Capturing the perfect picture is only possible when you’re trying not to be perfect. The frilly dress, itchy suit and tie, and pinching shoes might look good, but they don’t feel good, especially on little bodies that have a hard time sitting still, staying clean and smiling despite their moods.

Parents, who want to capture the joy of the holiday and the spirit of their beautiful families in a photograph, need to remember that the best photos begin with a sense of calm.

“Have patience. If you’re hurried, they will feel flustered. They will get frustrated if you’re frustrated,” said Ron Rice, owner/photographer, RJ Rice Photography, LLC, in West Chester.

Comfort is key

Dress for comfort or bring a change of clothes.

“Comfort is key; choose items that everyone feels comfortable in; bribe them — say, ‘You only have to wear this for 20 minutes and then you can put on your mesh shorts,’ ’’ said Colleen Christensen, owner/photographer of Colleen Captures Photography, in Clearcreek Twp. “If you feel good, you will look good and smile nicely.”

Because toddlers and small children can be unpredictable, Nicole Kessel, owner/photographer of Nicole Kessel Photography, in Miamisburg, encourages parents to schedule their portrait session at a time of day or location that is best suited for their child and to pack comfort items from home like their child’s favorite toy, drink or snack.

“Bringing snacks is always a good idea. They can be used for a break or a bribe,” said Tammy Chavies of Tammy Chavies Photography, LLC, in Xenia.

Setting

Familiar ground can create a relaxed environment and minimize meltdowns.

“I think the best way is to go on location and photograph the family in comfortable surroundings, like their own home. This is especially important with small children. Not having to bundle up the kids and show up somewhere at a given time really avoids a lot of stress,” said Tim G. Zechar, photographer, TGZ Photo, in Kettering. “Flexibility is key, as well, as allowing plenty of time means avoiding stress and rushing around.”

A small sweet can make a big difference in potential temper tantrums, Christensen said.

“A pack of Smarties is great for a photographer to carry. Smarties are very small and even when they are in the mouth, you can’t see it. Smarties are tiny, won’t make a mess and are OK to have in the mouth when taking pictures,” Christensen said.

Genuine interaction

Incorporate an activity to generate real feelings.

“I think natural smiles come when they are having fun together. My shoots are not at all traditional. I do like to get the occasional shot of everyone looking at the camera, but to me, the best shots are filled with emotion,” Chavies said. “Having the family interact with one another is more important to me to capture. Having them do an activity together is also a good idea. If they are playing a game together or exploring nature on a walk, they you see genuine interaction, and you will get real smiles. Having them cuddle or tickle one another get the best expressions of all.”

Funnybone

Engage their sense of humor.

“I sing. I dance. Be silly. Don’t be afraid to get down on their level. Make it a game; I ask the child to show me a grumpy face then a pretty princess face. Figure out what makes the child laugh and keep doing it,” Christensen said.

Set a time limit to remind kids that the photo won’t take forever.

“Say, ‘We’re going to take some cute pictures in front of the tree for five minutes for Grandma and Grandpa, and then you can go play,’ ” Christensen said.

Color and clothing

Complement beautiful smiles with thoughtful use of colors and clothes.

“It can be a matter of personal taste, but I always say, don’t do matchy-matchy — not all white shirts and khaki pants or all white shirts and jeans — it can be striking in a photo, but it can be boring,” Christensen said. “Pick a family of colors that look good together and that you feel you look good in. You can always add a pop of color with a scarf; it’s not so much about matching, but coordinating.”

Rice cautions that too many colors will end up looking like a box of crayons and certain colors can seasonalize a photo and to consider colors that compliment your surroundings.

“I often recommend families select outfits for each family member that all fall within a carefully chosen color pallet. This helps create a sense of unity within their final images while giving them an opportunity to select colors that are best suited for their specific portrait needs,” Kessel said. “Combining medium toned neutrals such as grays, browns or tans with one or two of their favorite colors will often photograph well and will be easy to put together.”

Melissa McBride of Schwabe Studio Photography, in Dayton, says simple outfits are best.

“Too many stripes or plaids take away from what’s really important in a portrait, which is the faces,” McBride said.

Props? It depends

Consider props for that extra something.

“Props are good if used the right way,” Rice said. “If you are taking a picture of a child sitting on the floor and then start putting things in the picture, you start narrowing what you are communicating with the picture.”

Chavies recommends adding props if they enhance the theme of the session.

“Your props should make sense to the location and not clash with your outfits. If your family has a favorite hobby, add that in. If you have a family pet, bring them along,” Chavies said. “Too many props can distract, but if used as an accessory, they add just the right detail to tell the story of your family. Bring your child’s favorite toy or blanket. It will be a nice memory to have years from now. Add in those details that you will enjoy remembering about them later when they are older.”

Ideas for turning photos into gifts

“Custom designed and beautifully printed Session Albums are wonderful keepsakes that also make amazing gifts for extended family members who may not have a lot of wall space for large family portraits. For those that have reserved a special place on their walls, beautiful gallery wrapped stretched canvas portraits make lovely display pieces and available in many custom sizes and arrive ready to hang without the need for traditional framing.” — Nicole Kessel, Nicole Kessel Photography, Miamisburg

“A popular gift amongst my clients is a 3-by-3 Accordion Album. They are little books that feature some favorites from a session and fit well in mom’s purse to show off. Image boxes are another favorite for gifts. This is a box designed with a favorite image on the outside and 5-by-7 loose prints inside to flip through and display.” — Tammy Chavies, Tammy Chavies Photography, LLC, Xenia

“There is an endless variety of products to display your portraits these days. Gallery Wraps and Standouts are an alternative to traditional framed prints. Coffee-table books (both hard and soft covers) are a very popular way to present multiple photographs. Statues, playing cards, magnets, calendars — the list is almost endless. Greeting cards, of course, are still very popular for the holidays.” — Tim G. Zechar, TGZ Photo, Kettering

“The Organic Bloom, under investments on my site, make all kinds of ornate hand-carved frames that make photos look like art. Put a 3-by-3 or 2-by-3 photo into a frame and hang on stockings, trees, as gift tags. Sellers on etsy.com can make jewelry out of photos. Pinterest.com has a lot of tutorials on crafty ways to display photos including turning photos into coasters. Make photo books through Blurb.com, Shutterfly.com, Snapfish.com, Kodak.com to create a keepsake of the photos or season.” — Colleen Christensen, Colleen Captures Photography, Clearcreek Twp.