Ask Ken:

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Ken, how about some tips on shooting a family picture for a Christmas card?

PROJECT # 9: Christmas Picture.

Most good Christmas card pictures, will have these ingredients, your family, (smiling, looking like normal people) your home, and a few things that communicate Christmas.

Try to pick a time when nobody is sleepy, fussy, hungry, or mad.

Oh, well; Just do the best you can.

Dress the fam in casual colorful clothes. They don't all have to match or all be red and green, but do try to see that you don't have any one that color clashes with the rest of the group.

Try to pick a spot for your picture that doesn't have any windows in the background. Fireplace hearths are real popular for this sort of photo.

Turn on as many lights in the room as you can. Light a few candles, build a fire in the fireplace and turn on the Christmas tree lights.

These little sources of light are part of what give the picture a warm, glowing happy, homey sort of look. The problem is a flash will over power these soft lights and they will dissappear. So the best bet is to set the camera on a tripod or table top and NOT use a flash.

If you are using a digital camera set the white balance to Tungsten for good color under these home lights.

If you are using a film camera choose a slightly faster film, say, ISO 400.

If you take your film to a grocery store or discount place, the proofs will have a reddish orange cast. Of course, we would love for you to bring your film to us, but that's okay. The lab can take most, if not all of that orange cast out, for natural, warm colors.

You can use your camera's self timer to let you get in the picture, but that's pretty awkward. It's best to have a friend push the shutter button for you.

Go ahead and shoot several pictures. The more you shoot the greater the chance you will have that one perfect shot of everybody looking in the same direction, with both eyes open and a good smile.

Best of luck. Have a Merry Christmas, and don't forget the real reason for this season.

Ken.

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