Year after year, it’s the same story: Tears and tantrums, wild untamed hair that was just brushed, clean clothes that are immediately dirty and a chorus of moans and groans… yes folks, it’s family portrait time.

Bottom line: No one loves having their photo taken. But no one is ever sorry they did it. Afterwards.

Believe it or not, now’s the time to schedule your annual family portrait with a professional photographer if you want one done for the holidays.

My advice: book now, schedule early.

I don’t want to have to say it aloud, but hey, the holidays? right around the corner.

The sooner you schedule your family portrait session the sooner:

a) it’s over

b) the better your photos will be.

What? The better your photos will be? It may seem a little far-fetched, but believe me, it’s not.

As a professional photographer, the busiest time of year for me is not wedding season (Spring through Summer) but Fall when people are looking for family portraits to put in their holiday cards or to give as gifts. In the months of October and November, it’s not uncommon for me to have 3 – 4 family portrait sessions booked per weekend.

Besides avoiding scheduling conflicts, having your portraits done before the holiday rush often results in better photos because the photographer isn’t as limited on time, hurrying to get to the next shoot or in a time-crunch to get the photos back to you quickly.

The more time your photographer has to do post-production editing (i.e., Photoshop and the like), the better your photos will be. Of course, the better the photos, the harder it will be to choose the one you like the best, but that’s just a chance you’re going to have to take, right?

When choosing your photographer make sure they’re a good fit for you and your family.

If you’re looking for a more traditional portrait with a backdrop and studio lighting, don’t pick a photographer who has a photojournalistic style. A good photographer should be able to capture your personalities, not just your smiles. A photojournalistic approach may not be what you had envisioned for your holiday card, but tends to work well when you have small children who aren’t so thrilled about having their photograph taken. A nice, classic posed shot may be just what the grandparents are looking for to add to their hallway wall.

Be sure to look at the photographer’s portfolio before working with them.

The photos will speak for themselves. You wouldn’t normally hire someone without looking at their resume, right?

Things to look for in a professional photographer:

• Style of photography matches your own
• Upfront about costs & what’s included in package
• Works well with children
• Flexible scheduling
• Reasonable turnaround time
• Guarantees his/her work
• Lets you keep the negatives/files for reprinting

Tips for better family photos:

• Never say “cheese” – it creates a forced, cheesy smile
• Try breathing in when the photographer counts to three (It tends to make you stand up straighter and is more flattering)
• Black clothing is always the most flattering
• Avoid white clothing can be too bright/harsh
• Remove glasses (if not wanted in photo)
• Relax…

If you love your photographer:

• Ask for business cards – a referral is the best “thank you”
• Tip them
• Schedule next year’s session now for a potential discount

Whatever you do, have your portraits done at least once a year. You will never be sorry.