How to take that great holiday photo

It's one of the few times when all your friends and family are in the same room at the same time. That makes a holiday gathering the perfect family-portrait photo op. But it's not always easy to squeeze everyone into a single, well-posed, properly-lighted shot.

Here are some tips for making the most of the opportunity:

If you use a basic point-and-shoot digital camera, or prefer to rely on the camera to do most of the work for you:

• If your lens has wide-angle capability, this is the time to use it. Zoom the lens out to its widest angle. A 28-mm-equivalent is minimally sufficient; 24-mm is better. (Our digital camera Ratings, available to subscribers, points out which cameras feature wide-angle capabilities.)
• Then set the camera to program mode. Arrange your group as a triangle, with short or seated people on the ends, heads tilted toward the middle to avoid distortion. Taller or standing people should be in the middle. (If there are too many people to fit into one row, see the more advanced tips below.)
• Reduce red-eye by placing a light behind you.
• To add a vintage holiday feel to your portraits, use the setting for sepia tones, if your camera has one.

If you have a digital SLR or a camera with advanced features that you want to use:

• If you're shooting more than one row of people, use a higher f-stop setting to increase the depth of field (focus range).
• Set the flash to the highest power available—the idea is to light the largest area you can.
• Experiment with slower shutter speeds to allow more background light into the picture, but still use the flash.
• For more tips on seasonal shooting, such as holiday-lights, gift-opening, or winter-sports shots, see our free Tips for taking your best winter shots.

For advice on how to choose a digital camera, watch our digital camera buying guide video by clicking on the embedded player at right. And you can check out our free digital camera buying advice on ConsumerReports.org for more helpful information.

—Jeff Fox