With Thanksgiving only three days away, you’re probably getting ready to snap some photos to feature in your holiday cards this year. Whether you’re gathering your whole extended family for a photo shoot or heading out with just you and the little ones, there are lots of ways to add a little pizazz to your family photos this year! Read on for some fresh tips for memorable holiday photo cards everyone will love:

Don’t be afraid of color. Red, green and gold aren’t the only options for bold holiday photos cards. Use a bright photo paired with a black and white design for a fresh and fabulous modern look.

Photo from Galina Walls Photography

Let the little ones get silly! Don’t force a smile or make the kids pose in awkward ways. Just let them play and try to capture a moment of pure fun!

Photo from Steve Z Photography

Get in the action. Some of the most interesting family photos are action shots. I love the way the kids in these photos are giggling wildly while they run around. Priceless!

Photos from Manus Chau Photography

Black and white can make a good photo look gorgeous! Tiny Prints lets you switch your photos from color to black and white and sepia tones instantly using our personalization tools. Test them all out to see what looks best!

Photo from Megan Resch

Make the outdoors interesting. This family put a mod leather couch on a rustic bike path in Colorado—I love it! Blending props and scenery are a surefire way to make your photos charming and memorable.

Photos from Steve Z Photography

Blend colorful designs with sweet and simple photos. If you’ve fallen in love with one of our bright, festive designs, keep the colors in your photo to a minimum. This will help ensure that your snapshot and your style have a chance to shine!

Photo from Rachel Hadiashar

Post by Jessica R.

With the Tiny Prints Talent Search contest under way, we thought you might appreciate a few tried and true real mom tips for getting great pictures of your kids.

1) Take tons and tons of pictures.

Most kids freeze up at the sight of a camera. They start to pose. They act goofy. They plaster a cheesy grin on their face. And they become a child you don’t know. The more pictures you take the less they’ll act up in front of the camera. After a few dozen shots they’ll get bored and go back to being themselves. That’s when you get the really great shots.

2) Never say “Cheese!”

Kids are used to cracking into an incredibly goofy, totally unrealistic smile as soon as you break out the camera and say “Cheese!” That’s not the child you want immortalized on film! Don’t worry about making them smile and face the camera. Follow them around and see if you can capture the emotions and facial expressions that are truly their own. Those are the pictures you’ll want on your wall.

3) Get down.

We’re all so used to looking down at our kids we forget what they look like face to face! They’re stunning! Get on your knees, lie on the floor, you’ll love the resulting pictures.

4) Get in their faces!

Push your camera up close, use a zoom and fill the frame of your viewfinder with your child’s face. Don’t worry about cropping out some hair, an ear or even a chin. Get right in there and capture the twinkle in those eyes!

5) Focus on the eyes.

Whether or not you’re filling the frame with your child’s face focus on the eyes. You’ll make sure that his face is in focus and you’ll bring the whole picture to life.

6) Have fun!

Goof off, make your kids laugh, giggle, be silly! Fill your camera with life and laughter.

7) Be flexible.

I get that you need a great picture for your holiday card, but you’ll just get frustrated if you try to make everyone behave and sit still. Anyway, who needs another picture of kids sitting still? The one of your brood all piled in a heap is going to get front and center placement on the mantle.

8 ) Keep your eye on the background.

Is a pole sticking out of someone’s head? Is there a huge pile of trash or laundry in the back? You might not notice while you’re shooting, but it’s all you’ll notice later.

9) Don’t make anyone pose.

Stalk your children. Capture them being themselves. You’ll treasure the photo of your daughter reading to the family cat much longer than you’ll keep the one of her sitting primly on the couch.

10) Use the Child Mode or the Sports Mode on your camera.

Those modes are perfect for capturing moving objects. Kids move. Lots.

And don’t forget, send us your best shots! You could win $1000 and your kids could be the new face of Tiny Prints!

Meet Gavin—Our Adorable Baby of the Week!

• Gavin is seven weeks old.
• He doesn’t have a favorite book yet, but his favorite people to play with are his big sister and brother.
• His favorite phrase is “I love you.”