Why I'm Encouraging Families to Take Their Holiday Photos Now

Every year, it happens...... The weather turns colder.

Calendars start filling up. Hello back-to-school nights. Early release days. Curriculum nights. School picture day. Sports practices. Work meetings. Teacher conferences. Birthday parties. Holiday gatherings. The list goes on and on.

Before you know it, every square on the calendar has something written in it.

The school year is in full swing. The sun starts setting before dinner.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, someone remembers...

"We still need holiday photos."

So now we're trying to find one weekend that works for everyone's schedule.

We're hoping everyone stays healthy. We're watching the forecast. We're wondering if the kids will be in a good mood.

And before the session even begins, it already feels like one more thing to check off the list.

But what if your holiday photos didn't have to feel like another item on your to-do list?

What if they simply felt like your family?

Right now, the evenings are warm. Your skin still has that little bit of summer sunshine.

The kids are barefoot more often than they're wearing shoes.

You're taking after-dinner walks, stopping for ice cream, collecting shells, chasing waves, riding bikes, or finding any excuse to stay outside just a little longer.

You're relaxed. I think that's exactly how your family deserves to be remembered.

One of the biggest compliments I receive is when families tell me, "That felt more like an evening together than a photoshoot."

That's always my goal.

I don't want you worrying about standing perfectly or smiling at the camera every second.

I want your kids to explore. I want you to hold hands. I want you to laugh when the wind blows someone's hair everywhere.

I want your session to happen somewhere that already feels like home.

Maybe it's your favorite beach.

The marsh where you walk after dinner.

The neighborhood where your kids learned to ride their bikes.

The dock you visit every weekend.

Or simply your own backyard.

Because those places become part of your story.

Years from now, those backgrounds won't just be beautiful—they'll remind you exactly what life felt like in this season.

When you look back at your holiday cards years from now, I don't think you'll remember whether everyone wore the perfect outfit.

I think you'll remember the summer your daughter wore that favorite dress every chance she got.

The year your toddler wanted to carry every shell home.

The way your son still reached for your hand while you walked down the beach.

The freckles. The sandy feet. The laughter.

Those are the memories that become priceless.

And here's one of the best parts... By the time the holidays arrive, your photos are already finished.

Your cards are ready to order. Your gifts are one step closer to being done.

Instead of squeezing one more thing into December, you get to actually enjoy December.

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One of the questions I hear most often is, "What should we wear?"

You're not on your own.

After booking, I'm always happy to help you choose outfits, coordinate colors, and plan a look that feels timeless without feeling overly styled.

I've also created a few Pinterest boards that many of my families use for inspiration, including Relaxed Summer Family Photo Inspiration, New England Coastal Kids, Coastal Color Palettes and Desert Color Stories for Photoshoots.

The goal isn't to look like someone else. It's to look like the very best version of yourselves.

Comfortable. Confident. And ready to make memories.

If you've been thinking about family photos this year, I'd love to help you create something that feels less like a holiday obligation and more like preserving one of the sweetest seasons of your family's life.

Because sometimes the best holiday photos aren't the ones taken in winter.

They're the ones that remind you exactly how it felt to be together.