HOLIDAY CARD SESSION TIPS

If you're anything like me, taking a family photo each year is pretty much solely for the purpose of a holiday card, and I've learned that making it too difficult (i.e. timing and location) only makes me procrastinate. My parents are a great example of a family that took one family portrait when I was about ten and we never did another one! Why? Because it was a whole bunch of trouble for my mom - scheduling, picking fancy outfits, traveling to a studio, and then paying an exorbitant fee for ONE image. #notworthit

Taking a great family photo every year shouldn't be something you dread - it should be easy and relaxed and, dare I say, fun?? These tips will make it something to look forward to each holiday season:

1. MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The holiday photo season comes up fast! Most people don't have the holidays on their mind in August, but with back-to-school followed quickly by Halloween, it's easy to totally forget about it until the first week of November, at which point it's usually too late. Mark your calendar NOW for August to book your session. You'll likely have your pick of dates and the most difficult item of all will be DONE before school even starts.

2. MAKE IT A QUICK ONE

After doing this a few years now, I've learned 1 hour is usually too long for families that are mostly just looking for 7-10 great shots for holiday cards and a few frames each year. With kids (and, let's be honest, husbands!) that can be less than enthusiastic, an hour can feel loooooooong. Stick to my 15 or 30-minute mini session options and you won't believe how painless it is!

3. PICK THE OUTFITS EARLY, AND INSTEAD OF SHOPPING - ACCESSORIZE!

As much as possible, try not to pressure yourself to go shopping for the occasion - that will just make your head hurt with all the options! Staying neutral across family members makes it easy to coordinate, and won't clash with any potential holiday card designs - denim, black, white, cream, beige, gray - they can usually be mixed and matched fairly well. Start with yourself wearing something you feel good in, then coordinate everyone else around that. From there, add any accessories you can find - it's amazing how fairly basic outfits can up their style-game just by adding a necklace, headband, hat, vest or tie!

4. TRY A WEEKNIGHT

If it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility, I encourage families to try to find a weeknight to get it done. 5pm in August-October offers beautiful light, and you'll be done in time for dinner! Schedule an evening for everyone to get home from work a bit early, order pizza for dinner, get the kids ready, and voila - done without feeling like it takes up those precious weekend hours.

5. MAKE IT WORTH IT

As busy parents, we always have the best of intentions of what we'll do with our family portraits (besides holiday cards, of course). You imagine a perfectly curated photo gallery wall, sending prints to family, creating photo gifts, etc., but let's face it, it usually ends up just feeling like more work. These things I do every year with our family photos makes them visible all year long and creates lasting enjoyment, making it totally worth the effort every year:

* Use one to update your social media cover photo and/or profile picture

* Have just one or two frames in your home where you swap in the current family portrait each year

* Use one for the cover of your annual photo book (I use Shutterfly to make ours)

* Use them for a custom calendar, either on every page, or just the December page to close the year out (again, I use Shutterfly)

Now, who's ready to get EXCITED about taking family photos??