🎄 Christmas Mini Prep Guide 🎄
📍 SHOOT LOCATION:
Stagsden Christmas Tree Farm
West End Farm, West End,
Stagsden MK43 8SZ
My tips & tricks to optimise your christmas mini experience with me!
Welcome to the photo session checklist section of my Client Lounge, where you’ll find everything you need to know ahead of our session! I’m thrilled you decided to book me and can’t wait to meet you!
Feel free to make some tea, grab a pen and take some notes of what you’ll need to think about or bring to our session. Ready? Perfect, let’s go over your photo session checklist!
✓ Your chosen outfits. The first thing you need to think about is your chosen outfit. For this session, we will be embracing what the Christmas season is all about so think festive jumpers, cozy textured knits, beanie hats, boho scandi patterns, scarves, etc! I’d recommend wearing colours that will make you stand out next to the trees, therefore beige, white or other light colours but I’d also strongly vote for a bold red! Whatever you decide to do, please avoid wearing dark colours and especially green as you don’t want to blend in with the Christmas trees - and stay clear from overpowering and distracting patterns as they tend to take away the focus from you. Seasonality is key, but another styling hack when shooting in groups is to colour coordinate and complement: we want to avoid everyone looking too matchy-matchy. Pick an outfit that you feel super comfortable and confident in, then plan the rest of the outfits around yours – you are the star of the show! Remember, I want you to feel not just great but AMAZING!
Pro tip: Type in ‘Christmas tree photo session’ in Pinterest to get some great styling inspo!
IMPORTANT: Due to the nature of the location, please wear waterproof footwear/ wellies and footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty as the ground will be likely muddy - and make sure to leave the pram at home or in the car as the terrain won’t be buggy friendly! I will be bringing my own picnic blankets to do sitting down shots on so no need to bring your own!
✓ Hair & make-up. As you’ve seen from my work, I’m all about the natural look, but I also want you to feel confident. If you want to go for a goddess look, have some light curls to add some volume. Feel free to have a look at Pinterest or Youtube tutorials for some hairdo inspo! Click here to see some gorgeous romantic half up dos looks. My top tip for make-up is to put a little more than what you normally would – photos tend to not reflect the makeup so you need to overdo it just a tad! Make sure to choose a type of make-up that opens your eyes instead of closing them (I love recommend using a beige or white eye pencil on the waterline to make the eyes pop!). If you wear self-tan, please don’t overdo it! My shooting style embraces warm colours so you will get a ‘natural tan’ – wearing fake tan may lead to a skin looking a bit orangey which we’d want to avoid! Make-up can help you feel confident, but I know a trick or two to capture your beauty in the best light (literally!) and I’ll make sure that your natural beauty will shine through!
✓ Accessories and props. What do you like to do during your spare time? I love including in my sessions activities that my clients like to do to capture those authentic and natural family moments – whether it’s having a picnic, reading books, going hunting for bugs, playing with the dog, etc. Bottom line: find activities that you like doing as a couple or family and bring any relevant props from home that will allow those natural moments to unfold! You can keep it very simple by brining the children’s favourite books and toys! Don’t forget to also bring a bottle of water, tissues, baby wipes if you have a child who can get a bit messy, hayfever tablets if you have allergies and your favourite lipstick if you need to touch up! I always bring a pocket mirror with me so you’ll be able to do a quick make-up and hair check if needed during our session. Make sure to bring a bag where you can chuck everything in and please leave any chunky jewlery and accessories such as Fitbit watches in the car!
✓ Branding sessions. If you are booking a Christmas mini slot for branding purposes, bring your laptop, notepad, pen, and your phone. I’d advise wearing a ‘smart casual’ outfit that represents you as the person behind the business – stay clear of brights/ flashy colours, logos, distracting patterns, wearing all black and chunky jewellery. Please make sure your clothes are ironed and crease-free ahead of our session. For any outfit inspiration, I’d recommend going on Pinterest and seeing what other business owners who share the same role/ job title are wearing in their festive lifestyle branding session.
✓ Plan ahead. Don’t leave the planning and packing to the last minute! I HIGHLY recommend packing everything you’ll need to bring in advance (by the night before our session, before it gets dark) that way it’s ready to go on the session day. Come to the session in the outfit that you’ll be wearing for the shoot as there won’t be time to change once your allocated slot starts, and only bring what you need in terms of props! If it helps, take photos of the exact items you will be bringing or write them down in your notes, then pack it all in a bag ready to go on the session day!
✓ It’s pamper time! Yep you heard me: get yourself pampered! Most of the time, hands end up being seen on your photos, so feel free to go all the way in pampering & self-love: offer yourself a mani before getting your portraits taken! Getting all dolled up helps a lot with self confidence and to feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Another pro tip is to rest up before our session! When I was doing fashion photography back in Paris, models would moisturize and drink lots of water the evening before our session (bonus points if they could get lots of sleep!). I repeat: moisturize and drink water way more than you normally would! Doing so will give you that goddess glow at our shoot and you will feel fantastic!
✓ Please don’t be late! As you know, you will have a 20 minute slot that is allocated and due to the nature of the session type, I’ll be shooting back to back sessions from sunrise to sunset and won’t be able to accommodate clients who are late for their timeslot! Please leave plenty of time to park your car - the location might be busy as there is an adorable Christmas shop on site! Please do not contact me on my phone number during the session day, I will be unable to get back to calls and texts as I will be busy working. However, the lovely Louise from the Small Business Expert will be my right arm during this event and will be greeting you from the car park and take you to the session location (you will find her phone number in the timeline below and in your confirmation email)! If you are early you can have a little wander around and enjoy the views or pop in the Christmas shop to get in the festive mood! There will be one toilet (portaloo) on site and no changing facilities so please come to the session with your chosen outfits on!
✓ Relax, be yourself and enjoy this experience! Don’t worry about feeling ‘awkward’ or not knowing what to do, I’ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve to make our session amazing and I’m known to make people feel very comfortable and relaxed! I won’t make you pose, but I will give you prompts to allow natural and emotive moments to unfold. My photography style is all about movement, emotions and relationships, and I will encourage you to interact with each other as much as possible. I love including in my sessions activities that my clients like to do – whether it’s having a picnic, playing cards and games, reading books, going hunting for bugs, playing with the dog(s), enjoying a cheeky beer, etc. I will bring my props box but do feel free to bring any props that would make the experience more personable. If you’re coming with your child(ren), bring along their favourite toys and books to include in the photos! If you have any ideas and would like to run them by me, feel free to do so!
Thank you for choosing Constance Doyle Photography to celebrate your Christmas 2023 in pictures - I can’t wait to meet you!!
Constance x
CD PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE TIMELINE:
1) Get to Stagsden Christmas Tree Farm
2) Meet Louise at the car park - 07920144717
3) Walk to the location with Louise and meet Constance
4) Photo session experience (20 minutes)
5) Visit the whimsical Stagsden Christmas shop - you can also place your Christmas tree order there!
6) Enjoy a hot chocolate, tea, coffee or mulled wine
7) Leave Stagsden Christmas Tree Farm and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
8) Receive your gallery of proofs by Tuesday evening
9) Choose your package by Thursday evening
10) Allow 2-3 working days to receive your final gallery
MY GIFT VOUCHERS:
Why not treat someone or yourself to a photoshoot experience?
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a birthday, christening, engagement or wedding, anniversary, Christmas or any other special milestone, why not treat someone to a photoshoot experience with Constance Doyle Photography?
My photography gift vouchers are ideal for individuals, couples or families of up to six people. They entitle the recipient to a photoshoot with me, a professional photographer with 8 years of experience under her belt (yep that’s A LOT of photographs!). It is a client favourite as it makes the most precious and unique present that sets you apart from everyone else!
Not sure you can afford a photo session? You can also gift your loved one(s) a CD Photography gift voucher of any amount of your choice from £20 to redeem for any of my packages.
Do you think somebody you know would love this as a gift? Get in touch to book!
