Capturing Christmas with Kristen Duke Photography

Hello there! My name is Kristen Duke, and I am a photographer in Texas in the U.S.

It’s so fun to do a guest post for a blog on the other side of the world! In blog-land, we’re all neighbors, right? Keryanne asked me to make a “Christmas-y” post that is photography related, and I thought I’d emphasise a point I am very passionate about—moms being IN the pictures WITH your kids and family. I’m guessing that the majority of readers out there are moms/women, and you are usually the one behind the camera—am I right? This Christmas, I want to challenge you to be a part of the party by being in the pictures that document this joyous day.

Here is how you do that:

1) HAND OFF THE CAMERA to someone else! Seriously, I know it can be awkward, or even sound a bit vain to say, “honey, will you take a picture of me with the kids” but DO IT! You will be happy you did…and even if you aren’t happy, your KIDS will be grateful for it. Sometimes I’ll hand it to my husband and say, “In the next 3 minutes, just take about 10 pictures of me with the kids.” Some looking, some interacting. He takes a bunch and I get one that I like and we are all happy.

2) Set up a tripod and have it pan the area of the room. A wide angle lens or even a point and shoot camera should be able to capture the scene. If you don’t have a tripod, make a stack of books on top of a table or bar stool across the room. Yeah it may be staged if you set it up, push the button and run, but you can be excitedly opening a gift in that time, hugging your child, or watching another open a gift. Timers are AWESOME! I even have a remote that I don’t have to move from the spot I am in, just stick out my arm and push a button.

3) At family events, have a buddy such as a sister or cousin take pictures of you, while you take pictures of them. Then swap images later. Win-win situation and you don't have to ask at the time, you do so before hand.
A few other random Christmas moments to capture:
1) Have each child/person gather all of their gifts and set them up and have a picture taken with them. This is SO fun to look back at and say….Ah, that’s when I got that gift. Here I am when I am around 9 years old with my loot (see the Debbie Gibson VHS)? It really is fun to remember some of those items that I may not have otherwise remembered.

2) Take pictures of the things that you love, treats you make, crafts you’ve made, and the decor in your home. They may change through the years and it will be fun to have a documentation of years past.

Here are some in my home:

To see more, go to my blog: decor or treats.

3) Just take a lot...not all pictures have to be of your child looking at you with that fake grin. Go for the candids, the expressions, capture the joy of Christmas morning through your eyes;)

Merry Christmas! Come stop by and see me sometime....and let me know you came;)

~Kristen Duke