Along with turkey, crackers and the Queen's speech, pictures are an obligatory part of the festive period. Lisa Haynes finds out what to do if you are behind - or in front of - the camera on Christmas Day.

In front of the camera

If you're not so keen on gadgets and the word camera-shy isn't even in your vocabulary, you might find yourself on the other side of the camera lens this Christmas. Let's face it, it's not always a pleasant surprise when you see pictures of yourself.

If you hate the way you look in photos of yourself at get-togethers, you're not alone. More than 75 per cent of people said they were horrified by their appearance in party photos, according to ICM Research.

"For that few moments it takes to snap your image, think to yourself, 'I feel great!'. Your posture will automatically improve, your eyes will sparkle and you will look relaxed and confident," recommends Suzanne Salvo, co-owner of Salvo Photography.

She has these basic rules for achieving snaps of yourself that will take pride of place on the mantelpiece.

STANDING

"For a standing pose, begin by pointing your best foot directly at the camera. Which one is your best foot you ask? It's the one on your best side of course," Suzanne says.

"With your foot on your best side forward, position your back foot at a 45-degree angle behind. With your arms comfortably down at your sides, put all of your weight on your back foot. This will pull you shoulders up and back, improving your posture. It will also turn your body at a slight angle to the camera, which is slimming and flattering.

"Don't put your hands on your hips unless you want to look like a scolding mother and don't clinch your fists - people do this without knowing it. Do consciously relax your neck and shoulders and tilt your head slightly to one side."

SITTING

"For a sitting shot, position your chair so it is at a 45-degree angle to the camera and facing into the dominant light source such as a window, sun or lamp," Salvo advises.

"Sit on the edge of the chair, never letting your back come in contact with the back of the chair. Leaning back in the chair will make you look slouchy. Place your hands on your knees and then slide them up to the top of your legs. This will pull your shoulders back and improve your posture. Turn only your head and neck toward the camera and relax.

"Cock your head slightly toward the light source. This head position adds what photographers call modeling to your facial features. Modeling results when the light source is off-angle to your face, creating shadows and adding depth and dimension. This is much more flattering than the harsh flat light that results from on-camera flashes that smack the subject straight in the face.

"Standing or sitting, relax and feel confident. And remember to think happy thoughts!"

Behind the camera

Whether you're unwrapping a digital camera for the first time this Christmas, or you've just never found the time to read that instruction manual, there's a few basics to mastering the perfect picture. Michael Freeman, author of new book The Complete Guide To Digital Photography, has these top hints for dabbling with digital cameras: 1. Resolution continues to be the premium quality in digital cameras. The more the better, and the more costly.

2. A zoom broadens the subjects that you can tackle.

3. Wide-angle lenses are the choice for shooting crowded places and showing people in their setting - perfect for parties.

4. Swivel-mount screens are often a feature of more expensive cameras, which enables the user to hold the camera at unusual angles.

5. Make use of the LCD screens. They show a wealth of information including battery status, exposures taken, image size and the menu bar.

With Christmas being a sociable time for friends and family, people are almost certainly going to be in the frame on your festive snaps. But aside from set up posing shots, Michael recommends the best way to capture unique moments featuring people: "Even if you have seen a likely picture in advance, pointing the camera in anticipation - waiting for someone to walk into the frame or complete some action - will usually ruin your chances," he warns. "It is much better to wait for the moment, then raise your camera and shoot immediately. If there is a rule anywhere at all in this, it is not to hesitate, even for a second or two."

Though the display screen on digital cameras offer untold benefits to change the way you shoot, it can also be a drawback in snapping those impromptu moments.

Michael explains: "The one drawback of the screen is that by offering possibilities for proofing and composing, it can slow down the photography, which is not likely to matter with landscapes, but can lose you some pictures with others, such as action shots."