07340755779
Studio in Muswell Hill, North London.
Christmas photoshoots: The Do‘s and Don’ts of what to expect
Christmas photoshoots can be a great, fun way to capture your growing child in a ‘quick and easy’ way. They’re generally short, fun and best of all, there are no rules about posing or looking at the camera. Perfect for a busy toddler or 7-month-old baby who just wants to explore their world.
But there are some things you need to know about Christmas mini sessions before you book onto one.
Many parents understandably think that in these short sessions, which typically last around 20 minutes to half an hour, that you’d walk away with a full spectrum of gorgeous photos, captured from different angles, with different backdrops and outfit changes.
While you’re likely to get a selection of amazing images, there won’t be as many as if you were on a typical ‘baby photoshoot’. It’s just not possible within the short timeframe.
Nor is it possible, in most cases, for the photographer to offer the same look they normally would on a typical photoshoot, where they’ve got more time to do certain shots.
Most likely, the photographer will have set up an entirely different scene (in this case, a festive one), which is different to how you’d normally find their studio at any other time of year.
In this blog I outline the ‘do’s and don’ts’ for Christmas minis, a ‘what to expect and what not to expect’ during your Christmas photoshoot session.
I hope you find it useful and of course if you have any questions, you can ask me directly or comment in this blog.
DO EXPECT:
Your Christmas mini- session to be 30 minutes long. Maximum. Most likely the photographer will have booked lots of other sessions for the same day so it’s really important to stick to your time slot and arrive on time!
DON’T EXPECT:
The photographer to take more time with your baby if she needs it. While it’s likely that the photographer will take some lovely portraits, if your baby isn’t in the right mood, is crying or just doesn’t want to be there, the photographer won’t be able to wait for him in the same way she would during a normal baby photoshoot. It’s now or never!
But don’t worry, the best photographers will offer you another session, free of charge, if they really haven’t been able to get any nice shots of your child.
DO EXPECT:
Christmas photoshoots to take place at the weekend, so the whole family can come and so you can fit it around other activities going on. Often, it’s useful for mum and dad to be present so that at least one parent can help to settle the baby and make him laugh during the photoshoot, so we get the best portraits.
DON’T EXPECT:
For parents to get into the shot as well. There generally isn’t time to capture mum, dad and baby at the same time due to the photographer needing to re-set the studio to capture these types of shots. If you’d like to be present in the photos, then consider upgrading to a longer family photoshoot session, which will need to be booked on another day.
You’ll love the way I approach Christmas photography. It’s classic, timeless, netural, and fun. No OTT props or cheesy smiles.
2021 DATES ARE:
Saturday 16 October – SOLD OUT
Sunday 17 October – SOLD OUT
Saturday 23 October – SOLD OUT
Limited weekday sessions are now available, ask Louisa directly for details – on 07340755779 or lou@louisapeacock.com.
£295
- 30 minute photoshoot at my Muswell Hill studio
- 10 high resolution digital images
- 1 set of 20 holiday cards
- 1 large, matted 10×8″ print
DO EXPECT:
The session to be easy peasy. Literally, all you have to do is turn up on time, enjoy a drink and let the photographer work her magic! It’s the photographer’s job to put the baby at ease, play with your little one and make them feel special and comfortable.
Photographers with lots of experience of working with children can generally set the right scene and atmosphere within just a few minutes of arriving. You’ll know you’ve come to the right place when you see big smiles on arrival, lots of age-appropriate toys and gentle music playing in the background!
DON’T EXPECT:
To be separated from your baby!
Of course, mums and dads still play a vital role in helping their child to settle and enjoy the session. Often photographers will ask one parent to crouch down near them to pull silly faces and make their daughter smile! Singing songs, clapping hands, jingling toys – anything you can do to help stimulate and excite your baby is great!
DO EXPECT:
To walk away with some lovely portraits of your child or children. These can be turned into amazing, unique holiday cards, printed out as gifts to grandparents or just gift to yourself as a lovely keepsake momento of this stage of your son’s growth.
DON’T EXPECT:
A huge sales pitch after the event. With Christmas photoshoots, what you see is what you get!
Many photographers make it as attractive a package as possible, giving away a set of custom-designed Christmas cards or a print, as well as a set of digital images.
You’ll be sent a website to choose your favourite images from and you can decide from the comfort of your own sofa, what you’d like to print.
As seen in
How it works
Christmas photoshoots: what to expect
You might not have heard of ‘Christmas minis‘ before. It’s an American term and if you lived in the States, you’ll probably recognise it as much as you do Christmas itself.
Over here in Blighty, though, it’s still a relatively new trend and although you might have heard of it, many families may not know what it involves exactly.
More and more families would like a quick and fun way to record their growing children, at the best time of the year.
Many parents choose to use the shots as holiday cards, some as gifts to grandparents. But some use them to update their own wall art: when was the last time you took a professional photo of your own child?
My Christmas photoshoots are designed to fit in around your busy lifestyle.
At my studio, in the hear of Muswell Hill, Christmas minis are 30 minutes long. No less, no more!
My set up is classic, clean and neutral – a ‘white christmas’ set up with a few Christmas tree props and light effects.
Keeping casual
Above all, my Christmas photoshoots are relaxed and fun. Your baby has a nice morning out and you enjoy quality time together – after a short while, she’ll forget the camera is even there.
Half an hour is still plenty of time to get a few different ‘looks’, close up shots, full body shots and even some ‘action’ shots of Baby sitting up, standing or jumping, depending on how old she is.
Some children can feel a little nervous or overwhelmed when they enter the studio. This is OK. I take time to get to know them, let them show me what they’re interested in and we take it from there.
I only have eight spaces left on my Christmas photoshoots.
2021 DATES ARE:
Saturday 16 October – SOLD OUT
Sunday 17 October – SOLD OUT
Saturday 23 October – SOLD OUT
Limited weekday sessions are now available, ask Louisa directly for details – on 07340755779 or lou@louisapeacock.com.
My Christmas mini sessions in Muswell Hill will leave you feeling relaxed and comfortable. There is one plain white Christmas set up (deliberately no OTT colours!), in keeping with the rest of my brand and what I’m known for.
Over the years as a professional photographer, I’ve photographed over 100 families and babies, so I’m used to dealing with different temperaments. Nothing shocks me! Overall it’s good fun and we’ll make it work.
Due to time constraints, please be aware that my Christmas photoshoots are for children between 3 months to 18 years of age only; no adults! Sessions are limited to siblings only.
If you feel this is too short, or want to be in the photo yourself for a family portrait, please visit my Family Photoshoots page.
The deal
CHRISTMAS MINI SESSION – £295
This includes:
- a 30 minute Christmas mini session at my studio in Muswell Hill,
- 10 images fully edited,
- 1 set of 20 holiday cards and
- 1 large 10×8″ matted print – perfect as a gift.
Extra prints are available to purchase but there’s no obligation.
Louisa is incredibly talented. I did a maternity photoshoot with her, and from the second I walked through the door, she made me feel confident and comfortable enough that I relaxed throughout the session and actually had quite a lot of fun despite being slightly apprehensive going in. Her work absolutely blew me away, and I would recommend any and every pregnant woman out there to get Louisa to capture this unique and fleeting moment.
I loved my maternity shoot. Louisa was friendly and professional and put me at complete ease during the photo session. I’ve not really had many photographs taken of me while pregnant in the past. I have tended to hide myself away in the background in blanket coats and loose dresses or behind strategically placed family members! So making my pregnant body the star of the show was far beyond my comfort zone. However I left the studio feeling relaxed and more confident in myself.
I’m so glad that I took the chance to document what is highly likely to be my final pregnancy and see myself in a different light through her work.
Wow thank you, the photos are amazing! I wasn’t sure how they would turn out but these are stunning.
I had a wonderful experience getting my maternity photos taken with Louisa. She made the shoot itself a great experience with her expert, positive guidance, and we ended up with some beautiful, very natural photos as a result.
FAQs
For answers to questions like: ‘what if my baby is crying throughout’ and ‘can I bring siblings along’, please visit my Christmas mini sessions page.
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