Hiring a professional might take some of the work out of picture day, but don't stress if you want to capture your own photos. "If you are going to pick out a Christmas tree, bring your camera (or cell phone) and capture some photos of your kids in the moment," Aldridge suggested. "Embrace the personalities in your family — the best photos are not always the ones with everyone looking at the camera and smiling! I love to include the 'blooper' photos for my clients, and it amazes me how often these end up on their Christmas cards. So interact with one another, be candid, and most importantly, have fun!"