Photos by Amanda Sinni Photography
How to Take Perfect Holiday Photos
It’s that time of year again: prepping for the holidays! Part of this holiday prep is everyone’s yearly family photo session with their favorite photographer in order to create the perfect Christmas card or holiday card. I love sending one out; picking that perfect design — and everyone has his or her own unique style — that reflects who you are as a family is actually quite a big decision for many. I know I put a lot of time into it. I also love receiving everyone else’s cards. It’s a great way to see how everyone has grown and changed over the last year and a great way to keep in touch with old friends.
Noelle’s Tips for Taking Great Holiday Pics
I’m well aware that we all have our own opinions about what makes the perfect family photo, but there are some things you can do to ensure that your outfits look cohesive, the smiles are there, and the picture is exactly what you want. I chatted with fellow small business owner (and she’s a photog too!) Noelle Bryant, owner of Coastal Kids, to get her take on how to take amazing family photos during the holiday season. And PS – her daughter Johanna is wearing cuteheads’ Forget Me Not Dress in brown & pink (available in 4 other color combos too) in the pics shown here!
1. What style were you going for in this session?
When it came time for my littlest daughter, Lola’s six month pictures I knew I wanted to sneak in some family shots too. Having two under two means my main fashion goals these days are comfort! We got this amazing dress from cutehead for Johanna to wear and the colors matched Lola’s outfit perfectly! I wanted a fun, relaxed, lifestyle shoot to capture the true craziness of our everyday. Johanna being strong willed and making her presence known and little Lola just starring at her big sister’s every move. I think we accomplished that with one pic:
2. What’s your advice for styling the whole family for a family shoot?
My biggest piece of advice is to do what is natural for you! The best shots are the ones with real laughs and smiles. As for styling, I love color coordinating the family. I typically pick one POP of color and the rest neutral. This way your pictures won’t look to cluttered with various color schemes and patterns. Here I chose the magenta/pink as the pop of color and brown/tans as the neutral. I think the colors really flow.
3. Any tips for getting kids to cooperate during family shoots?
Can I be honest? There’s a hint of bribery going on behind the scenes. I’m not going to say bribing is the BEST way but keeping the kids happy is the most important part and it just so happens that yogurt bites keep my little girl happy. So I make sure to keep them well stocked on the side line! But also, just relax. Let the kids do what they do. We were lucky enough to have my great friend, Amanda Sinni, take our photos and she was so good about capturing our real moments. Johanna would be running around and she never stopped snapping pictures. Some of my favorites are the unprompted ones that she snapped!
4. What should you NOT do when planning a family photoshoot?
The biggest mistake I’ve made is scheduling a time that doesn’t fit into the girls schedule (like nap time!). Make sure you pick a time that fits in to your daily schedule. The last thing you want is an over tired, hungry, irritable kid who wants nothing to do with taking photos because their mind is elsewhere. I like to schedule ours right after afternoon nap time & after the little one has her afternoon nursing session so they’re well rested and their bellies are full!
Make sure to check out Coastal Kids both online and on Instagram to see more of Noelle’s beautiful work and amazing brand.
Where is your favorite website to get holiday cards printed? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
These are great tips, and what beautiful shots!:) This post is actually pretty timely, since we’re going to be doing holiday photos very soon!
All the photos are beautiful! Thanks for sharing these tips.
These are some amazing photographs! And I really appreciate the tips. I wonder what camera was used to take these …
Gorgeous photos! Love your outfits too!!
What a great tips! I love the pink from your shirt and how it ties into your daughter’s outfit. So cute.
Great advice! We love doing a professional shoot this time every year. This will be our first time with a little one!
Aw, enjoy every minute! What a special shoot it will be for you!
These are great tips!! 🙂 I love this. I’m really working on photography skills, so I appreciate these tips.
http://www.diyjahn.com
I love doing our own family photos! There’s definitely a element of challenge to it but when you get the right formula there’s lots of money to be saved for years to come! Great job mama.
Wow, you do your own? Are you in them? That’s impressive! <3
LOL! Yes to bribery! I have to bribe my children for every picture!
I always have issues trying to co-ordinate outfits. I like your idea of keeping everything neutral with one pop of color! Great tips.
As the husband of the photographer I wanted to give a shout out to my amazing wife and photographer, Amanda Sinni. Please feel free to contact her via Facebook at Amandasinniphotography. Thank you for all the kind comments.
Happy to add a link to her, no big deal 🙂
What gorgeous photos! They captured the moments. I found the photographer on FB. Amanda Sinni Photography. Check i
Added her link! Thanks!
These are adorable! My best advice for anyone is to just go with what the Toddlers want to do! They’re much happier to pose for photos if they play around, even if it takes 10 times longer to do just a few photos!
That’s awesome advice! So true… Plus, those are the best moments anyway. I much prefer real expressions to posed, stiff shots.
The pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
We always do a little bribery for family photos 🙂 Beautiful pics!
gotta do it! 😉
great tips! I often just do one of the kids so that way i can take it myself haha
That’s a great strategy too! Whatever works!
Haha bribery solves everything! I have to say your children look gorgeous in the pictures as usual.
Yes it really does! Sometimes you just have to do it! Those aren’t my kids, I only have the one daughter, they’re the kids of the woman who provided the tips 🙂 But I agree, they’re gorgeous!
These are great tips! These photos are gorgeous!
I agree! It is just best to let kids do what they are going to do!
these are great tips and we are getting pics done soon & I can’t wait. Yours turned out great!
I totally agree that you need to make sure you schedule it right. Nap time is very important to take into count.
Great tips! I dabble in photography and just did a holiday shoot this weekend! I always suggest to my clients to dress in more solid colors with pops of patterns so they translate well on the photos!
great advice. It’s hard when the picture includes wee ones!
I love the outfits! The colors look amazing. 🙂
these area ll great tips. The best – time – make sure the session is NOT during nap time – or oh boy! not fun!
You have a beautiful family!
Thanks for the tips! My son is having holiday pics this year and I need all the help I can get!
Thanks for the great tips. We haven’t done pictures in a of couple years. I think it’s time to do it.
I try to take family pictures every year. I normally order my cards from Costco. The photos plus envelopes are only $15 for 50.
These pictures are SO pretty! We usually get our family pictures done over the summer, right around our anniversary. 🙂
Great pics! We had ours done professionally last spring. Maybe need to do it again for the holidays!
Great advice for awesome family pics, and your pics are beautiful! What a lovely family!
great tips. my daughter is old enough now that she enjoys them so it’s easy. However when she was little she had to be in something comfortable. She has always had this thing with “itchy fabric”.
These are some really great photo tips!!! Now that my daughter is 3 Ughhh… She was so easy to shoot when she was itty bitty and just listened lol
This is great! I have to do family photos soon!
Such an adorable family shoot! You guys look adorable!
Wish us luck on our first shoot with JR this Sunday! I’m scared but the first Christmas card is a big deal!! Also, see you tomorrow toots 😉