How to get ready for your Christmas mini photoshoot?
- Sara
- Oct 28, 2023
- 8 min read
I'm so happy to be capturing the cosiest Christmas memories in a few weeks time.
As my children grow; I love looking back to the photos taken especially this time of the year as Christmas really culminates in time together and the magic of childhood ❤️
This post will give you a few tips on how to get ready and I have a few request on making the photoshoot as smooth and relaxed as possible. Also I will give you some styling tips further below.
PLEASE READ THIS BIT CAREFULLY:
LOCATION
You can find my studio in this location right next to the Killarney library car park:
Just drive up this drive in the picture and I’m in that yellow flat roof extension next to Kerry Osteopathy. There is parking behind me so on the top of the drive, but as there is only 4 parking spaces between the two businesses, please arrive promptly only for your own session and park in the car park next doors if you're planning to have a wonder in town before/after.
This building is called Glenmore house with the big sign for Be pro therapy on the road,
directly opposite of O’Shea’s tyres on St Anne's road. I can nearly guarantee you have all driven past this a million times.
Please make sure you look up the exact location well in advance as I will not have time to give directions on the day. I will also not give the Eircode, because that brings you to the dentist on the next drive up (trust me you don't want to be walking all the way from there to the studio 😉 )
As I only have 30min allocated per family it is crucial you'll be on time. I know traffic happens and leaving the house with the kids can be a whirlwind, but if you arrive late, your session will be shorter.
Unfortunately there is no waiting space in the studio itself so please wait for your turn in the car or outside. I will meet you at the door.
PRACTICALITIES
As always, my aim is to capture the connection and love between you guys so where we will take the photos of everyone looking at the camera, I also hope to get those in between moments that show more personality.
I will try my very best to make your little ones relaxed and smile, but in the world of allll the cheese you don't need to practise "CHEESE" at home as genuine smiles are the very best. Please make sure you fill in the customer form as requested and that gives me enough info to approach your children. I promise you this is half the battle.
The route to the most successful family/child portraiture is a relaxed mom. Hah, easier said than done?! I'm genuinely here for you, I've photographed several hundred children at this stage - it will all go well or we'll just have a great laugh about the chaos 😀 No, but seriously - I have at this stage seen it all and always manage a gallery out so rest assured.
Just give a little thought to the styling well in advance, go through the checklist below so you can arrive in control. That's what it's all about isn't it!
I always ask not to hype up the photoshoot too much beforehand to your kids as then they'll only arrive at the scene stressed out and mightn't co-operate at all. I find telling gently what's happening and where you're going works the best.
I would leave mobile phones and tablets at home or use them as a very very last resort as the minute a child engages with the screen, it's very hard to get them involved in the photoshoot again.
IF you can, I would leave the devices from the journey over as well from both kids and parents as often the transition to being present can be really tough. I'm not trying to be holier than holy here as more than likely,when I'm taking these photos of you my own children are home playing Roadblox. Just from experience - but only if it works for your family.
If you feel like bribing is the only way to go to have your little ones co-operate, something like raisins or white buttons can be brought, but NO wet food, or chocolate or anything crumbly like crackers please.
No photographing or or filming is allowed by customers during Christmas mini photoshoots.
The final edits will be the final edits. This meaning: I have selected the very best and most flattering images of you and possibly worked all my Photoshop magic work behind the scenes 😇 If you have any particular touch up request, please let me know during the photoshoot so I can take a note. Any cuts, bruises, pimples etc are no problem to touch up.
STYLING
As every year, I want to provide you with a styling guide that I think works the best with the year's set up, but always remember that your own personal style can absolutely shine through and the more comfortable everyone is, the more relaxed you feel.
This year's set up is very soft and bright with cream and beige tones and a pop of greenery from the foliage and Christmas trees and I feel like it accommodates almost any colour.
My gorgeous promo picture family arrived in blues and navy that looked equally as gorgeous as the whites and creams I picked so I just want to show here more or less anything works. The only colour I would potentially stay away from is dusty rose / beigey pink as I find that it rarely suits anyone unless your features are particularly high contrast. I generally find that it washes out especially the kids' complexion being quite pale this time of the year.
MOMS
I want to start the style guide from you.
If you are going to be in the pictures (I really hope you are, again from experience, we are to often behind the lens when it comes to family memories), I really recommend starting the family styling from you.
I think it looks lovely if the family's clothes tie in together somehow rather than are 100% matchy matchy so if you know what you are wearing, you can pull a colours scheme from there.
You can go as glam or as casual as you like and this year I probably won't have you sitting on the floor (yay!), but I would still think of clothes that are as easy to move in as possible.
As it's Christmas photoshoot, anything knitted paired with satin or sequins looks lovely.
I find that dresses usually are very flattering.
I would advice only a light gradual tan that a full dark fake tan. It can look a little off if the rest of the family is lighter coloured and patchy tan is very difficult to retouch. Again from experience, matching make up / tan to your real skin tone is always the most flattering.
My best tip is to use this Bondi sand express foam two days before the photoshoot. I think it gives the most even and natural tan, but just mosturise your hands (and feet,elbows &knees) first properly with a normal mosturiser, apply tan everywhere with tanning mitts and then in the very end tan your hands with the residue left on the mitts. Leave for an hour to dry and wash off. I should be on commision, I truly think this is the holy grail of fake tans 😌
DADS
I think dads usually look great in a pair of chinos or jeans and a plain jumper or long sleeved tshirt. Smart casual to fit their style, but stripes don't look particularly good nor do large logos or sports clothes. I think it looks quite cute if dads and sons are in a bit similar attire style wise.
I don't think very skinny jeans and slim fit buttoned shirts look very flattering sitting down and this year's set up is based around an armchair so just be aware of that. Also, please remind dads to remove their car keys / mobiles from the pockets.
KIDS
From my point of view what works beautifully for Christmas photoshoots and is timeless and elegant for children is:
stiff cotton or taffeta dresses, smock dresses and knitted dresses and tops rather than strechy jersey
plaid shirts, plain button up grandad tops, cable knit or fair isle jumpersrather than novelty or character ones
for babies little knitted rompers and onesies look adorable
For 1-4-year olds, I think there is something quite adorable about a little bit oversized jumper.
girls can wear tights or bare legs. the studio is quite warm so actually the two model girls looked so sweet with bare legs/feet, but if this is not your cup of tea please pay attention to shoes. Have neat shoes or socks for all. Such little thing can really make a huge difference. Feet will more thank likely show in the pictures. I would pick either white or black socks for the whole family depending on the styling being lighter or darker. I would also kindly ask you to only change into the shoes your wearing in the photos at the studio as the flooring is white where the photos are taken and we're onto the wet/muddy season.
If you plan to change into Christmas pyjamas only for a few of the photos, please note the photoshoot time is only 30 minutes so all outfit changes have to be done within that time frame. So perhaps think beforehand if you feel like child/children will co-operate on this rather than stress out.
I would advice no ponytails on girls; rather plats, pigtails or loose with a bow or Alice band. Ponytails just never photographing too well from the front, except for half up-half down ponytails. Same goes for moms too.
Please avoid tight skirts/pinafores on little girls - especially babies and small toddlers - as when they sit down, the skirts will 100% ride up.
CHECKLIST
please make sure you have filled in the customer form before the photoshoot as it is your contact form and model release and I can't photograph you without it 🙏🏻
make sure you know exactly where the studio is well in advance and contact me if the
instructions above aren't clear enough. I still won't give the eircode, but will explane better 😅
start thinking about styling now and please message me if you have any questions around this. I have had people whatsapping me pictures of their outfit ideas or what they're thinking about ordering. I'm super happy to help with this any time.
On the day of your shoot make sure everybody has bellies full before the photoshoot. We want to avoid that anyone in the family is hangry.
But also: make sure all little faces are cleaned before of dry bits and food stains. Also possibly worth having a look that the teeth are clean/no food stuck between teeth as we'll be (hopefully) smiling lots.
AND LASTLY...
I can not wait to see you ❤️
The Christmas minis are truly my favourite time of the year and we always have such a lovely time. Thank you for booking and see you soon 🥰
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there's any questions between now and then!
Love, Sara xx
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