This morning I have just a quick tip for all you mamas out there trying to get sweet pictures of your kiddos (especially as we move into the holiday season). It’s pretty simple, really. Figure out what makes them laugh . . . and then use it. Every. Single. Time.

For my kids, I know that if I can loosen them up and ask for a few silly faces, then the resulting pictures will be the ones I keep. On this particular day, it was right after school (I try to take one quick picture of the together after school each week), and you can see the progression.

 Not happy. Goofy faces Hello, real smiles. (Although, I honestly prefer just the goofy one.)

Another good idea is just asking them to hug, or touch foreheads, etc. Now I know my own kiddos well enough to realize that my son is going to think this is RIDICULOUS and my daughter is going to love it and giggle her head off . . . which will then make my son smile. Win!

Here’s another example. This first one is perfectly fine.

But the second one has real smiles and is silly, and I love it.

So find something they’ll laugh at, ask them to link hands, arms, foreheads, etc., and, finally, ask them to get a little closer. My kids don’t do this quite as well now that they’re 10 and 7, but even just a year ago, it was a breeze to ask them to go cheek-to-cheek for a quick picture.

Don’t give up on getting cute sibling pictures. It’s important to go ahead and get your settings ready before asking them to jump in the picture (because impatient kids do not make pretty pictures), and try not to get upset if they’re not cooperating. Toss in a joke, ask them to tell each other a secret (for smaller ones), challenge one to kiss the other (sure to produce groans as well as giggles), then snap away.