Family Tradition Photos | U-Cut Tree Farm

This post has been sponsored by At Home, but the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Since I was a young child, I have memories of heading to the Tree Farm every December and cutting down our Christmas Tree. Now, with my own kids, it is an event that we look forward to each year. We always take family photos when we go to the Tree Farm, and last year we expanded it by taking our Radio Flyer wagon and breaking out the tripod. For 2016, thanks to At Home, we’ve made it a special family photo shoot.

At Home asked 9 bloggers to share a favorite holiday tradition. Well, choosing the tradition of cutting our tree was a simple decision. It’s one of my favorite annual activities, and one of my favorite events to photograph. It’s always easier to get great shots of the kids when they are having fun, and this activity encourages play.

So how did we create a memorable experience and memorable photos? Let’s get started.

U-Cut Tree Farm Photos

#1 Find the perfect tree

Well, it won’t be perfect, of course — and that’s actually one of the beautiful things about a live tree! However, there are certain qualities we look for in a Christmas tree:

• a fairly straight trunk
• a nice shape to the overall tree and branches
• enough open space between the branches to hang ornaments {aka. not overly full}
• no large bare or dead spots
• a top that will work well with a tree topper

#2 Decorate the tree

Wait. What? Aren’t I getting ahead of myself? Nope. Before heading to the Tree Farm, we stopped by At Home for some simple tree-trimming supplies. I chose decorations that would pop in photos, while also working in our Christmas Home {see our Christmas Home Tour}:

• Large, Shatter-Proof, Christmas Ornaments {Red single, set of 3, set of 6}
• Large Ribbon and Bow, Tree-Topper {Red Plaid and Burlap}
• Faux Floral Stems {Magnolia}
• Neutral, Textured, Pillows {Grey Whipstitch, Cream Knitted with Fringe}
• Colorful Blankets {Red Fleece Throw}

We have a gigantic Magnolia Tree in our backyard, so the Faux Magnolia Blooms are a nod to that part of our home. I’ve grown to love the huge, white blooms and thought they would compliment a Christmas Tree. Plus, magnolia blooms are an iconic Southern floral, which seemed fitting for our Kentucky home.

As I mentioned, we’ve used the Radio Flyer for several years {a Christmas gift from the Grandparents}, so I chose red ornaments, a ribbon, and blankets to echo the color of the wagon. Each of our outfits had pops of red, to keep everything cohesive.

Finally, several pillows were essential for providing comfortable spots to sit during the photos. I wanted it to feel homey and cozy, like Christmas. The linen-weave and knitted pillows add texture to the photo, but the neutral colors keep them from becoming a focal point.

#3 Let the kids play for candid photos

We gave the kids each a few of the large ornaments as props. Props in photos aren’t just for looks, they can actually make the photo shoot simpler. Not that this will surprise anyone, but kids don’t like to sit still. A few interesting props can make all the difference. While they are playing, take photos from a variety of angles.

#4 Take group photos, even if there’s no photographer

Best case… you’ve got a photographer to tag along with you. However, in most instances, that’s not how it works. So how do we get family photos when it’s just the four of us? I set my camera to “timer” and place it on a tripod. The camera timer is plenty long enough for me to set up the photo and still be in the picture. We generally do 5-10 group photos, hoping to get at least one good picture.

Christmas Tree Decorating Tips & Tricks

This tree may be my favorite, ever. It’s a Norway Spruce, with a solid, straight trunk that fit well in the tree stand. The branches have ample room for hanging ornaments and aren’t too thick, leaving access to the trunk. I ran a strand of large, clear bulbs up the tree trunk which brightens the entire tree. It’s bright enough to see heavy ornaments that must be hung closer to the trunk.

The outer branches are wrapped in several strands of small colored lights and beaded garlands. I stuck the magnolia floral stems into the branches and hung the large, red ornaments, before filling in the rest of the tree with small ornaments.

Our tree doesn’t have a theme or color palette, but I do try to repeat some elements in order to create cohesiveness. There is a general vintage farmhouse look that is evident in:

• Plaid & Quilted Tree Skirt
• Red Wooden Beads
• Handmade Ornaments
• Burlap & Plaid Bow Tree-Topper
• Magnolia Floral Stems

Even the cozy pillows ended up near the tree, warming up our couch and chair for winter. This was my first time to check out At Home’s pillow collection before, and I was very impressed! I’m pretty picky about throw pillows — I’ll only buy them if they have a removable cover and include a high-quality filling {filling that will “chop” and is soft and cushy, not stiff and puffy}, no matter how pretty. At Home’s pillows meet those requirements, the selection is huge, and the prices are affordable.

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Do you cut your own Christmas Tree? What tradition is your family’s favorite?

Visit 8 more blogs {links below the photo} to see how they celebrate Christmas with a special tradition. Here’s a glimpse:

At Home with Zan | Sunshine and Munchkins | My Life from Home | An Alli Event | Restyle it Wright
Craftivity Designs | Blue i Style | Loveland Lodge | Making Joy and Pretty Things

Plus, enter the giveaway below, for your chance at $100 to At Home and celebrate tradition in style.

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