Wondering when to take family photos for Christmas cards? For most families, the answer is early to mid November. That leaves room for editing, ordering, printing, and mailing without a December scramble.
Santa and holiday mini sessions are booking now at my Farmington studio. This is our tenth time running Santa sessions (we’ve been at it for eleven years, but we skipped 2021 because of COVID). Dates and details live on the page for our Santa and holiday mini sessions, so this post sticks to the timing, which session fits your card, and what to do if your kid takes one look at Santa and wants out.
When to Take Family Photos for Christmas Cards: Work Backward From Your Mailing Date
The easiest way to pick a date is to start at the end. Decide when you want your cards in the mail, then count backward.
- Pick your mailing date. This is the day you want cards out the door.
- Subtract printing and shipping. Check your card company’s timelines, since they vary and tend to stretch as the holidays get closer.
- Subtract about a week for your gallery. Your fully edited gallery arrives within about a week, often sooner, and you pick your favorites and download them straight from the gallery.
- That’s the latest date to book your session. Earlier is better.
Holiday minis run on select dates in November, so an earlier November date gives you the most breathing room. Prints, gifts, and holiday cards can also be added on through your online gallery. (Cards always take longer than anyone plans for.)
Dates Fill Quickly, So Book Early
Both sessions run on select dates in November, and they fill quickly every year. All booking is done online. Head to the Santa and holiday mini sessions page, choose your session type, and you’ll see what’s open.
If the date you want is full, email me at kelli@kellidease.com and I’ll add you to the waitlist. Same address if you have questions before booking.
Kids Only or the Whole Family? Picking the Right Session
Both sessions happen in the studio and are styled the way I style everything, clean and simple. The difference is who ends up on your card.
- Santa mini sessions are for the kids only. They get about five minutes of one-on-one time with Santa in a relaxed setting, and you get sweet, candid photos of them together. Parents are always in the room, just not in the pictures.
- Holiday mini sessions are for the whole family, parents included. They run about 15 minutes in a simple holiday setting, with classic posed group and sibling portraits that work well for cards.
If you want Santa on the card, book the Santa mini. If you want everyone on it, book the holiday mini. Plenty of families alternate between the two from year to year. (Not sure a mini is the right fit at all? Here’s how to tell if mini sessions are right for you.)
What to Wear for Your Card Photos
Some families love to get dressed up and others go for cozy pajamas, and either one works. Matching pajamas and Christmas-themed outfits show up every year. If you’d rather keep it simple, muted neutrals in cream, white, red, green, soft brown, and gold are a good fit. Every client gets a complete session guide, as well as access to my curated storefront, to make planning easy.
If Your Child Is Nervous About Santa
A lot of kids are nervous about Santa, so you’re in good company if yours is one of them. A stranger in a big red suit is a lot to ask of a two year old.
- Remember you’re right there. Parents are always in the room for Santa sessions, so your child can see you the whole time.
- Skip the pressure. Pushing a nervous kid usually makes the reaction bigger. We go with the flow.
- Mention Santa ahead of time. Keep it low-key. A picture or two beforehand means the beard isn’t a total surprise.
- Let the wary look be part of the photos. It’s a genuine reaction, and sometimes it ends up being the one you love.
- Remember Santa can step aside. If your child just isn’t feeling it, we’ll take a few photos without him, and you’ll still leave with sweet images.
I’ve watched plenty of kids go from terrified one year to thrilled the next. Some warm up halfway through a session, and some need a year or two.
Why Families Come Back Every Year
The Santa Experience at my Farmington studio was born out of wanting something different from the typical mall Santa visit: a more personal experience with beautiful photos instead of a long line and a rushed picture. It’s been the same Santa since the very beginning, and a lot of families have made these mini sessions an annual tradition, coming back year after year.
That helps more than you’d expect. Kids who first met him as toddlers know exactly who he is now, and the ones who were nervous at the start tend to walk in a little more sure of themselves. (Parents usually notice the growth more than the kids do.) The set changes every year too, so nobody ends up with the same card twice. I start designing it once the stores put out their Christmas décor, and it always stays simple and a little timeless.
Some families alternate between Santa sessions and holiday minis. Do that for a few years and you end up with a stack of cards that shows exactly how much everyone changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most families, early to mid November. Work backward from the day you want cards in the mail, and allow about a week for your gallery plus your card company’s printing and shipping time.
You’ll receive a fully edited gallery within about a week, often sooner. From there you select your favorites and download your images directly from the gallery.
Santa mini sessions are just for the kids and focus on candid photos with Santa. Holiday mini sessions are for the whole family, parents included, with classic posed group and sibling portraits that work well for holiday cards.
It happens all the time, and you’re not alone. We go with the flow, which sometimes means capturing their genuine reaction and sometimes means asking Santa to step aside so we can take a few photos without him.
Yes. It has been the same Santa since the beginning, which is a big part of why so many families come back year after year.
Pick a Date
If you already have a mailing date in mind, book backward from there. This year’s dates are on the page for Santa and holiday mini sessions, and if you’re sorting out the bigger picture, here’s how often you should take family photos. You can also read more about working with a Connecticut family photographer based in Farmington.
Kelli Dease is a Farmington, Connecticut newborn and family photographer specializing in timeless, light-filled maternity and newborn portraits, baby and children’s photography, and family portraits. She offers a relaxed, full-service experience for growing families, creating in-studio and outdoor portraits with a focus on simplicity and ease. Clients receive access to a curated studio wardrobe, thoughtful guidance throughout the planning and session process, and digital images, with the option to add fine art prints and albums. Please contact Kelli Dease Photography today to find out about session availability.
Kelli Dease Photography serves families throughout Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Canton, West Hartford, Burlington, Granby, and the surrounding Farmington Valley, Hartford County, and central Connecticut areas.
To see more of Kelli’s photos, please follow her on Instagram.
