Need greeting card photos? Don't stress. Has camera, will work for holiday cheer.

Hello again friends and fans. This week we bring to you the very tail end of what we were doing last year. As luck would have it, we get a lot of family photo session requests as well as greeting card photo requests right at the tail end of the year, and that is exactly what we were doing at this time (and well into December) last year.

Lots of folks consider this the best time to have photos done for a variety of reasons. The kids may be home from school or off of school, family and friends are visiting, Thanksgiving day tryptophan induced dreams... I could go on for days!

Here you can enjoy just a few shots that we barely publicized on social media, of my dear friend Duane and his little girls around the holidays. While I am at it - let's chat about ways to prepare for your holiday cards and how to "help" your photographer get that session done in your home (unless of course you want to freeze your tush off outside!).

Awww family snuggles. Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and cozy inside?

Now, let's get down to brass tacks! Here is your Holiday Photo Session plan of attack!

1. Schedule WAY in advance.

This sounds a little ridiculous. I'm sure you want those lovely, fresh-snow-on-the-ground photos for your holiday cards. The problem with this is that most of those snowy shots, if they are happening in real life, are happening way too late in the holiday season to be turned into a card with enough time to do post production, printing, delivery, turning them into cards, and finally mailing them out. What I suggest to my clients is to book a session in the early Fall for holiday cards. If you want those wintery looking shots, book a session after the holidays (January or February) and use the shots for the following set of cards.

2. Make sure the space you will use is clean and uncluttered.

If we are shooting in your home, we don't want to have to clean the place before we can shoot. We also want to have the end result be lovely photographs that have you and your family as the main focus - not some crazy looking lamp or a brightly colored toy that is not the main focus of the image.

3. Plan family outfits to "go together."

You don't have to match, but you have to look good together. Not too many patterns. No logos. Keep everyone in a color family or a set of two or three colors. Avoid fluorescent colors. They are reflective and cause strange coloring on skin in photographs.

4. Make sure that you know where a few outlets are.

We may need to plug in a light or two. It helps if we don't have to move all of the furniture in your house to access an outlet. Thanks in advance. *wink*

5. Warn your photographer about any special props you intent to use.

Thinking about using a fishing pole, basketball, truck tire, soccer ball, blocks, dolls, fine china - basically any prop that we would not predict? Ask first, or at least warn us. We want to be ready with ideas for how to incorporate your special items and not just thinking up shots on the fly.

6. Don't assume the photographer will come with props, hair, make up artists, and backdrops.

For an indoor session, I normally will bring a full set of light gear in case it is necessary indoors. However, I don't always bring a set of backdrops - nor do I enjoy using backdrops. Everyone knows that the backdrop Christmas tree is fake - so why are we using it? Anyway, I digress. Should you be interested in a backdrop, or are thinking of a specific background for your session, contact your photographer ahead of time with ideas (or mention it when you are meeting about incorporating your crazy props into the shoot). Make up and hair are also not a typical on-scene addition, HOWEVER we can usually put you in touch with the right people for the job prior to the photo session. A pre-session consultation goes a long way and will ensure that you have what is needed for the shoot.

7. Think outside of the "sitting in front of a tree or fireplace" box.

Yes, please. Let's do something fun besides sitting in front of the fireplace or the Christmas tree. Let's drink cocoa, play a board game, wear ugly sweaters, get reflection shots, play with a toy train, get shots of the kids wishing for special holiday wonders. Make your session magical by thinking up something new.

That's all for now folks. Let's hope these 7 tips are lucky and lead you to better holiday photo sessions. To book a holiday session with ME make sure to contact me ASAP at rosemcunningham@gmail.com and grab a date before we are all booked up. Speaking of planning WAY in advance - I am already booking 2015 and 2016. Save your date today.

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