Help for Spicing Up Your Christmas Newsletter

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than two months away which means that the dreaded deadline for the Christmas letter is near. I realize that some of you have already completed your letter. You've made your list and checked it twice. But for those of us who haven't, let me share some tips for adding portraits to your letters.

1. Focus on the eyes.

The saying is true; the eyes are the window to the soul. Fortunately, today's cameras can help. Many point-and-shoot cameras as well as D-SLR's have face detection. In other words, the modern camera is smart enough to detect when it's pointed at someone's eyes. In your Christmas' portrait you want the eyes to be tack sharp.

2. Fill the frame.

We've all received Christmas letters with family portraits where we can't tell who the family is. Believe it or not, people want to know that the picture is of your family. Besides, you want them to post this picture on their refrigerator, don't you? Make sure that you fill the frame by standing closer to the subjects or zooming in on them. Seeing who's in the picture is more important than viewing your shrubbery in the background.

3. Don't take your portraits in direct sunlight.

A couple of things will happen when you take pictures in direct sunlight. First, your family will squint their eyes if they're looking into the sun. Second, the sun will cast deep shadows. When you take your family pictures on a cloudy day or in the shade the light is diffused and gives your picture a softer tone.  And don't be afraid to use your flash.  It will help fill in details.

Taking portraits of your family and adding them to your newsletter is something all of us can do. Granted, there is something special about having a professional photographer take your family picture. However, many of us struggle financially and paying for a professional photographer is not in the budget. Given this reality, I hope these tidbits are helpful in sprucing up your newsletter with your own portraits.

May God grant you a blessed holiday season.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the household of God." 

Ephesians 2:19 English Standard Version 

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(Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.