Everyone who sends a photograph as a Christmas card wants it to be a great one. It can also become a slice of family history.

“A great holiday card will emphasize endearing aspects of the season,” said Katherine Mickle, associate professor of art at Slippery Rock University, specializing in photography.

That emphasis isn’t achieved by people wearing perfectly matched clothing, like a family in a clothing catalog.

Bob Napoletan of Napoletan Photography, 306 N. Main St., said clothes should coordinate well, but they don’t have to be exactly the same style or color.

Michele Napoletan, who also works with the business, said solid colors usually look good.

“You want to stay away from polka dots and wild patterns. It takes the focus off the faces,” she said.

“Pick out all the outfits for the family and lay them out on your bed and go about your business,” Bob Napoletan said. “When you come back and look at them, if there is one outfit that stands out over all the other outfits, you may want to replace it. The same thing will happen when you look at the final portrait.”

He recommends clothing with long sleeves or at least a three-quarter sleeve. The less skin showing, the more the photograph will be like a portrait, he said.

He said every person in a group photographed by a professional is posed to some extent.

“It is casual posing that does not look posed,” he said. “We pose every single person slightly so they look better.

“Probably 75 percent of the families that are 40 and under want to be outside, weather permitting.”

Christine Border of Border Studios in Harmony agreed families prefer outdoor settings and more natural environments, especially when the leaves are brilliant.

“Pennsylvania is so beautiful in the fall,” she said. “More natural light and a more natural environment is always more appealing.”

Some people prefer a do-it-yourself approach. To take a nice outdoor portrait, Bob Napoletan said, “Do it in the very late afternoon, about two hours before sunset.”

“They may want to have the sun actually coming from behind so the people in the photo aren’t squinting,” he said. “Overcast days are better for an amateur trying to create a nice image.”

A bright sunny day can mean shadows that don’t complement the faces. He said, “It’s all about the face. Lighting on the subject’s face.”

“Don’t expect to get the perfect shot by taking only one photo. Many photos should be taken to find one or two great images,” Mickle said. “Trying different compositions of the same subject will provide more chances of finding the right shot.”

“Try minimizing backgrounds, unless they add significantly to the subject or mood of the photograph. Determining what is important about an image can also help decide camera orientation,” she said.

“Let the subject matter dictate whether a photo is horizontal or vertical,” Mickle said. “Is the main subject taller than wider? Then go vertical.”

The Napoletans do a lot of their work in their studio, especially when it is cold outside.

“[People] don’t realize what a professional studio can do with the background, the sets and the lighting,” Bob Napoletan said.

Family photographs mean children in the studio.

“Depending on the age of the children, it is nice to come in after a nap so they aren’t tired,” Bob Napoletan said.

“If you have children 4 and 5 or younger, their attention spans for pictures are maybe 15 to 20 minutes and they are done. You have to get the pictures in 15 minutes with young children to get the best pictures,” he said.

Border said pets also come to photography sessions. This year she will set aside an entire day for pet photographs.

Border said the best way to get good facial expressions is to help the subjects relax.

“You’re going to get natural expressions that are happy,” she said. “Relaxing and posing is the key.”

Mickle said a joke or story can help a photographer set the mood.

“Use what you know about the subjects to try to get the desired expression,” she said. “Want a genuine smile? Ready the camera by preparing all camera settings first. Then say something that you know will make them laugh, taking several consecutive shots as you do.”

Border said a holiday photography session is a good opportunity for family portraits. However, if the family dresses for Christmas, then the photograph will be dated by the season.

“I really want them to be able to put that on their wall,” Border said. “Remember you can use a holiday card template to make a beautiful family portrait festive for the season.”