On Friday we had our annual holiday photo shoot for Aiden in his Christmas pajamas. You can read more about my round-up of holiday pjs here. I thought I would share my top 5 holiday photography tips for getting the perfect holiday pajama shot when working with a professional photographer.
5 Holiday Photography Tips When Working With a Photographer
It can be intimidating to pay for professional photos when you have a toddler who may not always want to listen. Here are my best tips for getting great holiday pictures of your toddler:
- Time it right & make sure they are well fed — It’s best to do photos at a time when your toddler is not overly tired. We usually do ours in the morning or early afternoon after a nap. You don’t want a hangry toddler at a photo shoot. I recommend a nice healthy breakfast and lunch without a lot of sugar.
- Go for a mini session — Many photographers offer mini sessions. I always think these are perfect for toddlers because they are usually not longer than 30-minutes. It’s always good to get in and out.
- Set the expectations — We always find that things go better when we explain what is going on and how long it will take. We will start warning Aiden a few days in advance and say something like, OK, we are going to eat lunch and then go to Devon’s house to take pictures. They won’t take too long. After the pictures, we can go to a playground.
- Know the photographer — If your child hasn’t met the photographer it would be a good idea to see if he/she would be willing to meet your child before the photo shoot. Aiden has known ours since he was very little so he is comfortable around her.
- Bring something that makes them laugh — You probably have a pretty good idea of what will make your child laugh — like, really laugh. Unfortunately, in our case, I am embarrassed to say, at the moment is flatulence noises 😆 Boys will be boys I guess (thanks Dan!) You better believe we warned our photographer (another advantage to knowing your photographer 😉 ) and she took it in stride. We got some great pictures with a natural laugh and smile.
A little note on bribery… I normally don’t recommend bribery and definitely not for everyday pictures; however, if you are investing in professional photos this is the time you might want to do it! I will bring stickers or a small package of M&Ms just in case things start to go south. If you go with a shorter photo shoot (as recommended above) you likely won’t need this tactic at all!
If you are in the DC Metro area, Devon Roe Photography is graciously giving away a holiday mini photo shoot to one Baby Castan on Board reader. The winner will work directly with Devon to find a mutual date and time for the session and would need to travel to Devon’s studio and purchase a print package (packages start at $89). The studio/reservation fee is waived. The deadline to enter using the widget below is November 23, 2018.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Do you do holiday photos yourself or hire a professional? I would love to hear more in the comments!
If you liked these Holiday photography tips, check out Last Minute Christmas Cards and The Christmas Snowflake: A Personalized Christmas Story.
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