Just because it’s winter doesnt mean you cant have a great family photo session! Here are my ideas for stylin’ AND fun winter portraits

1. Back in the Day Grab any two vintage jackets, ignore the weather, and head to a local winter festival. Share some hot cocoa and window shop. In Albuquerque, Nob Hill’s 1th annual shop and stroll is tonight! (December 1st) Imagine the romantic photos a couple could have enjoying the first day of December. If kids are in tow, bring along some candy canes and get some pictures of them as the bustle of shoppers and performers surround them. Central Ave. is closed off in the Nob Hill area which gives you plenty of safe space to roam.
2. Quirk This idea goes two ways. Firstly, getting your pictures done might mean it’s the one time you dress up and look your best, but if you want to stay true to your style and let your family be who they are, then by all means allow the zombie hand gloves, sock monkey hats, and bright pink boots. Secondly, if you just like to be different, why not do a zombie survival themed photo shoot??! You’ll have a fun experience AND have family pictures everyone will talk about!
3. Hanna These coats remind me a little of the ones worn by Hanna and Erik in the beginning of the action film “Hanna”. The idea here is not that you are a trained assassin like Hanna, but that you take your neutral colored leather coats, accessorize with neutral mittens and hats, find a field (snowy or not) and get snuggly with your loved one(s). Grab that fleece blanket or sheepskin to sit on or wrap up in.
4. True Trained Assassins These coats say “I am Natasha…Vo isss Boris?” right? If this is your style… you’ve got the world at your fingers for a session (maybe literally?) Essentially you could do your session at a coffee shop, in a seedy alleyway, on a roof top, in a forest… it’s going to look good anywhere… and if anybody disagrees, well… tell them you have a license to kill
5. Everyday Winter-ness Just your everyday winter coats. If you have colors and styles that compliment each other… awesome! Accessorize with hats and scarves that compliment everyone. DO a classic shot of everyone jumping at once. Pose in front of an evergreen. It’s bound to look a bit like a commercial for your favorite store!
6. Hipster Truth is I dont really understand what exactly a hipster is or isn’t… but what I do know is they usually have a great vintagey style about them. If you have some great unique pieces in your wardrobe, pull them together and add some homemade or vintage touches. The great thing is your guy can just wear his plain old navy blue coat and you can wear that fun poncho you picked up in Seattle with the hat your grandma made you when you were in college! Now what do hipsters do for a photo session? How about peppermint lattes outside a favorite coffee shop? Or book reading under a vintage wool blanket on the steps of your porch? You tell me… I dont know what they do… they just look hip doing it.
7 and 8. Simple Simple So you go simple… it’s very practical. You know what simple can do? Just about anything and not cause a distraction. Imagine you and your family in your simple solid color coats… boring? NO! You are racing down hills on a sled! You are laughing over mugs of hot apple cider! You are picking out your Christmas tree! You are having a snowball fight!!! It’s not about your clothes! It’s about you!!! So who cares what you wear…. have fun and enjoy your shoot!

Purchasing digital files from your photographer can be one of the best investments/purchases you ever make! Not only will you have actual digital copies to keep and share with generations to come, but you will probably also be purchasing the right to reproduce those images for you personal use. Know what that means? You can make your own meaningful gifts for your loved ones!

Many photo printing service providers offer a catalog of things you can do with your photos (printed mugs, mousepads, blankets, canvases, etc) But if you like to put a little personal touch on your gifts, a little diy, then take a look at the list I’ve compiled to help you come up with photo gifts for the people on your shopping list this holiday season.

In these mini wallet sized albums I created mini scrapbook pages to share pictures with family.

Here are more ideas:
- Gift Tags
- Fancy Photo Blocks
- Gift Decoration
- Accordion Photo Book
- Christmas Ornament
- Coasters
- Personalized Clock
- Craft Stick Puzzle
- Tiny Polaroid Magnets
- Collectible Photo Displays
- DIY Canvases
- Photo Collage Lampshade
- Another Canvas DIY (different)
- DIY Printable Fabric for sewing projects
- Scrabble Tile Pendant
- Transfer on Wood
- Candle Holders
- Cute Index Card Calender Journal
- Circle Punch Photo Collage
- Calender, Decal Vases, and Wrapping Paper