by Lisa Doherty

Created on: June 21, 2008   Last Updated: July 02, 2008

Preservation of a moment is the key to taking great holiday pictures. Whether you are shooting the baby's baptism or the gathering of family for a holiday meal, the trick to great holiday pictures is seeing the moment and capturing it.

You may use a professional camera or a disposable one, but the key to taking great holiday pictures lies in being able to see your subject as part of a bigger picture. Here are some helpful tips for taking great holiday pictures that will last a lifetime and also make great gifts!

1. If you are capturing subjects "in the moment" make sure the moment will not embarrass them. Tasteful shots of people interacting make for great memories. Try to zoom out and capture two or three "main characters." Shooting too many people can be busy and limiting it to a few will look nice if enlarged.

2. Formal shots are great so try to make the picture balanced for a more symmetrical effect. Balance the number of people and center the older members of the family. This is a way to use the zoom out feature and get everyone in. Every holiday needs one good formal shot that all who attend can put in a scrapbook, album, or frame.

3. Close ups are great. The key to a good close up is making sure it captures the personality of the person, so know your subject. Close-up shots should not be so large that the face takes up the entire frame. Have some background or at least an inch around the person's face so that the shot doesn't make them look like they have a freakishly large head.

4. Lighting is tricky. For most amateurs, keeping an automatic flash on is a sure way to get a good shot. The camera will adjust as it needs to and then you can focus on the subject and composition of the shot.

5. Touch-ups are essential for close ups and formal shots. This does not have to be a tricky business and most photo developing companies will show you options to make the subject softer so that blemishes are hidden or to give the subject a more flattering appearance.

6. Gifts made from holiday pictures are real treasures. One good idea is to make a calendar from the twelve best pictures. This can easily be done at many stores that develop pictures. The calendar will serve as a monthly reminder of the event and be a gift that continues to give every single month of the year. Additionally, specific pictures can be transferred to coffee mugs, cardboard cut outs that sit on desks, small wallet calendars, and t-shirts. The possibilities of using pictures as gifts are endless.

Whether you are an aspiring professional or an amateur who loves to create, taking great holiday photographs is a functional art that will continue to bring joy to the lives of all who enjoy a great memory.

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