Early Easter Photo Hints and Tips

| February 12, 2013 | 34 Comments

small child with easter basketTomorrow is already Ash Wednesday, which means that Easter is coming up quickly! When you were young, did you have pictures taken in your Easter best? I remember getting a new pastel dress, complete with matching bonnet or hat, each year. I got the better deal than my brother, who always complained about his stiff collar and uncomfortable shoes while I was smiling prettily for the camera. Do you have this tradition with your kids?

Professional photos can be really pricey, but they’re nice to have. You could probably do as good of a job yourself, though. Here are some tips to take great photos of the kids this Easter season:

  • Take photos early. If you do it soon, you can hand them out to the relatives on Easter while you’re all together anyway. Gather your kids’ Easter outfits and have a photo shoot within the next couple of weeks. That allows for retakes if the little models are crabby, and it also allows you to order prints and other photo gifts in time for the holiday.
  • Go easy on the ruffles! I know, I know: Frilly Easter dresses for little girls are super duper cute! But lots of frills often mean scratching and complaining. If your child is at all sensitive to uncomfortable clothing, err on the side of choosing soft clothes over ruffly, potentially itchy clothing. Kids pulling at their clothes don’t add up to nice photographs, after all. The same goes for pinchy shoes and scratchy tights… if it’s not comfortable, don’t make your child wear it, even for a photo. You’re probably not going to get the effect you’re hoping for!
  • Use nature to your advantage. Depending on where you live, you might be able to go to the beach or you might be having a snowstorm as Easter approaches. Both types of weather can work well in pictures! If it’s cold, your kids will need nice jackets to wear over their outfits; if you don’t have them, but you want to get some snow in the photo, try snapping the photo in front of a window. (You won’t want to do this if the sun is pouring in, though, and you may want to open the window to avoid reflection on the glass.) Natural light is always best!
  • Let them play. As long as you’re not taking photos where there is mud or something else really dirty nearby, snap photos as the kids play. There’s something really cute about dressed-up little children just playing as though they’re not wearing anything special. This usually works out well for younger kids. Don’t have them “say cheese” for each picture, as this often results in fake-looking smiles. Just try to get their natural happy expressions.
  • Save money by using a coupon code. We have a selection of Tinyprints coupons that you might want to use if you are going to be having cards printed, or if you want to make a photo book or give a photo gift. These make great Easter gifts for the grandparents… what Nana or Pop-pop doesn’t want to display cutie-pie grandchildren dressed up in their Easter outfits?

Think ahead and have your Easter photo shoot soon… it will be here before you know it!

Comments (34)

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  1. Sonya Morris says:

    Thanks for the tips! I love taking Easter pictures of the kids.

  2. Lisa J says:

    I love the spring! We love going outside to take pictures of the kids because the natural light is amazing. I just wish this cold weather would stop so we can go outside again. I guess hopefully by Easter the snow will clear.

  3. Alison K says:

    I love taking pictures of the kids not only so we have it but the kids love to look at pictures of themselves. Every year after the holidays the kids and I make photo books of the past year. It is a fun time for all of us to see where we ventured out to and who we did it with. Easter is always a fun time for us – and I agree with the last comment, now we just need to weather to get better!

  4. Ari says:

    I agree, the professionals can take really nice photos, but I think with the right lighting, these wonderful tips and today’s photo-editing programs, it’s not too hard to take a good photo as amateurs!

  5. Paula V says:

    I love Easter and the photos…so full of life with the vibrant colors. I don’t have children but love to see all the boys and girls dressed up. 🙂 I have seen some killer photos with the standard camera, non-professional.

  6. Michaela says:

    Thanks so much for these tips! My kiddo never stays still. I’d love to get some good, non blury shots this Easter!

  7. saminder gumer says:

    thanks for the great tips. i will need them to get some good pictures

  8. Dorothy Boucher says:

    i always take my grand-children to have there pictures done for the holidays, not working so not sure if i will be able to afford it this year 🙁 thanks for sharing @tisonlyme143

  9. Amanda Greene-Lebeck says:

    Thanks for the great advice, i am definitely going to use it this year. Although my daughter is not such a little little girl anymore I still like to have these cutsie traditions with her, at least for a little while longer 🙂

  10. Maria Iemma says:

    I am a horrible photographer, I appreciate the help and hope my granddaughter’s Easter photos come out nice.

  11. lauren p says:

    Thank you for the great tips about pics for easter. So cute if you can catch that moment.

  12. Maddie K says:

    Thank you for the great information.

  13. Dandi D says:

    I can’t believe Easter is almost here! Where does time go?

  14. Teresa M. says:

    This is a great post filled with helpful advise. My daughter hates labels on her clothing. I have to unstitch, remove label and then restitch. I have found some items that don’t have labels but most of them do.

  15. MD Kennedy says:

    I love your tips, particularly about letting nature in and letting kids play. This year I’ll be celebrating Greek Easter in Greece and I’ll keep these in mind.

  16. Kathy Idol says:

    Thanks for your tips. I am always taking pictures of our grandbabies.

  17. Maddie K says:

    I remember when I was younger my mom always dressed us up in a new easter coat and dress and I wore white frilly bobby socks and black patent leather mary janes. My mom would NEVER let us out, that was until my grandfather broke out the 8 mm camera. I cannot tell you how many films there are of us kids walking, smiling and waving towards the camera or making funny faces. I’m smiling just musing about it now. Oh, I used to love getting an easter basket. It was like ALL THAT yummy candy and treats. My mom and grandmother were great at stuff like that.

  18. Casey M says:

    I’m always wanting to get good pictures of my daughter but I don’t want to have to pay the high prices for a professional! Thanks for the tips!

  19. Jo Ann Moffatt says:

    My son is a budding photographer so whenever I see some great tips I have him read them and glean whatever he needs from them. Thanks for the posting – I will be sure to show him!

  20. Karen Hand says:

    Great tips. One of the best pictures of my granddaughter was taken at the mall with the Easter Bunny with a real bunny rabbit. It was relatively inexpensive and quality workmanship; however, as your article mentions, we have other non-posed photos at various Easter egg hunts which are similar in quality using our own camera.

  21. Sam Dock says:

    Great ideas, we just scheduled my son’s Easter photo session and his photographer raises chickens and bunnies..so they will make apperances too 🙂

  22. Crystal W says:

    When I look back at my pictures of the kids at Easter when they were little my absolute favorites are the ones where the are playing or on the big search for eggs. The posed ones are nice and all but even with a little dirt on the knees or a chocolate egg face those are the ones I cherish.

  23. lisa says:

    Good tips. I like photos that are natural,not posed.

  24. Trish F says:

    Thanks for the great tips, won’t be using nature though, snow and easter don’t seem to go together.

  25. Nicole Becker says:

    Easter photos are my favorite!!!

  26. Donna George says:

    Didn’t even think of getting pics this early. Thanks

  27. This is a good reminder. I never do this stuff on time.

  28. Caitlan Meador says:

    These are some great pointers 🙂 We have an 8, 3 and 1 year old to capture and they all seem to move at lightning speed, lol!

  29. saminder gumer says:

    this is all great advice and i will do my best not to overdo the ruffles, but they are so cute.

  30. Paula V says:

    Go easy on the ruffles…I love it.

  31. Sherry J says:

    Thanks for the great tips.

  32. Casance Kendrick says:

    Great tips and I can say that yes, you should get your Easter photos taken early so that you can give them out before Easter.

  33. Kathy Smith says:

    I have a 4 month old grandson and I can’t wait til warmer weather to play outside with Mason. Great tips on pictures. I wish I had taken more of my kids just playing instead of posing all the time. Thanks for post.

  34. Paula V says:

    Just five more days and we get to see all the pretty girls and boys in their Easter best. 🙂

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