Decide the must-have shots before the gathering, then hand the phone to whoever's nearby.
| Shot | Who's in it | Where / when | Taken | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The whole-group photo | Early in the day, before spills | Take it FIRST — attendance only goes down | |||
| Grandparents with all the grandkids | The one grandparents frame and give back | ||||
| Each kid with each set of grandparents | Four combinations, ninety seconds each | ||||
| Cousins together, unposed | Backyard or playroom | Candid beats arranged at this age | |||
| Family + pets | Treats in the photographer's pocket | ||||
| The table before everyone sits down | Dinner time | Steam and candlelight beat leftovers | |||
| Decorating moment — tree, cookies, stockings | During, not after | Shoot the activity, not the finished product | |||
| Matching pajamas / silly tradition shot | Evening | Embarrassing now, beloved in ten years | |||
| Outdoor shot — snow, porch, or doorstep | Daylight | One frame of everyone outside beats zero | |||
| Individual portraits of each kid | Near a window | These become next year's gifts | |||
| The multi-generation line-up | If four generations are present | Oldest to youngest — don't skip the chance | |||
| The outtakes folder | All day | Blinking, mid-bite, mid-argue — keep them |
Stop reprinting this every week
Fam fills it in for you — chores, checklists and routines that actually get done. Free core · Pro $4.99/mo.
Start free Go Pro — $4.99/mo