How to avoid extra stress this time of year!
It is very quickly getting to that time of year where your to-do list is longer than your arm! On top of all the things that you have to take care of, you suddenly remember in the thick of things (and often in late November) that you haven’t found the perfect picture for the Christmas cards! Now you have to find a photographer that has time in their schedule. And you will have to get the cards order, picked up and delivered! All this does is add more stress to the already stressful part of the year. No one likes to feel that way, so here are my top 5 tips for a stress free Christmas family photography session.
1. Book early for your Christmas family photograph!
The biggest favor you can do for yourself is plan ahead and plan early! I’m posting this in late October as a reminder to book your Christmas session in the next few weeks and have one done in the first half of November, hopefully before life gets too crazy. This alone can save stress. You will not have to fit it in somewhere. And any reduction in stress makes for a more enjoyable session for everyone!
2. Decide what kind of Christmas family photography session you want!
Are these just going to be portraits of the kids? Are these portraits of the whole family? Decide which images you are wanting so you can avoid the “I wish we had done . . . ” later. And if you want my opinion, there should be at least one image of mom and dad with the kids, even if you don’t put it on the Christmas card! Are you wanting serious poses? Or is everyone going to be a little silly?
3. Pick out the outfits days before the Christmas family photography session!
Decide what it is that everyone is going to wear. Is everyone going to be in matching Christmas jammies? Are you going to be in fancy dresses and suits?
Whatever style you choose, be sure you figure it out in advance. Do you already have outfits to wear at home? If you do, make sure you (or the kids or hubby) try them on ahead of time! There is nothing worse than getting up the day of your session and trying on the suit pants you last wore for your sister’s wedding last year to find they no longer fit. Meanwhile, the kids have grown 2″ since last Christmas and that ugly Christmas sweater you thought was too big for them last year suddenly is two sizes too small. Try them on and replace them as necessary.
Your photographer will be able to give you some advice on what they think is best to wear for their specific backdrop. Additionally, you can check out my blog post, Family Christmas Photo Outfit Ideas, for more tips.
4. Talk to the family in advance.
Kids and husbands don’t always love having portrait sessions sprung on them at the last minute. And grumpy people tend to smile less during the session. Chat with them ahead of time. Set expectations of them and answer any questions they may have. Tell them about what they can expect from the session and how long they are going to be there. In fact, it sometimes helps to make an afternoon of it, and plan something fun to do after the session – a fun meal at their favorite restaurant if you’re already dressed up or a trip to the park if the weather permits. Having things discussed before hand will make everyone feel at ease during the session.
5. Let kids be kids!
Kids are going to be kids. In all honesty, little ones and toddlers are likely going to be interested in the props and the set and will want to engage with them. With that said, accept the fact that you may not get all the perfect poses. They may sit with a prop in their lap during the photos. Rest assured that your photographer will still get you amazing images. Forcing a young child into sitting or posing in a certain way is sure to lead to disaster, so it is best to take their lead and work with it.
And for a bonus tip . . .
6. Relax and have fun at your Christmas family photography session!
The best thing you can do in your Christmas family photography session is relax and remember to have fun! It will come across in your images as more natural smiles, and not just look like you had fun, but portray that you actually DID have fun. And isn’t that the point?
I hope this helps to reduce your stress during the upcoming crazy season and that you found something here to be useful. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know which tip you found most helpful! Also, head over to my Families gallery for more inspiration for outfits for any time of year.
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