Ways to Glow in Your Holiday Photos

Christmas is such a fun and exciting time of year: most of the country becomes covered in snow, all the Christmas classics are playing on television and most importantly, you get to spend quality time with your loved ones. Plus, part of getting into the Christmas spirit is sending out family holiday photos. These yearly photos are great ways to update friends and family about how you look a year later and let them know you are thinking of them. With that said, follow these tips below to ensure that you are glowing for this years' Christmas card! 

Photo credit to Kathleen Virginia Photography, Chicago, IL

It Starts With Your Skin

The first step to getting a great glow is making sure your skin is healthy, especially your face. To start, make sure that you are drinking ample amounts of water. Hydration is necessary for skin health and elasticity. The more elastic your skin is, the less amount of wrinkles you will have. Your skin tends to become drier in the winter so hydration is very important for this time of year. You should also be washing your face daily, to reduce the chance of breakouts that can lead to scarring and premature aging. Dry your skin and add some moisturizer to help keep you rejuvenated. If you have some imperfections that you would like to cover, add a little foundation into your skincare routine, but be careful to make sure the color matches your skin tone!

Fix Your Hair

This step involves a little more effort in making sure your hair is picture perfect. This includes the hair on the top of your head and your facial hair! Make sure your hairstyle is styled to your liking and is smooth and sleek. Ladies, if you want to give yourself a different look, curl or straighten your hair by adding a little heat, just make sure to protect your hair with a heat protectant spray to prevent any damage. Another great way to add some flare, is by changing your hair color too!

Men, it is important that not only your head of hair looks good, but that your facial hair, of any length, is well maintained, too. Grabbing a clean razor blade and touching up the sides is a perfect place to start. This ensures that you will have a nice clean edge surrounding your facial hair, giving you a more put-together look. Adding some beard oil will help condition and smooth out your beard, making it look more styled and less unruly.

Find The Perfect Attire

Now that you are fully groomed, , it’s time to figure out what to wear. Do you want the entire family to have cute matching outfits, follow a theme or just keep it classic with everyone in a red shirt? If you’re unsure of what you want to wear, a great option is to just keep it simple! This could mean the family wears a combination of red, green and white shirts with a pair of jeans. Once you’ve got your plan, get the family on board and dressed.

Lighting is Everything

In the world of photography, lighting can make or break a picture and finding the right lighting is the key to the perfect Christmas card. Too much bright light can wash out everyone’s complexions, leaving everyone looking ghostly. The opposite can be just as bad with too little light, making everyone's features blend together. The trick is to have just the right amount of warm light for your setting. Some of the best holiday photos are taken outside, the combination of natural light, evergreens and snow can make your pictures look the most festive, while highlighting your best features. Take a few sample shots to see what works best for your family!

Now that you’ve done all the prep work to look your best and get the perfect picture, all that’s left is printing it out and send it off to all your friends and family!