Our Annual Family Photo: A Belated Holiday Update
I try to take an updated family photo at least once a year. Using the annual Christmas card as a deadline is the motivation that usually gets everything organized by October, and the resulting photo becomes a small milestone that marks where we are as a family.
This year, the plan hit a snag. Our oldest son moved to Alberta in July, and when the first round of photos was taken he wasn’t able to be here. I had to send out a Christmas card without him in it, which felt odd and a little sad. There’s something about seeing everyone together in one image that makes the holidays feel complete, and the empty space where one person should be was hard to ignore.
Fortunately, he came home for a week of holidays, and yesterday afternoon I convinced — okay, gently wrangled — the whole family outside for another shoot. It was relaxed and informal: simple outfits, natural light, and a few laughs as we tried different poses. Because life is busy and the best smiles are often the unplanned ones, I kept things light and let the kids move around while I snapped candid moments as well as the posed shots.
This time, we were all here together. The difference was immediate — a small family portrait suddenly felt whole again. We took plenty of pictures, reviewed them on the camera’s screen, and picked a few favorites for the card and for our family album. I like keeping a mix of posed and spontaneous images so the collection represents both our faces and our personalities.
Even though my holiday greetings are running late this year, I wanted to share our little story and a few practical tips for anyone planning a family photo of their own. Whether you’re preparing a holiday card or updating a wall portrait, these simple steps help make the experience smoother and more enjoyable:
- Plan early but stay flexible: set a date that works for everyone, then be ready to adapt if schedules change.
- Coordinate outfits without matching exactly: choose a color palette so photos look cohesive without feeling staged.
- Use natural light whenever possible: late afternoon or early evening produces soft, flattering light for outdoor shots.
- Take a mix of posed and candid shots: posed photos give structure for cards, while candid moments capture personality.
- Take many frames: digital photography makes it easy to shoot extra images and choose the best expressions later.
- Keep kids engaged: give small prompts or games to elicit real smiles instead of forcing a grin.
- Backup and organize: save favorite images in multiple places so the memories are secure and easy to access.
Whether your family is large or small, together often or spread across provinces, taking the time to capture the moment matters. Photos become keepsakes — reminders of who we were at a particular moment in time and evidence of how much we’ve changed and grown.
From our family to yours, Merry (belated) Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you missed this year’s card, consider it a reminder to schedule your own portrait — even a quick snapshot can become a treasured memory.
Warm wishes and holiday cheer,
— Our family
