It is that time of year.
The Holidays are upon us.
Sometimes we think of the holidays and we think of....STRESS!
Yikes! This shouldn't be the way it is, and it doesn't have to be this year!
While I can't give you a ton of advice on how to make the turkey, get your relatives to get along or get your shopping done in a timely manner, I CAN give you some advice on having your family portrait made.
Here is my advice for a STRESS-FREE family portrait:
1. Plan ahead. Book your session NOW and don't wait until the week of Thanksgiving to think "Oh my, I need to get my Christmas Card Photos done!"
2. Be flexible. This is the busiest season for portrait photographers. While we try to accommodate all schedules, it is not always possible. Remember to schedule your portrait session for your child's BEST time. This may not be after you get off work (in fact, we call this the "worst" time in my house). If your child is hungry or tired, there is no amount of bubbles and Elmo that will make that child happy. Plan for a successful session by keeping nap times in mind. If your portrait session is outdoors, lighting is important. While it may seem awesome to have your session at noon, most of the time this is the worst time to do outdoor portraits. Early morning or late afternoon is IDEAL for most environmental locations.
3. Don't obsess about clothing. Clothing is a VERY important factor in the success of a beautiful family portrait but it is not worth obsessing over. Clothing as simple as black and jeans is easy to find and looks great in a portrait. My favorite style, however, is to pick a color family and mix and match coordinating colors and patterns to make a great and stylish combination. For example: If you pick warm tones such as gold, camel, brown, pumpkin and cream you can intermix all of those tones within a family and it will look great together. Keep in mind BOLD patterns are not a good idea, but soft or small patterns add dimension and interest to the finished portrait.
4. Try not to "over" prepare your kids. Children are best if they come to the session knowing only that they are going to have their portraits made by Mrs. Elizabeth. Over coaching them to "sit up straight", "smile right", "don't bite your lip" etc will only result in a stiff child and we will not truly be able to capture their personality. Let them relax and be a kid....and allow myself and my fabulous assistant to work our magic!
5. Give yourself more time than you think you need. There is nothing worse than arriving at a portrait session late, sweaty, cursing at your significant other and mad at everyone in the car. If you will give yourself more time to get ready and more time to get to the session, you will come to the portrait session with a relaxed and ready spirit.
As of today, Christmas is only 11 weeks away.
You've got time, but don't hesitate.
Make your appointment TODAY. Go shopping for clothes tomorrow.
Leave the rest to US!
210-497-3809
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