For holiday cards that arrive before Christmas, plan your photo session for early to mid November and book it in October. That leaves time for your gallery, a few days to choose and design, your printer's production and shipping time, and the mail itself. The easiest way to get it right is to start from the day you want cards in mailboxes and count backwards.
The short version
Here is the whole timeline at a glance, for cards meant to arrive before Christmas:
- October: book your session.
- Early to mid November: the session.
- Within the photographer's delivery time: your online gallery arrives. Check the profile, since it varies.
- The following few days: choose the photo and design the card.
- Late November: order the cards.
- First half of December: address and mail them.
Each step has a little slack built in. Lose that slack in two places, and the cards arrive after the holidays.
Week by week, working backwards
Mailing week
Decide the latest date you are willing to mail. For most families sending cards within the US, mailing in the first half of December is comfortable. If you have relatives abroad, mail earlier. The post office publishes holiday mailing deadlines every year, so check the current USPS dates rather than relying on last year's.
Do not forget the time it takes to address and stamp everything. For a long list, that is an evening or two on its own.
One to two weeks before mailing: order the cards
Card printers list their own production and shipping times, and both get longer in December as orders pile up. Check the printer you plan to use and add a few days of buffer. If you want a physical proof before the full order, add more.
The week before ordering: your gallery arrives
Your edited photos arrive in a private online gallery, on the schedule your photographer lists. Then comes the part people underestimate: choosing. Families often go back and forth between two or three favorite frames for days. Give yourself a deadline, and if you are stuck, choose the photo where everyone's eyes are open and the youngest child looks like themselves.
Session week
This is the only date that depends on everyone being healthy, rested and in the same place. Try not to schedule it right after a late night, a long trip or a vaccination appointment for the baby. Morning slots usually suit kids under five best.
Two to four weeks before the session: book
Booking takes a few minutes on the site: choose a photographer, a session and an open time on their profile, and pay online. Your card is held and charged only once the photographer accepts, usually within 48 hours. They then contact you with the address and outfit tips. Browsing a few profiles first makes the choice easier.
Booking a few weeks ahead also gives you time to plan outfits without a last-minute shopping trip.
Why November weekends go first
It is the same story for most family photographers every year. Almost everyone sending cards is working backwards from the same few weeks in December, so they all land on the same window. Weekends are when both parents are free and kids are out of school, and Saturday mornings are the natural slot for small children. Thanksgiving week takes several days out of the calendar for families who travel.
The result: November weekends book up well before weekdays. If you can do a weekday morning, or the first week of November, you will have more choice. Each photographer's open dates are on their profile.
If you are already running late
A late start does not mean no card. A few options:
- Book a holiday mini as soon as you can. At around 25 minutes with one themed set, it is the quickest route to one strong card photo. Our guide to Christmas mini sessions in NYC explains what fits into it. Look for photographers with a fast delivery time.
- Choose a printer with local pickup or faster shipping, if you are happy to pay for it.
- Send a digital card to some people and printed cards to the ones who will put them on the fridge.
- Switch to a New Year card. Cards that arrive in early January stand out because nobody else's are arriving. Our New Year family photos post has ideas, and a winter set works from December into February.
Hanukkah and other holiday dates
Hanukkah moves each year and can begin as early as late November, so look up this year's dates before you plan. If you want cards or photos in hand for the first night, move the whole timeline earlier by a week or two. Styling and menorah moments are in Hanukkah Family Photos: Ideas for a Warm, Meaningful Session.
For families who send cards for several holidays, a longer session with two sets or backdrops lets you get, for example, a Christmas card photo and a winter or classic portrait in one visit.
Planning the photo itself
The timeline only works if the session produces the photo you want. Before your session:
- Decide the card shape, vertical or horizontal, and tell your photographer.
- Note whether text will sit on top of the photo, so they can leave room.
- Pick one main idea for the card. Our list of 12 Christmas card photo ideas is a good place to start.
- Message your photographer anything they should know about the kids.
Quick answers
How early should I book holiday card photos?
October is ideal for a session in early to mid November. A session in late November still works if you order your cards quickly.
How long does it take to get the photos?
It depends on the photographer, and the delivery time is on each profile. Check it before you book.
Is a December session too late for cards?
For cards that must arrive before Christmas, it is tight but sometimes possible with fast delivery and fast printing. December sessions are perfect for framed prints, gifts and New Year cards.
Find your photographer
Browse holiday mini sessions in NYC and Long Island, check open dates and delivery times, and start the countdown.