Booking holiday photos with us takes about five minutes. You choose a session, choose a themed set, choose a date, and we confirm by email with the studio address. Nothing is paid when you book: you pay on the day, after the session, and your private online gallery arrives within 7 days.
Below is the whole process in order, plus what to bring and how far ahead to book if the photos are going on a holiday card.
Step 1: Choose the session that fits your family
Everything starts on the sessions page or directly on the booking page. For holiday photos, most families pick one of three options:
- Holiday Mini, 25 minutes, one themed set, 12 edited photos, $225. Right for a couple or a small family who mainly needs a card photo and a few frames for the grandparents.
- Family Studio Session, 60 minutes, two sets or backdrops, both of us photographing, 35 edited photos, $395. Right if you have young kids who need warm-up time, or you want a holiday set plus a portrait you can hang all year.
- Big Family & Generations, 90 minutes, up to 12 people, both of us photographing, 50 edited photos, $595. Right when cousins and grandparents are in town and you need every grouping.
If you are torn between the first two, we wrote a straight comparison in Holiday Mini or Full Session? How to Choose. The short version: the more small children, the more you will appreciate the extra time.
Step 2: Pick your set
Each session is photographed in one of our themed sets, and the backdrops and accessories for that set are always included. You do not need to bring props or decorations.
For the holidays, the sets that suit the season best are:
- Christmas, the classic tree-and-gifts look most people want for cards
- Winter wonderland, soft whites and silvers that work from December through February
- Hanukkah, blue, silver and warm candlelight tones
- Classic family portrait, a clean backdrop for a photo that is not tied to a season
With a Family Studio Session you get two sets or backdrops, so a good plan is the Christmas set first, then the classic backdrop for a timeless portrait. You can browse all of them on the themes page.
Step 3: Choose a date and time
Pick the slot that suits your kids, not the one that suits your calendar. A few things that help:
- Toddlers and babies usually do best in the morning or right after a nap. A 4 pm slot after a busy day rarely goes well for anyone under five.
- Weekends are the first slots to go in most photographers' calendars during the holidays. If a weekday morning works for you, take it.
- Leave yourself a buffer before the session. Rushing across town with three kids in coats is the fastest way to arrive stressed, and it shows in the first ten minutes of photos.
Step 4: Read your confirmation email
Once you book, the two of us (Mirela and Sandra) review the request and confirm by email. That email has the studio address, which we only share with booked families, along with our color guide for outfits.
This is also the moment to reply with anything we should know:
- Names and ages of the kids
- A dog joining the photos (we cover this in Christmas Photos With Your Dog)
- Grandparents who need a chair or step-free access
- A specific photo you already have in mind for the card
- Anything that makes your child nervous, like loud noises or strangers getting close
The more we know, the more of your session goes to photos and the less to figuring things out.
On the day: what to bring and how payment works
What to bring
You bring the people and the outfits. We have the set, the lighting and the accessories.
- Outfits. Use the color guide we send. If you want ideas now, What to Wear for Christmas Family Photos has palettes that work in our sets.
- Clean shoes. Feet show up in full-length shots more than people expect. Scuffed sneakers or snow boots will be in the frame.
- A spare outfit for small kids. Spills happen, especially with holiday cookies.
- Snacks that do not stain. Crackers, apple slices and water are better than candy canes or chocolate right before photos.
- One comfort item. A favorite toy or blanket can rescue a nervous toddler.
- Anything personal. A family ornament, a letter to Santa, your own menorah. Personal objects make a photo feel like yours.
Paying and receiving your gallery
There is no deposit. After the session, on the same day, you pay for the session you booked. That is the only payment.
Within 7 days we send you a link to your private online gallery with your edited photos: 12 for a Holiday Mini, 35 for a Family Studio Session, 50 for Big Family & Generations. You view them, download them, and use them for cards, prints or frames.
When to book for the holiday season
If the photos are for a holiday card, work backwards from the day you want to mail them. The gallery takes up to 7 days. Then you need a few days to choose a photo and design the card, plus your printer's production and shipping time. That adds up quickly.
As a rough guide:
- Book in October or the first days of November for a session in early to mid November.
- A session in late November still works for cards if you order quickly.
- A December session is great for framed prints and gifts, but tight for cards that need to arrive before the holidays.
We laid out the full reverse calendar in Holiday Card Photos: A Week-by-Week Timeline.
Quick answers
Do I pay a deposit to book holiday photos?
No. Nothing is paid when you book. You pay on the day, after the session.
Where is the studio?
Our studio is in New York City. The exact address comes in your booking confirmation email.
Can we do our holiday photos outside instead?
Yes, on request. The Outdoor Session is 60 minutes at one NYC location with both of us, 35 edited photos, $450. Winter light is short and the weather is unpredictable, so read our outdoor page before choosing it.
Book your session
Pick your session, set and date on the booking page, and we will confirm by email with everything you need. If you want to look at the sets first, start with the themes page.