5 Photos to Take This Christmas Season + a Festive Challenge! | Hampton Roads Photographer | Jess Nicole Photography

Christmas is coming and I know that our days are going to be filled with many wonderful activities and traditions. Time spent with family and friends is time well spent and so worthy of a snap. I have come up with a few photos to take that you will surely treasure and will help tell the story of your holiday season. 
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1. Decorations on the tree or around the home: Every year we have a themed Disney tree. We add a new ornament every year to the tree. This past year, I decided to also add our Minnie Ears to the tree too! Now, I know that you may not have a themed tree or a Disney tree, BUT I am encouraging you to take a photo of a special ornament or a sentimental ornament. A great example of this would be a decoration your child made especially for the Christmas tree. I know a lot of times paper decorations don't make it very many seasons before they start to deteriorate, so it would be a great idea so take a photo of those!
2. Christmas Wishlists: I always take a picture of my kids scrolling through the toy catalog or making their Christmas wishlists. I can remember sitting in my grandmother's lap and looking through the Hallmark Christmas Ornament catalog. She would have ornaments from each of our "series" that she would get us every year and then a "fun" ornament. She would be so excited to look through it with us! I actually have a picture of us doing it and I cannot express to you how special that is to me- especially now that she has passed. My kids only get 5 spaces on their list, so they painstakingly think about and list out the things that they really, really want. It's such a sweet reminder of their character and where they are at this point in their life. For example, one year, my daughter listed items to donate to the local no-kill animal shelter. Documenting her making out that Christmas list will always bring a huge smile to my face.
3. Decorating the Tree: This one is kind of a given, right? But still, decorating for the holidays can't be missed. I like to get shots from behind them, as well as from the side. I do it throughout the decorating process, I don't wait until the tree is completely done before I take them. I also take pictures of the "fluffing" process! 
4. Candids of Family Gatherings: This is such an important one and if I'm being really, really honest, when I'm documenting my own family, I can really fail in this area. I tend to get really wrapped up in the activity and visiting with family and friends and I just simply forget. Is that crazy? Hard to believe? I think it's mostly due to the fact that we don't live remotely close to extended family, so when we spend time together, we are really trying to make it count. Candids of the ones you love are so incredibly important. The way they laugh, the way they hug you, the way they intently listen to the conversations going on around them, the way cousins play together making childhood memories. 
5. Wrapping Gifts: I was talking to my friend about this the other day. I don't enjoy wrapping gifts, but I know how to wrap them properly. My grandmother was a woman who really believed in presentation. Her gifts were always beautifully wrapped and she shopped at a store that always wrapped your purchases for you. I remember always thinking how fancy that was! And also how wrapping even the smallest or inexpensive gift made it feel so glamorous! With that said, I'm not particular how the gifts under the tree are wrapped. I think it's absolutely precious for the kids to wrap the gifts! Even if they use a yard of paper, 20 bows, and 3 feet of tape! I have been teaching them how to wrap gifts and I think it deserves a little photo to document the process. My middle guy put 3 name tags on this gift to "throw them off" - he is referring to trying to trick the recipient and keep them guessing on who the present is  really from! In the picture below, I think Sis is doing really good!

Who's up for a little challenge to really elevate your photos and help you to be more intentional and aware of what photos you are making?
Well fa la la la la- let's do this! 
Make a list of holiday and Christmas traditions your family has and participates in every year. Now, prioritize them in the order of upmost importance. Next, under each activity you listed- write things that you enjoy about that activity. What is it about that activity you look forward to? Is there something a certain child always does? Do you enjoy the planning? Do you dress a certain way? Think closely about this one and don't overlook the details.  This is what you are going to photograph. Look beyond the generic "stand there and look at the camera and smile" photos. 
Here's an example from our family: 
The past few years, I haven't loved the idea of decorating. It feels like a lot of work, right? I know some people that are so into it and love Christmas so much they begin decorating as soon as Halloween is over ( we all know them, right?) But, my kids get so much joy out of decorating. It's ever so exciting to them! So, if I'm digging a little deeper and looking a little closer, what do I enjoy about it? Well, the end result for one. I like seeing everything festive, yet back the way it goes, boxes cleared away, etc. But again, digging deeper, I love to see my kids excitement. Why are they excited? Boxes everywhere (mass chaos!!!)! Dad climbing in and out of the super mysterious attic! Clumping all the ornaments in one tiny space on the tree!  It's so funny to me because I feel like when we decorate, it certainly does not look like a Hallmark commercial! It's magical all right, but in our own messy, crazy way. Maybe more like National Lampoons? 

Now, get out there and document your Christmas and holiday traditions! Share them with me on my Facebook page or tag me in your Instagram stories @jess.nicole.photography - I want to see what you come up with! 
If you are interested in having me do this for you, I'd obviously be happy to. Let me know by using the contact tab above or message me on any of my social channels. 

Happy Christmas!