Tips for taking holiday family photos

RALEIGH, N.C. — Taking family photos are great anytime of the year, but there is something about holiday photos that makes this time of the year so much more special.

Pick a theme - Pick a color scheme or a theme for your pictures. This will help drive your search for outfits, location, and a photographer

Find a photographer - Word of mouth is always good, but also utilize your favorite social media platform to search for a photographer. It’s a great way to find someone to take those special photos, but you can also vet them by seeing the work that they have posted.

Pick out a location - Most photographers have locations that they like to frequent for holiday photos, but if you have a park that your kids love, or you’ve driven by a place that just looks nice, ask your photographer about those locations. Lighting and weather will play a part, but your photographer can give guidance on what will work best for your scheduled session.

Shop for outfits - Depending on the color scheme or theme you’ve selected, you may not have to go shopping at your favorite store. Start in your closet first. Denim is always a good foundation, and is something that is usually in one’s wardrobe. Building on that foundation with a few pops of color from other items in your closet can bring your photography budget down to zero. But for me, I like to shop, so going to my favorite store and shopping in the clearance section can also allow you to stay on budget and wear something new. Who doesn’t like wearing new things, especially when you can show them off in the family photos?! My personal favorite place to shop for kids are: Gap, Zara, Crew Cuts and H&M!

Get ready for your day - This should be the easy part, but with kids running around it takes a bit more effort. Lay out the outfits and prep hairstyles the night before. I would also suggest taking your outfits to the shoot to avoid any pre-photo stains, and most of all enjoy!!