Holiday photos.  Those words are enough to make the most calm and organized mama stop dead in her tracks.  Shopping for outfits, convincing your spouse and wrangling the kids together can all seem hectic but it doesn't have to be that way at all.  Holiday photos should be fun, festive and an annual tradition for every family.  Hiring a professional photographer for your holiday photos can take a lot of the stress out of the whole process.  The good news is that starting to plan for the holidays, sooner rather than later, can help your wallet and your stress level.  

So why should you hire a professional and why are holiday photos such a special tradition?  Here are a few of my favorite holiday photo tips that I love to share with all of my clients.

1.  Timing is everything!  Book your photos early in the Fall months and you'll have plenty of time to create the perfect holiday card.  Scheduling sessions early also means warmer weather so we don't have chattering teeth and blue lips in our photos.  Many photographers begin advertising and booking holiday sessions in late September and early October.  Be on the lookout for specials and mini or petite sessions.  They are great time savers and often less expensive than full family sessions.  They are designed to give you a few photos for a holiday card or gift that are sampling of the photographers work.

2.  Holiday photos are not only great for greeting cards but they make excellent gifts.  Maybe you're not sure what to get for grandma or you have the one family member who just "never needs anything."  I guarantee their eyes will light up when they open a photo gift such as a canvas or framed print.  

3.  The holidays are also a great time to share the love and connect with those friends and family that we don't see as often as we would like.  Many families use holiday photos to craft a fun end-of-the-year update to send to loved ones.

4.  Many photographers do holiday or winter themed sessions around the holidays.  I know I always love to come up with new ideas to tell the story of the season.  Some of my favorite memories have come from holiday photo sessions. 

Can you tell that I really love holiday photos?  They really are some of my favorite session of the year because I get to be creative, festive and a little silly.  I try to incorporate traditions that I loved growing up or special props that remind me of holiday time with my family.  If you've never considered holiday photos or you want to take the stress out of it all, please contact me.  I work with all of my clients on booking a session that fits their needs, clothing selection, styling and ordering prints after the session.  I can even help you customize your holiday cards.  It couldn't be any easier.  

Book your holiday photo session today!  My theme this year will be Cozy Cocoa on the Farm!  Check out my Mini Session page for more info or to book.

Ideally, you'll want to start thinking about your senior portraits the summer before your senior year.  This will give you enough time to contact senior portrait photographers in your area and compare portfolios, price and style.  Also, shopping around early is great because many senior portrait photographers offer incentives to seniors that book early or serve as senior reps for that studio.  Make sure you ask this of any senior portrait photographer that you're considering.

Once you have a short list of senior portrait photographers, you should prepare some questions for them.  Think about what you really want from your photos and ask yourself, what is my style?  Do I have a specific vision for these photos?What do I want to highlight as being unique to me?  Once you've figured out what YOU want from the session, you'll want to interview some photographers. 

Here are some great questions to ask your photographer:

How did you get started in photography and what experience do you have?
Do you provide digital images, prints or both?
Can I bring props to my session?
Can I include other people or pets in my photos?
Also be sure to check out their portfolio and visit their website and/or social media pages.  You should look for a consistent style of work within their portfolio.

The photographers that you interview should also have questions for you.  This will help to ensure that you are both a good fit for working together.  You want someone who understands you, your style and your vision but it is also important to trust your photographer to create art in their specific style.  

Congratulations!  You've selected your senior portrait photographer.  Now what? Your photographer should work closely with you and to talk about location, styling of the session, clothing and timing for your session.  Ideally, you'll shoot your senior portrait session in the Fall.  Temperatures are usually pleasant, weather is more stable and that opens up different options for outfit selection as well as location.  After the details are all planned out there is only one thing left to do...relax and enjoy your session.  

​Your senior portrait photographer will likely work with you on locations (usually one to two different locations) to capture you in various settings.  I suggest at least 3 outfit changes for a senior portrait session.  It is your photographer's job to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your session.  Most importantly, your senior portrait session should be fun!

While finding a senior portrait photographer can seem daunting, it really is something you'll want to put some thought into.  Involve your family in the planning process and remember to focus on finding a quality and established professional.  Cost is an important factor but most importantly you should expect quality work and also have a genuine connection with the photographer that you select.  My last piece of advice; if it seems too good to be true then it probably is.  Your senior portraits are a huge milestone in your life and you'll want a true professional to capture these important moments in beautiful and timeless images.