Our 2023 Holiday Portrait Sessions in Saratoga Springs

I always look forward to our holiday portrait event, and this year was no exception! Each year, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have so many families that come to the studio year after year for their holiday portraits! It’s always a joy getting to catch up with them and see how their kids have grown. Plus, it’s so much fun coming up with our setups each year! Honestly, I really do look forward to these holiday portrait sessions each winter. 

For this year, I wanted to create something really special! When I first saw these golden arches I knew that they would be incredibly versatile and that they would look gorgeous with garland & some sparkly ornaments. I love how this turned out! I think it’s such a classic holiday look. It was the perfect spot for kids to warm up to me and get ready for more portraits!

We always create two setups in the studio for families to have some variety in their holiday portraits, and you know I’m a big fan of neutrals because of how timeless they are. This year I found the perfect stockings with little pearl accents, and I love the simple & luxurious touch that they added to our setup alongside my simple Christmas tree. 

To every family that came to celebrate the holidays with me this year, thank you! It was so special to have you in the studio and I hope you have a wonderful season with your loved ones! 

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Tips for successful holiday portrait sessions

Holiday portraits are always a super fun time in the studio, but I know they can feel stressful for families. Everyone wants the perfect smiling photo of their families to send out on the cards or share online, so I get it. That’s why I’m sharing a few tips for successful holiday portrait sessions with you today. Some are way easier than you think! And I want to reassure you: no matter what, we will have a holly jolly time together and I’ll capture gorgeous portraits of your families. As as seasoned photographer (and mom), you can trust that you’re in good hands!

#1: Schedule your session when your children are happiest!

For younger kinds, this is especially important. Think about the time of your day your children are in the best moods, good listeners, and cooperative. Generally that means right after a nap or first thing in the morning. If your kids are older, consider a later appointment if they’re usually in good moods then!

#2: Come dressed and ready to go!

By showing up in the outfits you want the family to wear, we can ensure no time is wasted in the studio. If you’re ready when you arrive, we’ll jump right in! And if you are going to change outfits (like into cute Christmas pajamas), do that last. It’s way easier for everyone to relax near the end instead of changing into something more formal at the end.

#3: Make sure your outfits fit.

We’re all busy - but take the time to try on your outfits the week before your session to make sure everyone fits. Encourage your little ones to wear their outfits for at least half an hour so they’re prepared to wear it in the studio. Make sure tights, shoes, and accessories look good together. This also allows your kids to get used to the feelings of the fabrics. Holiday outfits are often different than every day outfits!

#4: Have snacks beforehand.

This is a super easy tip! Simply make sure your kids have eaten. Full bellies = happy kids! The same goes for babies or big kids, too. Everyone’s less grouchy when they’ve eaten. It never fails!

#5: Don’t underestimate the power of a bribe!

No judgement here! I keep snacks in the studio for kids to have after we finish their portraits, and it's amazing how a package of goldfish crackers or chocolate chip cookies can get them to smile and hug their siblings. Seriously.

#7: Keep your cool!

This one’s for the parents out there. Don't stress if your kids are acting like kids (instead of angels!). I fully expect them to act their age, and I promise I'm clicking the shutter button at just the right moment to capture all of the smiles, cuddles, and laughs. Stay calm and they will feed off of your energy, and everyone will be happy! These holiday portraits should be fun - not a stressful, anxiety ridden experience.

#8: Plan how you are going to enjoy your portraits!

Holiday portraits are about more than just holiday cards, and I know you're not doing this session just to mail out a bunch of 5x7 cards that will hang on your friends' fridges for a month and then get tossed. Plan to print some for an heirloom holiday album that you can pull out year after year. Put a few on the wall, or create a wooden photo keepsake that you can pull out every holiday season to decorate an end table or the mantel. Don’t forget to make copies for the grandparents and share them on social media with your friends!

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2021 Holiday Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Photography Studio

Holiday portrait sessions are some of my favorite moments to capture in our Saratoga Springs studio! I wait all year long for these days to arrive because they’re always so much fun and filled with joy. This year, I chose to offer three new setups for holiday portraits. We had a white snowflake room, evergreen seamless paper with a loveseat for the family and some flocked trees and a holiday bed. Everyone LOVED getting in the holiday spirit here in the studio.

I welcomed lots of longtime clients and families to the studio over our holiday sessions. It was so great to see everyone again and catch up. I also had the chance to meet plenty of new families too. I’m so excited to have been part of their holiday tradition this year!

Thank you to every family that chose to come celebrate with me this year. Here’s a little sneak peek at some of my favorite holiday moments in the studio this year!!

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A Peek at Some of This Year's Custom Holiday Card Designs - Saratoga Springs Portrait Photographer

Tis the season to run to your mailbox and tear open the envelopes to see so many smiling faces inside!

I always love sharing a peek at some of the holiday cards that families are sending out with portraits from their sessions with me, and here are a few that are hitting mailboxes all over the country this year!

I really enjoy designing and printing holiday cards for families, and the options for customizing really are endless! A few things that you get to choose when designing your holiday cards?

• fully customizable templates

• change the colors & font & text

• choose how many images for the back of the card

• choose from 3 types of paper

• multiple envelope styles

• return address printing is included

• the option to add on recipient address printing

And my favorite card of all? Ours! Check out how adorable Grayson is on this one!

We're planning limited edition holiday sessions!

These two gorgeous backdrops just arrived to the studio, and we can't wait to start using them for our holiday sessions!  We're excited to offer two weekends of holiday sessions, one for our New York families and one for our Massachusetts families!  These are the ONLY dates that we will be offering holiday sessions in the studio.

Attleboro, Massachusetts
Saturday, October 29
Sunday, October 30

Saratoga Springs, NY
Saturday, November 5
Sunday, November 6

Here's are sneak peeks of both sets that we'll be offering -- aren't they adorable?!?!

Full details and session reservation details
will be coming your way on
Monday, October 3!

Mark your calendar!

Making Spirits Bright | Our Studio Holiday Sessions

Fa la la la laaaaaa, la la la laaaaaa. As I type this post, my studio smells like a Christmas tree, tiny lights are twinkling behind me, a peppermint marshmallow candle glows on the table, and Ella Fitzgerald is singing Christmas carols on Pandora.   There are presents to be wrapped, cookies to be baked, and cards to be mailed.  And there's definitely a mug of hot chocolate waiting for me somewhere.  It's mid-December, and our holiday cheer is officially at 100%.

I love the holiday season.  Could you tell?  ;o)   The lights, the traditions, the scents, the cozy foods, the gatherings with friends & family.  There is nothing better than those first few weeks of December when the world is a truly magical place.  These are the weeks when everyone is talking about their elves, Santa, and flying reindeer.  The tree in your living room inspired breathtaking wonder, and the colorful lights in your neighborhood fill your evenings with cheer.  The magic of childhood is more tangible than ever.  That same magic that I adore capturing all throughout the year is on full display this month, and I feel so, so lucky to be able to preserve that for the families that I work with.

We hosted our first in-studio holiday sessions, and I had so much fun creating the perfect dreamy set up for our little ones.  We turned the studio into a winter wonderland, a soft cloud-like space where children sat beneath golden stars and told me all about their wishes for Santa and what their elves had been up to lately.  There were giggles, jingle bells, Christmas jammies, candy canes, and songs.

Our holiday sessions were short and sweet, and allowed just enough time for a simple rustic set up, too!  After all, I acquired a vintage sled from another photographer over the summer, and I couldn't let a holiday season pass without using it for some adorable photos!

Wishing you all a magical holiday season!  Take the time to slow down, create memories, and start a new tradition with your family.

Create magic, and inspire wonder.  After all, that's what childhood is all about!