In Studio Holiday Minis 2025
Photoshoots help preserve family memories and capture a moment in time. When you book a holiday mini in the studio, you need to prepare to make this session a success, so let me give you my favorite tips and tricks for making this session your best ever!!
These are my favorite tips for wardrobe planning and day of coordination:
- Accessories- Now is the time to wear the sparkle. Statement necklaces, sparkly earrings and warm cozy scarves. Holiday sessions are a time to show off your style.
- Compliment your figure–don’t wear clothes that are too tight or loose, or clothes that may draw attention to your insecurities. If you're wearing layers, make sure you're happy with how your figure looks beforehand. Wear something you feel confident in. Tight short dresses do limit poses.
- Wrinkle Free & Try it on- Please make sure your clothes are wrinkle free and stain free. Please have everyone try on their clothes and walk around in them to make sure you will not have any wardrobe malfunctions.
- Shoes & Boots- Don't forget shoes! Footwear really pulls together an outfit so whether it's cute boots or sparkly shoes, coordinating footwear for your outfit is super important. If it's a fancy shoe that the kids won't wear, bring a change of footwear to get to where the shoot is happening and then change right before the photoshoot begins. I have a 100% success rate of bribing a child into wearing their shoes.
- Bare feet are adorable in pajamas! Feel free to skip the footwear if you're doing a PJ session!
- Hair & Grooming- Ladies-Style away! Feel free to bring your comb and touch up as needed throughout the session.
- Men, please shave the morning of your session and haircuts are best the week or two before. Ladies, if you schedule a blowout, please check the salon's cancellation policy.
- Pick your vibe. When you imagine what your holiday card is going to look like, what are you picturing? Are you picturing red flannel and warm cozy fleece? Do you envision elegant dress wear and champagne colored undertones? Or do you want everyone in matching PJs? Please let me know your vision so I can bring the coordinating props and plan accordingly!
- Start with One Person's Outfit and Go From There- Choose your favorite outfit and then pick colors from that outfit to coordinate the rest of your family. Ladies, I recommend choosing your outfit first if you want to love your photos. Work slowly from there- picking a color or two from your outfit and building out.
- For easy coordinating, stick to a color palette of 3-5 colors. Start with one article of clothing and pull colors from that for everyone else to wear. Avoid everyone wearing the same color tops or bottoms, mixing it up helps prevent people blending together in the photograph. (Unless you're doing family matching PJs. Then match away! ) I also recommend considering color palettes that can coordinate with your home if considering hanging the images in print or canvas.
- Holiday colors. Deep rich reds, elegant greens, golden champagne, sparkling silver. These are the colors we love for the holidays. But feel free to get adventurous. Jewel tones blues and purples, winter whites, etc. Please make sure the tones from one outfit to the next don't clash. There are many shades of each color so coordinate and match, don't clash!
- Snacks and high impact rewards- please make sure your family eats 1-2 hours before the session to avoid anyone being “hangry” but please avoid any food or snacks that will stain the teeth or mouth area. I always have marshmallows with me when photographing children because they're small and white and leave no stains. If you don't want me to pull them out, please consider bringing an alternative. Sometimes a bribe goes a long way.
- Things to pack & things to leave behind- Please plan to have nothing in your pockets. Sunglasses are best left in the car. Apple Watches should be removed. Transition lenses do not photograph well, however regular eyeglasses or blue light glasses are fine.
- Let me guide the session- I truly want your photos to be the most amazing pictures you've ever taken. The best way to get there is to have fun and enjoy the experience. Yes, sometimes kids will be a little wild or take a few minutes to warm up to the idea of sitting for a photo. It's not the most natural thing so many children will need a bit of magic and trickery to get the smiles! As a studio photographer for many years, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I will pull them all out! Children who are being themselves look beautiful in the final product. So please try to have fun!!
- See you this season!!
