Photo Tips for a Happy Holiday Card!

At White Oaks Ranch photograph by Kelsey Foster Wilson

Six years ago, I did a post on tips for taking a family picture for your Christmas Card.  I revisit them every year about this time and I thought I should share them with you again - but with a few more lessons added in from experience over the years!  

In 2010,  I turned to Kady Dunlap, a professional photographer who has certainly captured her fair share of precious kids, for some tips!

She gave me some great recommendations:

1. Kady said: Orient your session around your children's happiest time of day! Pick a time when they are most alert therefore more willing to co-operate.

What I've learned since I first posted this is that this can be super tricky and vary from week to week!  As the mother of a three year old girl, I've learned that dramatic meltdowns can happen at any time of day! Evidence of this is above in Millie's soccer photo from last Saturday morning at 8:30AM!  I try to make sure that the children are well fed and rested before photos but you just can't pic a perfect time.  I also try to make sure they know that something exciting is coming later in the day as a reward for good behavior during the photo session!

2. Kady said: Be sure that your clothing selections are both simple (no crazy patterns or busy prints) and comfortable for you child to wear. Itchy or scratchy clothing will cause them to squirm.

Photo by John Cain Sargent

3. Kady said: Be sure your photo style is a match for your everyday lifestyle. Enlist a professional who works in your style casual and comfortable or posed and formal.

What I've learned since then is that it is nice to mix this up over the years!  One year I put them in formals and the next year at the beach!  I like to have a variety of styles which, I guess, is a bit like our lifestyle! 

4. Kady said: Location is everything. Select a location that is familiar to your children. At home, the park, your favorite location will make your kids feel more at ease.

Photo by Heather Lynch

So true! Above is one of my favorites pictures from a join session I did with my sister's children at the beach last summer!  I love this shot!!!  We just let them play and the talented Heather Lynch caught these fantastic informal shots. Last year, we had all the kids dressed in velvet and tartan so this is fun casual change! 

Photos by Heather Lynch

5. Kady said: Attitude is everything! Always be relaxed and flexible around kids even if they are rambunctious or not co-operating. When you have a professional photographer, be willing to leave the scene if necessary! Often the kids will behave better if the parents are not around.  

What I learned since then: this is soooooo true!  That was the case in the photo above!  We could not get the four little ones to sit still together for a picture so the grown-ups hid away, the photographer turned on some music and started snapping them individually as they played.  It was magic!  She made us this collage of the four of them so we have a shot of all of them together!

I've collected a few of my favorite holiday photo cards below!  I'm having a hard time making up my mind!

Monograms and Media

Well, I can't tell you how full my heart is at the response to my new book, Monograms for the Home.  

I wish that it wasn't sold out on Amazon but Gibbs Smith Publishers promises that the third printing is on its way very soon!  Stay tuned here and I promise to let you know when they are back in stock and when my book signings are!  In the meantime, you can email us at kathy.short@schlegelcap.com or stop in to Madison in Highland Park Village or Nest on Knox street to pick up a copy!

Here is a shot of me with my friend and the photographer of most of the book, John Cain Sargent.  He is a gem!  Obviously we had to hand the camera over to a non-professional to take this photo and I left the cropping like this because it cracks me up!

John has a beautiful studio and I jumped for joy when he offered to host a little media get together there to celebrate the launch of the book.  I turned to my friends at Droese PR to put together a great guest list and, as usual, they didn't disappoint!  More about our guests later in the post.  I can't wait to get to the set up!

Guests were greeted by a big copper bucket full of bubbly, rose and white wine, a pretty floral arrangement in a blue and white vase (of course - John shares my passion for anything and everything blue and white!) and a tray of macaroons.  Of course, we also had my new linens from Halo Home by KSW!

All of the treats came from World Market - I love this Rose because it tastes amazing when served ice cold but also because the bottle is so beautiful. I keep them afterwards and use them as vases. The bottom is carved like a garden rose.  So pretty!

Of course, we also had to use these amazing giant mason jar decanters for lemonade, iced tea and water! 

Mary Love Koons of Koons Kitchen made amazing mason jar salads for our guests.  I'll be sharing the recipes for the fabulous shake-and-enjoy lunches tomorrow on the blog.  They were delicious and are perfect for a shower, buffet lunch or casual get together.  A few of us didn't take the time to eat at the party so we grabbed one and ate at our desks afterwards!

They were so good and make such a great presentation on top of our Halo Home fold-over napkins.

But as darling as the salads were, nothing made as big of a splash as these adorable little piggies.  These glass salt and pepper shakers had more bloggers and social media lovers pulling out their phones to snap a pic than an appearance by Anna Wintour would have! 

Koons Kitchen provided some sweet treats too!  You could stack anything on these marble and wood pedestals and they would look yummy but these were truly delish! 

My sister, Krystal, came a little early so that she could be the first to have a book signed.  Cutie Pie!  If you like fashion, I hope you will follow her blog! 

Each of the guests left with a copy of the book and a monogrammed hand towel by Halo Home!  I can't wait to get our e-commerce website set up for the linen line but in the meantime, if you are interested in them, you can reach out to The Loveliest.  They are stocking the linens and offer monogramming services as well.

John took photos of the guests while we all mingled and we had a great time snapping away with our devices too!  This is Tanya Foster snapping Alicia Wood and I!  You might know them better as Film Fashion Fun and The Lush List!

This is my friend and partner in Halo Home, Jen O'Neal and the chic blogger Albertina of Mimosa Lane.   At the party, she told me a fabulous story about selecting her daughters name so that it would match all of her monogrammed linens from her childhood!

An extra special thanks to Branching Out Events for providing all of the stunning flowers for John's studio too!  

“This post is in partnership with World Market, a brand I love. All opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the affiliate posts who make this blog possible.”

Friday Favorites - The book is off to the printer!

BUSY!  The only word I can think of to describe this time of year.  I almost think March and April have become more hectic than November and December!  What is happening?

But guess what - my next book, Monograms for the Home, just went to the printer yesterday!  What a load off my shoulders!  I'm so excited about it and can't wait to share it with you in September!  Above is a little sneak peek of some wonderful gift tags designed by the amazing Emily McCarthy that are featured in the book.

Here are a few quick things to check out in the few moments that you do have free this weekend:

Love this article on Netiquette that Howard Slatkin posted on his visual feast of an instagram feed!

Loving my new iPhone case/wallet - monogrammed of course!

A must have accessory for summer.  Love this tassel!

Ordering a new one of these for my summer travel.

Molly Sims and I both use this every day before we shower.  That is probably the only similarity!

And don't forget to check in on Wednesday for my One Room Challenge reveal!

photo by John Cain Sargent

My darling nephew's first birthday party

 I can't believe that it has been a year since my darling nephew Tobin was born.  My sister and brother-in-law are awesome parents and we have loved getting to play with Tobin and then giving him back again - the best part of being an aunt!   I thought you might enjoy seeing a little bit of what they planned for his precious first birthday party.

How precious is this invitation from Loralee Lewis?  Isn't it just the sweetest?  It inspired the rest of the party.

Troy and Kari with little Tobin

A precious high chair flag and 1 bib made the cake cutting perfect for a picture!  Check out Etsy for lots of options or make one yourself if you are craft.

Tobin's name on chalk board paper decorated the hamburger table.

Don't forget to take a few family photos before the guests arrive! I love this one of Mother and son.

Paper napkins were personalized to match the party.

My little Millie with her Aunt Jo Jo.

]

Simple and sweet activities kept the little ones busy.  Bubbles, crayons and balls did the trick!

Popcorn party favors were wrapped in stickers created by Loralee Lewis.

Photos by John Cain Photography