake haha. You’re so creative lovely! xx
Me again lovely! Just popping back via #DreamTeam to say thank you for being such a fab co host! ? x
Oh my goodness that is such an utterly adorable card and you did it!!!! You should totally sell these you know hon – super cute! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xoxo
He is so cute I want to squish his little cheeks! I love the elf outfit! #DreamTeam
You’ve convinced me to attempt a Christmas card photo! Even if I cant get a photo for the card I know I’ll laugh at the outtakes for years to come! #dreamteam
The driving home for Christmas card is great – what a nice idea! I’m not sure I’ll ever manage to get my strong-willed toddler to pose for a nice Christmas photo no matter how hard I try – but hopefully we’ll manage to capture a few nice candid snaps while decorating the tree. #dreamteam
Oh what a lovely idea to announce your pregnancy this way and great tips too. We tend to just do a christmas jumper photo! #dreamteam
Great tips! I’ve never attempted to do a Christmas card photo, but I am very impressed with all of yours! I am feeling very tempted to try it myself now – so cute! #dreamteam
It’s always difficult to take photos of toddlers and kids as they are always on the go. Even with my kids that are 11 and turning 8 – they now get frustrated if I want to take pics of them. Great tips and thanks for sharing.#Dreamteam
Such a great idea!! Brilliant tips thank you x #DreamTeam
That is totally cute! I remember doing these cards when mine were younger but we have stopped now although I’m tempted to recreate my teenagers first few! That could be a real laugh!
Sorry I forgot to tag you in as guest host….I didn’t read the rules! (hangs head in shame!!)
#dreamteam
Hi, I love this idea, the driving home for Christmas is my favourite love the outtake one #dreamteam
Your photos for your Christmas cards are fab Nic. I love them all and can’t wait to see your new design for this year. We’ve never tried this. Though the other year Little Button drew and painted the design for our Christmas cards. It took some people a while to get that she had done it as they turned out so well once printed! Thanks for being a fab #DreamTeam host xx
awww, bless so true but much prefer the reality because that is life. My hubby strives for perfection and we have to stand around ages waiting after 50 attempts lol X #dreamteam
What lovely photos and a fab idea! I’ve never done a personalised family christmas card. Something I definitely will think about for the future.
What lovely photos and a fab idea! I’ve never done a personalised family christmas card. Something I definitely will think about for the future.
We have never attempted to do a Christmas card photo, but I am very impressed with all of yours suc great ideas. #dreamteam
Last year was our first year of personalised Christmas cards and to be honest I’ve not even thought about it this year!! Right now he’s a misery guts when the camera comes out so I’m gonna have to get creative!! #dreamteam
p.s LOVED the outtake photo!!
What a brilliant idea – and an equally brilliant shot!
Thanks for hosting #dreamteam (and linking to #coolmumclub too!)
Really great tips. I love your pregnancy one by the way. Oh and I have a picture of my two older brothers as toddlers but I think it was taken professionally as very good and from the Fifties
Love your tips here, taking pics of toddlers and babies is so very hard! You did really well, loving the driving home theme! #dreamteam
You should be in marketing! That’s a great idea for a Christmas card and we love the ‘driving home for Christmas’ theme. Very funny x #DreamTeam x
Love the outtake shot haha! We’ve not done personalised photo cards before but I think we’ve left it a bit late now. Will definitely consider it next year x
#dreamteam
This is so funny and cute. I love the preg announcement. And I absolutely LOVE the outtake!! Too cute! #dreamteam
Hey they say don’t work with children and animals but we parents are with them all the time so it should be easier for us right?! #DreamTeam
Hahahaha omg your Christmas card pictures are amazing! I’d never considered this, but I really want to do it now. And you are totally not biased – he does make a very cute card! #dreamteam
I love your pregnancy announcement one! I struggle to get a nice pic of my 3 together 🙁 #dreamteam
These are so cute!! Well done for getting those perfect shots eventually, adorable. I did this last year, my first year with 2, and it was chaotic to say the least, not braved it yet this year xx #dreamteam
Aaaww you’re so creative….. I so love your Christmas pregnancy announcement pic too!!!! I’m currently trying to make a photo calendar for grandparents but with 3 far from enthusiastic teens on board it’s not so easy!! DreamTeam
You are pros at it now… Looking forward to the big reveal! Now a question in the outtake? Was that a quick nap, or the aftermath of a fender bender? xoxo #dreamteam