Congratulations parents, you have survived summer! Happy back-to-school season! Along with homework and all those extracurricular activities, it is also time to start planning for those holiday family photos.

Yes. I know. It’s only August. But with your weekends filling up with sports, dances, and Sunday Football, the holiday season will be here before you know it.

With that in mind, here are three tips to make your session run smoothly.

Be well rested and fed

Give yourself plenty of time to get ready, and don’t leave yourself for last. If you’re ready and feeling confident, your mood will help set the tone for everyone else. Also, make sure everyone is well fed. The last thing you want is a hangry meltdown during the photoshoot. Feel free to bring along non-messy snacks (i.e. dry cereal, granola bar, etc) in case the kiddos (or husbands) get hungry.

Coordinate, don’t match

Try to pick out outfits that have similar colors or tones, but don’t feel the need to match. There is a fine line between coordinating and being too matchy-matchy. Selecting complementary patterns, or colors (think pastels or varying shades of the same color) is a great way to go. When choosing prints, remember that less is more - small polk-a-dots, thin stripes a small floral print are great choices. Take care not to select a print that is too bold - you don’t want your shirt to detract from the rest of the photo.

Men (and boys) - try to select a shirt that has a collar, or is at least well fitted - loose casual t-shirts will look just that - loose and casual - and tend to not photograph well.

Ladies - if wearing a skirt/dress, please keep in mind the length and flexibility of your outfit - there is a possibility that you may be asked to crouch or sit on a blanket on the ground.

Most importantly, when it comes to choosing what to wear for your photo session, wear clothes you’re comfortable in and that make you feel good about yourself. The last thing you want is your child crying over an itchy new dress. Leave the matching white shirts and washed jeans in the 90s where they belong.

I am including a few sample photos from previous sessions that I feel demonstrate how good planning with regard to clothing can impact the quality of a photo.

Have fun

Bring your favorite toys, book, or an activity your family likes to do together. When you incorporate things you love into your photo session, it makes it more fun, and captures who you really are beyond your images. It’s a

great idea to bring a couple of accessories like hats or scarves.