"Ahh. Uncomfortable silences and alcohol. Just like Thanksgiving at home..."

--J.D. on "Scrubs"

Today’s post comes to you live from my childhood bedroom in suburban California. I’m ‘working remotely’ as they say, so that I can be a helpful matriarch assistant at Thanksgiving. It’s strange to be on conference calls and IM’ing with my boss in New York while staring eye-to-eye with my long-forgotten teddy bear and sharing space with my Pop Warner cheerleading trophies that I ‘won’ by simply showing up in adolescence.

Besides eating and drinking, the holidays are a time for storytelling and no one plays a more crucial role in this thanThe Family Photographer – both loved and reviled. Just yesterday, mother had commented to my friend, Susie, “Geesh, she takes pictures of ev-er-y-thing!” Of course, these are the same folks who nag me to update my Flickr - weird.

So, when doing your shutterbug routine this holiday season, consider:

Plan ahead: Get a big, juicy card file and/or lots of film. Unless a shot is an obvious disaster, resist deleting or editing until Normal Life resumes.

Start early: No need to wait until the family is gathered, groomed and smiling perfectly before shooting - the holiday story starts several days before. For example, before flying out, I grabbed a shot of all the snowplows lined up at the Denver Airport, ready to go. The pre-feast grocery store trip offers great photo opps as well.

Document tradition and ritual: The youngest tribe member adding the marshmallows to the yams, Dad carving the turkey, Aunt Heather making cocktails … again – whatever you can count on year after year, grab it.

Kitchen action: Lots of movement in there - grab a corner spot and capture the flurry.

Don’t forget the wallflowers: When they sneak off to read a book, play a video game or smoke a cigarette, follow. I would also recommend asking first and letting them know they don’t have to look at the camera. Some (of us) are camera shy.

Go beyond the Posed: Candids are inevitably the favorites. A photographer buddy o’mine even includes the family fights in his holiday essays - they are always the best in the bunch and his family even digs ‘em. (I especially like the Election Year glares over the cranberries.)

Share duties: Occasionally, let others (wo)man the camera.– you’ll get a different viewpoint and you might even be in some. Plus, you need to go set the table.

Use furniture: If/when taking the classic, “Okay, everyone get together!” shot, stand on a chair. Not only does it help alleviate double chins but it incites laughter. Also, you can fit more people in and include a more complete room-view.

Grab a ‘weather’ shot: – Especially if there are glorious crunchy leaves or early snow drifts, it’s nice to see what kind of day it was.

Space it out: Pick up the camera every 30 minutes or so and snap three to five shots –you’ll get a wider variety of moods and progressive points of the day.

Be invisible: Stand just outside a group – get a shot of all the guys watching football, right before – and after - they pass out.

Consider blackmail: Get Uncle Barney while he’s drunk, or better yet, your mother.

YUM: Get some food shots, drinks too. Mess around with lighting here if you need to and get the chance. Other than being grateful, loving one another and so on, food is the main point. By all means, get the Turkey or the Tofurkey or whatever the central dish might be.

Include Rover and Fluffy: Pets are part of the celebration too, don’t forget them.

Detail, details, details: Take note of the tablecloth pattern, flower arrangement, your little cousin’s new bracelet, empty wine bottles next to the empty Pepto-Bismol bottles … not every picture needs faces.

Honor the Elders: Take the time to shoot a flattering portrait of the oldest family members – they are a treasure.

Host and/or Hostess too: Get a special shot of the folks who are opening up their home, cupboards and dishwashers for this occasion. That's you, Mom! THANKS.