Why Hire A Professional Photographer for Your Family's Holiday Card?

I found this handout in a file from a class I had taken a few years ago.  I thought it was worthy to share here in my blog!  

How a Professional Photographer Can Bring Your Holiday Cards to Life

When the holiday season arrives, it's tradition to send your loved ones cards featuring your family's smiling faces. Nothing beats that beam of joy a grandma, aunt, or cousin feels when they open the envelope and sees how much your little ones have grown in a year and how happy you are together. If you really want your holiday cards to come to life, consider having a professional photographer capture those images.

A professional knows how to capture the best moments.

A photographer can work with you throughout your session, taking photos in several different poses and settings until you find the perfect image that captures all of your personalities. When you're relaxed and not worried about taking pictures yourself, that relaxation shines through in the photos.

Action shots capture a real moment in your life together.

At an on-site shoot, you're free to interact with your family members rather than simply posing and waiting for the camera, which leads to more free-flowing and natural images. Whether you're giggling together in front of a fire, walking together down a wooded path, or baking holiday cookies together, the image will show you all interacting as a family. There's so much more emotion in an action shot than in a photo of you sitting on the couch waiting for the timer on your smartphone.

Your card will have balanced, coordinated colors.

Does your face look too red against a red holiday card border? Maybe green borders clash with your husband's shirt. Your photographer keeps all of this in mind while taking your photos and also when designing the holiday card around them. Using a combination of good planning and photo editing software, they can ensure all of the colors appear balanced and your best side is always showing. Your photographer should show you what the final card will look like before you place your order, so there are no scary surprises when your card order is complete.

Designing multiple cards is easy.

Perhaps you want a more formal shot to include on your card for certain relatives, and a lighthearted shot for other friends. Since your professional photographer will snap an array of images during your session, you can easily design several versions of your holiday cards if you prefer. If you tell your photographer upfront that you're looking for images that show off your serious sides and others that scream "silly," they can customize the session to ensure you get the perfect shots.

Your holiday card should show off more than forced smiles -- it should show your real personalities. With a professional photographer, you'll create a holiday card deserving of the center spot on the mantle.  To schedule your Holiday photo session, click here.