Holiday family photos are not easy to shoot but such a beautiful moment when they turn out perfect.
Redwood City, 2015
Checking the light, the location, exposure (especially shutter speed), arranging a natural pose, then evoking some emotion are the basic steps to putting together a memorable shot.
Pro Tip: High ISO is fine with top cameras like the D4s, it keeps the shutter speed up to 1/250, critical when shooting kids, etc.