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As a portrait photographer, I find that many of my clients plan their yearly portrait sessions around making a Holiday Card. Sending out Holiday Cards plays a large role in their family holiday celebrations. There are endless choices and possibilities so how do you decide what’s best for your family? I have a list of five suggestions that can simplify this process.

1. Choose the photograph: Do you want a photograph of your whole family or just the children? Many cards we design can use two or more photographs. You may want a photograph of the whole family on the front of the card and a photograph of just the children inside. Perhaps there are some active playful photographs of your children where two or three tell a story. Sometimes we create a bar of three small photographs for a mini story.

Designing your holiday photo cards

2. Paper Styles: At my studio, I offer a slightly textured watercolor card in white or ivory, a smooth fine quality white and ivory stock paper, a one-sided extra thick card stock in multiple colors and a coated linen texture. Choosing the color paper depends on the photograph you are using. Is it a warm toned photograph with lots of sunshine? Ivory can be a great choice! Maybe everyone was wearing an outfit that goes better on white stock. Each photograph and card has to be considered on its own terms.

Designing your holiday card, textured papers

3. Holiday Card Greetings: Greetings fall under different categories, religious, non-religious, or the unique use of a favorite quotation. Part of a song or poem that has specific meaning to the family or relates to the photograph can be used. Sometimes you can search the internet or browse through a book store or card shop for a greeting. If you would prefer, email me and I will send you a list I have complied over the years.

“The world is so full of a number of things,

I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

4. Names: The woman’s name first, man’s name, then surname. Children’s names should appear below their parents. The word “and” and “&” are interchangeable and a matter of personal preference.

Jane and Robert Smith

John, Kevin and Samantha

Or

The Smith Family

Jane, Robert, John, Kevin & Samantha

If you have a pet, don’t forget to include their name. Sometimes we make paw prints for pets not photographed but a part of the family.

5. Return Address: The home address is written in the same font style as the text inside the card. Either the address is written out or the family’s name may be included like:

The Smith Family

22 Indian Hill Road

East Hampton, NY 11937

 Designing your holiday photo card

Most of all have fun creating your card. Let the professionals help you and do it early so you can have all of your envelopes addressed by Thanksgiving Weekend!!

 

 

 

 

 
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The most important day of your life is approaching, your wedding!!  Finding the best wedding photographer for you can be a journey unto itself. Having been a wedding photographer for over twenty five years, I have five suggestions for what to consider when making your decision for your wedding photographer.

1. Personality: You are going to be with your photographer during the planning stages of your wedding, the day of your wedding and after your wedding. Is this someone you feel comfortable with, enjoy, and can talk with?

2. Experience: Make plans and watch reality take over! A seasoned professional will be able to meet any situation as it unfolds ensuring complete coverage of your wedding day. Some questions to ask might be, how long have you been a wedding photographer and how many weddings have you photographed?

3. Competency: Look carefully at all of the samples you are shown in the initial meeting. Do the albums tell a complete story, are the products well-made, is there a variety of books and sizes and are they archival?

4. Pricing: Make sure you understand the pricing structure. There is a fee for the wedding which may or may not also include products. What are the prices for prints and albums? It is important to have a large enough budget that encompasses the wedding fee and the products.

5. Second Photographer: The biggest advantage of your photographer having a second shooter is that two locations or activities can be covered simultaneously. One photographer can be photographing the bride getting ready while the other is photographing the groom.  At the ceremony, one photographer can be on the ground level, the other in the balcony. At the reception, you also gain two perspectives for the activities making sure everything is covered.

wedding_1photogs_049

 

Choosing your wedding photographer

At my studio, I consider the job complete when I can present a beautiful bound album to the bride and groom that carefully and beautifully portrays their wedding day. “The day goes by in a flash”, and the album can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Also check out a previous blog: 5 Tips For Planning Wedding Photography https://debkalasportraits.com/5-tips-for-planning-wedding-photography/  for more information.

 

 

 
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The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and fall family portraits can be just as lovely as summer photographs. There are still the same approaches to family portraits in the months of September and October, with a few changes to keep in mind.

Location: This may be a state park with hills, trails, logs and tall grasses, a pumpkin farm with all of its activities, your own backyard and somewhere to include the colorful fall leaves.

Dress: Something warm. Sweaters with natural colors: ivory, tans, browns, deep reds, burgundy, greens, and dark blues. A hat or scarf can add touch of color. Jeans or Khakis give a family portrait a presentable casual appearance.

Time of Day: To take advantage of the best light, fall portraits happen in the late afternoon.Typically I like to start an hour and a half before sunset.

Pets: If you are thinking of making a photograph suitable for a holiday card, bring your pet or pets! They are part of your family too! It helps to have a friend or relative come along to care for your pets when we are making other photographs.

Once all of the above has been decided upon, come to your session relaxed and ready to have fun. I prefer keeping the children active so their smiles happen naturally. My team and I will take care of everything else.

Family portraits in the fall

Family portraits in the Fall.

Book your session soon while the temperatures are still comfortable.