Getting your holiday cards made and mailed

Getting the perfect holiday card pictures can seem quite daunting when balancing the madness of being a new mom, caring for older children, and still getting the whole family camera ready. But something about your growing brood still makes you want to immortalize these precious years. Need some guidance? Don’t fret, Alexandra Shafter from tutus and trousers photography gives us her top tips to get through your shoot still smiling.

Prepare, prepare, prepare

Just like any outing with our little nuggets, being prepared can save us from some major meltdowns in the middle of our shoot. Make the day go smoothly by packing enough snacks to make sure no one gets hangry and goes off the rails.

Bring reinforcement

Remember to bring the kids’ favourite toys—it’ll keep the older ones happy, and they can be used to get the younger one’s attention. You might also want to bring along a playlist of your children’s favourite songs. Anything to keep them in the mood to cooperate.

Don’t force it

Sometimes asking kids to look at the camera or pose isn't the best way to get them to smile. Ask them to make each other laugh or look at each other. Makes them feel more conformable and natural!

Before the shoot…

Picking the right photographer

Choosing a photographer is a personal choice. Some people like more posed and "catalogue" like photos while others might just want some more natural lifestyle photos. Knowing what you want out of the session will help you decide on the right photographer for your family.

Stay on schedule

Work backwards from the date you’d like your Holiday Cards to be received and create a timeline. Some photographers take longer to edit than others, so it’s best to ask your photographer of choice what their turnaround time is. This way you can allow enough time for the production of the cards and time to mail them out.

Deck your family in Holiday Matching PJs for a coordinated look. Check out these Editor’s picks.