So long Holiday's! You stressed us out, brought us joy, ushered in a parade of crap into our homes, and left us happy we have a year to recover before we have to meet again. The one thing I love about the holidays, but that stresses me out the most is Christmas cards. At the end of summer I start messaging Danielle with ideas for outfits and we try to put a session on the books. I love a holiday look to our photos and its the only time of year I can sucker my husband into them because I always say I want them because Leavitt's birthday is coming. Which is true, but inside I'm scheming up our card.
I always start with my outfit. Being that I am the only girl in the family, and probably the most self critical I want to make sure whatever I wear I will love. I was obsessed with this dress from ASOS. For me it hit all the marks. Holiday vibe, long sleeve, forgiving enough that I could move and be present with my family while Danielle captured us. I STALKED this dress for a good two months. I think Danielle was ready to kill me after the 100th text about it. They offer this dress in petite, tall, regular length, plus, and maternity. They also offer a midi version, and short sleeve version. I wore the maroon short sleeve version the year before so I didn't want to go with that one, but its gorgeous! After a couple months of the dress not being restocked I started to panic and dug out my dress from last year. I noticed I hadn't ordered my normal size so I double checked the measurements on the size guide and I was able to size down and purchase a regular length dress. HALLELUJAH!
The next thing I did was check out Minted to see what card I wanted. I settled on this one as soon as I saw it. I love the message, simple design, and the trees in the sample look exactly the same as our favorite tree farm where we always get our pictures done so it seemed meant to be.
I then easily pulled the boys looks together, and at the last minute opted to get Nick a plaid shirt instead of a matching one to Leavitt, and used a little burgundy on the boys. Preston in his shoes, and Leavitt with a thermal under his flannel shirt.
This year our session happened to land on a freakishly cold day. I had hair and makeup appointments, a sitter at home to help me, and an influx of texts from Danielle and my husband wondering if I was really crazy enough to go through with it on this frigid day. I was like heck yes I am still doing this! My hair is done! They ended up talking sense into me, and we rescheduled, and I did my own hair and makeup the day of the actual shoot... cue the tears (and sarcasm).
My favorite thing about having Danielle photograph us is that she doesn't stop when things start to go rogue. She caught Leavitt's expression immediately after kicking his brother in the face accidentally. She caught me comforting him while he screamed in my face and my husband looked on. She caught Leavitt shaking his booty instead of looking at the camera. She caught Leavitt under my tulle skirt a habit he has had since our wedding two years ago, then again last year during Christmas card photos, and apparently the tradition is going strong 3 years later, HAHA! I love having photos of who we really are, and how we actually interact with each other. I know that will serve my heart more years from now so much more than the perfectly posed pictures we send our friends and families. But I do love those perfect pictures too, it proves to me that in the real chaos of our lives we really do have perfect moments... having proof isn't bad either! I linked our outfit details below, for those of you interested!
My - Dress
Preston - Outift // Hat // Moccasins
Leavitt - Shirt // Pants // Boots
Nick - Shirt // Pants // Sneakers are sold out Similar here
