Tips for Getting Great Holiday Photos

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Portrait Innovations but all opinions are 100% my own.

Every year I get holiday photos done of my kids and this year, as we were  getting our photos done I turned to my husband and remarked how easy it was this year to  get great photos.  Trust me when I say however that has not always been the case.

Getting holiday photos can be stressful, especially when it involves multiple children, but as the kids have gotten older and I have gotten wiser it has certainly gotten easier and I have some easy tips for you to help you get the best holiday photos of your kids this year!

 

Tips for Getting great Holiday Photos

Plan ahead–The earlier you can have your holiday photos taken the less stressed your holiday season will be.  Trust me, I know.  This year, we had them done before Thanksgiving so I had a great selection of holiday attire to chose from so I was able to easily coordinate our clothing.  By planning ahead and figuring out what everyone is going to wear in the pictures and purchasing needed items early it means that I can remove one thing from my already busy holiday schedule.  In addition, because we went so early in the season we didn’t have to deal with any crowds or scheduling issues–which leads me to my next tip.

Go at a good time–Go at a time that works best for your children. Have a baby that naps?  Then avoid scheduling them near nap time or your child will just be cranky.  Kids in school all day? Then skip the after school time slot because the last thing your kids are going to want to do is have to sit still.  For my family,  I find the best time to go is before 1 1/2 hours before lunch, everyone is fresh faced, has eaten breakfast and is ready to smile and in a good mood.

Get everything ready the night before–The night before you get your holiday photos done make sure to double check you have everything you need so that you aren’t searching for stuff right before you have to leave.   I lay out all the clothing, including tights, socks and shoes so that everyone just has to get dressed when it is time to go.

Take an emergency bag with you–I like to take a bag with a hairbrush, extra tights for my girls, bobby pins or hair ties and even some hairspray to tame wayward hair.

Have a reward in place for good behavior— My kids know that if they behave  during photos we will head out for lunch right after photos. It is a great incentive for good behavior-especially for my always hungry teens and pre-teens!

Have realistic expectations–Remember, these are your kids, not professional models so have realistic expectations.  A picture is a moment in that time in your child’s life so embrace it, imperfection, frowns and all!

Finally, go someplace that is used to dealing with kids of all ages, which is why I love to go to Portrait Innovations.  The photographers are used to dealing with kids in all times of moods and they go above and beyond to make the session a great one.

I also love that they have a large range of backgrounds to use in photos, including their popular holiday background and they always make sure to ask if there are any special poses or groupings that you want so that you are always happy with your photos.

Add in the fact that you can see your photos right away and take them home same day and it is the perfect situation for busy families.  Plus I love that I can get my holiday photo cards printed there too!

I am thrilled to be able to offer one lucky NEPA MOM reader a free Portrait Innovation holiday session so that you can go and have your holiday photos taken. Check out the Holiday Session details here and make sure visit their Facebook and Twitter page.

Giveaway Details

Session includes a free six-­‐pose package including two sheets of any size per pose two  10×13 special effects decorator portraits and one high resolution CD of all portrait images!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Holidays!