Documenting the magical moments worth remembering during the holiday season
Stephanie Lozano Photography
There is nothing quite like the holidays and holiday tradition when you’re a child. And as adults, we go through great lengths to help pass along that magic we once experienced onto them. After I had my first child, I found myself wanting so badly to bottle up every little thing we shared with her, but also her reaction and energy after experiencing it- it was so special! Over the years, I have continued to share in holiday traditions with my family, and photographing these moments helps me remember that feeling as they get older. Are you feeling that desire to document your kids’ holiday traditions and experiences? I am here to share my favorite tips on capturing all the holiday magic!
First, I challenge you to think back to when you were a kid. What are the things you remember most about the holidays? That is your starting point to creating nostalgic and personalized memories for your own family. From there, you can get creative in how you document. Over the years, I have taken countless photographs of my kids during the holidays. As my photography evolved, I realized I wasn’t only capturing a moment, but I was telling a story as well. I’d love to share them with you!
My personal favorite moments are:
- Holiday lights- does your town have that one house with the incredible display? Go visit and take your camera! Capturing their faces when they see those lights for the first time will give any parent those warm and fuzzy feelings!
- Letters to Santa- This one is simple. Have them sit at a table. Take away all distractions (toys, clutter, etc). Have them simply write their letter to Santa. Often times, the handwriting alone will bring you back to their age, how they were learning to write, and what they were interested in.
- Mailing holiday cards- This one is also simple. One of my favorite photos I ever took of my middle son, was when he was 2 1/2 years old. I took him to the post office to mail our christmas cards, and he desperately wanted to drop them in the slot. I took a photo of him on his tippy toes, tipping the letters in. Oh what a story that tells!
- Baking cookies- Take a minute, in between the flour everywhere and sprinkles all over the floor, to remember the simplicity of that moment.
- Kids around the christmas tree lights- especially when you first put up the tree and turn those lights on!
- Drinking hot cocoa– tip: take the photo when the hot cocoa is still steaming, and see if you can capture that “smoke” in the photo
- Putting cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve. – classic holiday buzz and excitement
- “Searching the skies” on Christmas Eve.- Have your kids standing by the window on christmas eve, and see if they can find Santa in the sky!
Do you have other special holiday traditions and pastimes that you want to remember with your family?
