5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Christmas Mini Session

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But when you have pies to bake, presents to buy, that one family member you’re nervous to see, so many get togethers to attend, AND you need to book a Christmas photoshoot, plan outfits, and hope your kids cooperate… it doesn’t always feel so wonderful.

Allow me to take a few of those things off of your plate over the course of a few paragraphs!

Tip # 1 Book a Photographer with a Direct Booking Link

As incredible as the personal experience can be (especially in an age of AI), you’ve got enough to do. Going back and forth with your photographer to get your session booked does not need to be on your agenda. Find a photog whose work you love (more on that in the next tip), check their FB or Instagram bio for a minis booking link, click the link and follow the steps to book. It should take you no more than 5 minutes! If you can’t find a link in the bio, send them a direct message. If it takes more than 3 business days for them to reply, move on to the next photog you love. This may seem harsh, but communication plays a huge roll in how you feel about your photographer. And how you feel about your photographer affects how you feel about your photos.

Tip #2 Book A Photographer That Is Advertising their minis with THEIR work.

This is so important. Like insanely important. Please don’t book the photographer that’s using “not my work, pic for inspo” in their advertising. While that photographer has EVERY intention of using that pic for inspo, you aren’t seeing the set up you’re actually getting with that advertisement. You also may love the colors and editing style of the inspo photo but maybe the photog doesn’t edit that way. It’s always the BEST bet to go with a photographer that has taken the time to go to the studio they’re shooting at (or tree farm), build their set, take sample photos and show you what you’re getting when you book. And if you’re a photographer reading this, please do it! It takes time and money and that’s a sacrifice but it’s really important for managing client expectations.

Tip #3 Wear Coordinating Outfits, Not Matching

If your whole family is wearing red and black plaid, this not only minimizes contrast and gives the affect that everyone’s body is one unit, it also draws the eyes away from your GORGEOUS faces and to the pattern you’re wearing. If you LOVE plaid, totally use it. But put 1-2 members of the family in it or use it as an accent in a hair bow or a tie. Then put another family member in a solid colored button up shirt with no patterns; in this specific scenario a forest or emerald green would be lovely.

When it comes to coordinating outfits, you want to think in terms of color palettes rather than everyone wearing the same color. I’ve included an image from The Alyssa Noel Style Guide below that talks more about this! You’ll receive access to the full guide when you book!

Also consider the set up the photographer has and how the colors you’re wearing will look against that backdrop. If you hired a photog shooting at a tree farm, you may actually avoid green to prevent blending in with the setting!

4. Let Your Kids Be Kids (And Hire Someone Okay With That)

A good family photographer knows how to work with kids. Read reviews of the photographer you are considering to look for this specific skill being mentioned. If the parents are stressed out at a family session and begging or demanding that their kids cooperate, the kids probably won’t. But if you go into the shoot knowing that your photographer knows how to engage the kids and you follow your photographers direction. Your whole family is going to have FUN and that shows in your pics. Personally, I use a combination of games, prompts, and poses in a family session and I pivot a LOT. We will try for the traditional shot with everyone smiling at the camera, and then when the kid starts wiggling, we pivot to a tickle fight. I also always provide a treat for the kiddos at the end as an extra thank you and reward!

5. Don’t Be On Time, Be 5-10 Minutes Early

Minis are typically back to back sessions or have a minimal gap. My gap is 10 minutes. If you’re there early, not only does that ensure your session starts on time, it also gives your kids a second to adjust to a new environment before we start! However much time you think you need to get ready, give yourself an extra 20 minutes for the 3 year old to use the potty, the farm vehicle to slow you down, or the much needed stop by the coffee shop.

Mama, I hope this read took a little bit off of your already overloaded plate this holiday season. While these tips will help you maximize your Christmas Mini Session experience, the important thing is to just have professional photos done at all. Each season of our children’s lives is fleeting, we can’t rewind time and get pics of our kids at 5 years old when they’re now 7. A selfie with ¼ of our face in it, just isn’t the same as a photo of us holding our babies! Is it hard to get our kids to a photoshoot? Yes, it can be overwhelming! That’s why a mini session is the way to go. It’s a relatively low cost, low time investment opportunity to have this season of life documented with you in it. So this is me encouraging you to not wait until next year, or the perfect time, or when you look a certain way. Just go for it, Mama. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth it.