Like most children, Christmas was always my favorite holiday. Decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies, and, of course, the anticipation of the arrival of the big man himself was something I looked forward to all year round.
Having children of my own has given me a fresh perspective on the holiday season. I now enjoy observing my kids' excitement and sharing with them the traditions I grew up with while also introducing new ones.
Family Holiday Tradition Sessions
Family Holiday Tradition Sessions are unlike any previous holiday session you've done before. Instead of doing the traditional family holiday portrait, where every picture looks the same, why not step outside the box and do something different? It's a little more personal. Something your children are going to cherish when they're grown, something you're going to go back to every year to reminisce. Think back to your childhood. What did your family do for the holidays every year? Depending on your family and culture, this could look like anything. My favorite tradition was always decorating the Christmas tree. Before placing the ornaments on the tree, my parents and I would discuss their history…where they came from, how old they were, and so on. It didn’t matter if they were store-bought, handmade, or a heirloom handed down from previous generations. Each ornament had a story behind it, in one way or another. What traditions did you have growing up? If you close your eyes, can you see that moment? Do you have a picture of it? Have you started sharing those traditions with your children? How many pictures do you have of those traditions versus how many "look and smile at the camera!" pictures? Are you even in the picture?
A great example of a classic holiday tradition would be baking cookies. When it's time to bake those cookies, how excited does your family get to participate in the activity? Now, think back to your last holiday photo session. How excited was your family to take those photos? You have to put on uncomfortable clothes and trek out to some random location you wouldn't normally ever go to, and then you have to be told what to do and when to smile and laugh. I would imagine they would be more excited about baking cookies where they can wear anything they want (Christmas pajamas, anyone?) and be in the comfort of their own home rather than they would get their picture taken. Am I right? What if you could have both? What if while you were baking your holiday cookies with your family, you were getting pictures documenting that moment? What if you had someone there who could take those photos for you so you could be in them with your family, too? I’ll let you into a little secret…you can!
How does it work?
Family documentary sessions are the easiest sessions you and your family could ever do, and the Family Holiday Traditions Sessions are no different. There's not much planning on your part. Just do what you normally do. Before your session, we will schedule a time to chat, either in person, over the phone, or via email, and we’ll discuss what childhood memories and traditions you hope to continue with your own family. We'll talk about WHY they are important to you and WHY you want your children to share the same experiences.
Depending on the tradition, These sessions can occur either in your home or out on location. A few examples of what we can do are bake cookies, decorate, or create a holiday craft, such as making gingerbread houses. I also love to tag along in the hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree, whether at a tree farm, the hardware store, or even digging it out of the garage and getting it out of its box.
What are you waiting for?! Let's get you scheduled before all the spots fill up!
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