With the holidays right around the corner, I'm already thinking about this year's Christmas card that we will be sending out to our friends and family. It's a tradition every year for me to set up my camera on a tripod, coax the kids to cooperate for just a few minutes, find just the right spot outside, and take our annual family photographs. There were a couple of years, where I used photographs of just the kids for the cards, which is always an option, but I love seeing how our family has changed each year. 

As a photographer of families, I wanted to share with you some tips I've learned over the past years of taking photos of my own family.

Tip #1 - Take your family photographs early.

• Take advantage of taking family photos during summer family outings or family vacations that are taken throughout the year, with the idea of using the photos for your holiday cards.
• Think Christmas in July. You don't have to wait until December to take family holiday themed photos. Consider placing a few holiday decorations in the location of where you plan to take your family photos, and snap away!
• For the past couple of years, we have taken our family photos around Thanksgiving time. Activities for our family are moving slower around this time of the year and we are all home with no other commitments, so it's the perfect time! I also love the look of the fall foliage in our photos.
• Book a photography session with your favorite photographer in either the spring or fall months. The weather is mild and you will have the added benefit of nature's beauty in your photos - beautiful blooming flowers or colorful fall foliage.       

Tip #2 - As a result of taking your family photographs early, you can take advantage of the holiday card sales and ensure you receive your holiday cards in a timely manner to send them out. Below are some of my go-to holiday card vendors.

• Shutterfly - They have numerous holiday cards choices to choose from and is notorious for their holiday card sales. 
• Tiny Prints - Part of the same company that runs Shutterfly, with additional card options. I love their sparkly prints.
• Nations Photo Lab - I usually use this vendor to order prints for clients, but they also offer holiday cards.
• Other vendors that I have not used for holiday cards, but you may want to check out are Minted, Paper Source, and MPix.  

Our family holiday photos over the years - 

2016