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The holiday season is upon us! It’s time to take your holiday family photos, if that’s you’re thing. I was talking to my friend, Jessica, today and she mentioned she wants to take holiday family photos for the first time 🙂 She asked for some tips and after our chat, she suggested sharing them on the blog. I thought it was an excellent idea because taking professional photos can feel overwhelming. This one is for you, Jessica!
Holiday Family Photos: Pro Tips For Great Photos
Make Pinterest Boards
This is my number one tip. I started with a general holiday photoshoot board. I pinned festive photos for Christmas and New Years. Once I actually book the shoot, I then add photos based on the specific location. I did this last year with our Palace of the Fine Arts shoot. I searched photos to find outfit inspiration, pose ideas and spots within the location to shoot. I saved the pins I liked best and shared them with our photographer. I also keep an anniversary photos board. Anniversary photos are a great way to celebrate your love and can be used for holiday cards.
Choose Memorable Shoot Locations
If you have a special place, take your photos there. Joe and I loved Central Park when we lived in New York. Luckily I managed to take anniversary photos there (with our wedding photographer!) shortly before we moved. I really enjoy looking back at my Central Park photos because I have so many fond memories there.
Consider Your Surroundings
When selecting your outfit(s), think about your environment. Is your photoshoot indoors or outdoors? What colors will be in your background? If your shoot is outside, what is the expected weather? Consider the time of day you’ll be shooting and how the light will be. Think about choosing clothing pieces that work with the surrounding colors, lighting and weather conditions.
Have Options
To build off my previous tip, it can be helpful to pack extra outfit options for unexpected circumstances. Whether there is surprising weather or you decide you want to go a different way with your look, it can’t hurt to be prepared. If you want multiple looks but don’t want to change during your shoot, pack a variety of accessories (jewelry, headbands, scarves, hats), shoes, and/or outerwear. Changing up your lipstick can also be a good way to differentiate your look.
Research Your Photographer
Once you book a photographer, save off any of their work that you particularly like. Check out their portfolio on their website, Instagram, and Pinterest. Those are all excellent ways to find poses, outfit ideas, and locations.
Take Photos Throughout The Year
If taking photos around the holidays is one thing too many, have a shoot during other times of the year. I took summer family photos in June and am considering using them for my holiday card this year.
Have Fun
This probably sounds cheesy but my best advice is to have fun. The more you can relax and enjoy the experience, the better the photos will turn out. And you’ll have some great memories!
I hope these tips help you plan your holiday family photos! It is really nice to have these photos to look back on and cherish through prints, holiday cards, and social media. I’d love to see your holiday photos this year! Share them with me on Instagram 🙂
You May Also Like:
Central Park Anniversary Photos
Palace of the Fine Arts Holiday Photos
