Three Holiday Photo Ideas to Remember the Magic of Childhood | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

What holiday traditions did your family have as a child? Maybe you've chosen to carry them on with your family. Or maybe you've started some of your own with your partner or your kids. Whether you love the holiday season or not, there's no denying that it's a magical time in childhood. Here are three photo session ideas that will ensure you remember the magic even after your children are long grown.

1. Christmas Tree Farm

If your family goes to the trouble of getting a real Christmas tree, then you already know it's about more than just the tree. The tradition is about the entire process. Maybe you travel to a favorite local tree farm. Maybe you let your kids pick the tree (no matter what they choose). Maybe there's hot cocoa. You might sing Christmas carols or decorate with ornaments handed down through your family. Maybe there's a pickle involved. Whatever the tradition, it's what makes it memorable to your family. And that's worthy of saving to share years from now when your kids are grown and maybe have kids of their own.

This is a film I made to document this family's Christmas tree tradition. What traditions do you wish you had video of from your childhood?

2. Holiday Decorations at Home

Decorating is such a big part of the holiday season, whether it's trimming the tree or out-lighting everyone in your neighborhood. Maybe you love creating crafts with your kids. (Or maybe your kids run away five minutes into the crafts and leave you to finish.) Perhaps it's something special that only comes out this time of year, like a train set or (those bane of my existence) elves on shelves. What has your kids begging you to bring out the holiday decorations before Thanksgiving is even over?

3. Holiday Baking

Baking can be a favorite any time of year, but is especially festive during the holiday season. We often show our appreciation for family, friends, and those in our community with baked goods. Christmas cookies, breads, and the like are a fun way to keep kids engaged while preserving a tradition and having something yummy to show for it.

4. Bonus: Christmas Day

You may be unlikely to find a photographer available on Christmas Day, but it's worthwhile to take photos and videos yourself. Of all the films I make with my kids, the Christmas Day films are the ones they ask to watch the most. Witnessing their anticipation and excitement finally culminating on Christmas morning is one of the perks of parenting.

The Santa appearance is a long story, but my kids love it. :)

Create a film of a day in your family's life | Northern Virginia Family Photography

I'm not a big fan of winter, but I love living in northern Virginia where we get to (mostly) experience all the seasons. Fall is especially beautiful and this was a special session, filmed last October about three weeks before I gave birth to my youngest son. (It was also a mini vacation - a night away (and a whole bed to myself!).

I got to spend a weekend exploring with this amazing family on their ranch in northern Maryland. And since we were so far outside of DC, I also got to use my drone for this film which made for some beautiful, unique shots.

I first filmed this family at their home in DC when their youngest was a teensy newborn. That film was all about their new family dynamic with two children. Full of coziness, love, and new baby goodness.

This time around, we spent a lot of time planning what what was most important for them to preserve. Love, of course, but also adventure and the many reasons they moved to Maryland - including spending lots of time outdoors. There were also little people who had grown so much and had so much personality to share. Capturing all the love and energy - and two pups too! - made for a rich film.

Collaborating to create this story was so much fun. I hope you enjoy watching.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

A military homecoming story | Northern Virginia Family Photography

I recently shared a military homecoming film I created for a Northern Virginia family. Films are amazing for storytelling and capturing emotion, but still images convey a story beautifully as well. That’s why I love combining both. I spent a couple of hours at BWI Airport waiting with this beautiful mom and her little boy to document the arrival of their U.S. Air Force husband and father. 

It was fun, sweet, and so emotional. And while I LOVE the film (and cry every time I watch it!), I also love the simplicity of these still images that capture all those emotions. The waiting, the relief, the hard work of parenting a three year old amidst such a significant absence. And love all around.

It was also special to see the USO in action. Volunteers applauded and handed out welcome bags to all the servicemen and women each time the doors opened, giving thanks and showing respect with every handshake.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

Family reunion: a military homecoming film | Northern Virginia Family Photography

Just before social distancing and a couple of weeks before stay-at-home orders were issued in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, I had the opportunity to document the homecoming of a U.S. military serviceman.

His family waited five long months to see him again. For a three-year-old missing his dad, that's an especially long time. Counting down the minutes with this little guy was one of my most special experiences as a photographer and this was one of the most emotional family films I've created. I'm familiar with the energy of young boys especially, so getting to follow him around the international arrivals area at BWI Airport was quite fun (and a lot less stressful than chasing my own kids around the airport!).

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into a moment five months in the making. 

I knew it would be emotional, particularly that moment of reunion. But what was just as special was witnessing the story of a military spouse and mom. Through months of highs and lows she was a beautiful mother to a little boy who missed his daddy very much. All while missing her partner in life very much.

Military families are amazing and I'm in awe of the dedication, sacrifice, and support within the military community. Thank you for all that you do.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

How to survive the early days with a baby and a toddler | Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer

Choosing to have a second child (or third, or...) can be almost as anxiety inducing as having your first.  If your first baby was challenging (like mine!) you might be anticipating another era of lack of sleep, frequent feedings, and near constant snuggles with your little one. And if your toddler is like most, thinking about the needs of a newborn on top of the needs of an active 2- or 3- year old might send you into a tailspin.  Don't worry, it'll all work out! 

After bringing home three newborns of my own and talking with countless other moms of multiple children, I'm sharing a few tips to put your mind at ease when you're planning to bring a baby home to an older sibling. 

1. Humans are amazingly adaptive.

   Life still happens and you'll miraculously go along with it. It may not be pretty sometimes, but try to enjoy the ride, or at least laugh at it, especially when there's poop involved. Figure out what works for your family and try not to worry what others may think. Case in point, we've been cosleeping and playing musical beds with our kids since I realized my oldest slept best (and so did the rest of us) right next to me. It's not for everyone, but it works for us.

2. Accept help.

   I think this gets easier when you have a second kid and I know it's said frequently, but say yes to offers of help. Prepared meals. A toddler playdate. Extended family stays. Drop any notions of the way things have to be and let yourself be taken care of. People want to help. Tell them how. Let them grab your dry cleaning. And a Starbucks while they're at it. 

3. Say no.

   It's okay to become a bit of a hermit, if that's what your family needs. You don't have to accept social invitations (and when baby is really young you probably want to avoid crowds and unnecessary germs). When you do make plans, make them with people who are supportive. Other parents of young ones are usually the best to commiserate and laugh with. 

4. Let go of expectations.

   And let your standards slide, for at least a little bit (but maybe forever). Things can be hectic, especially while you're figuring out the new normal. But, as you already know, just when you think you have everything figured out, kids change. Try to flow with it and life will be more peaceful. There will usually be something that doesn't quite happen like you expected or hoped, but things generally work out. 

5. Find a fellow mom to talk with.

   The first weeks after birth are a roller coaster. It can be emotional and isolating, even if you know what to expect. Find another Mama who can relate and be a sounding board. And if you don't have a Mama friend, reach out to me (seriously). We all need a fellow mom who we can keep it real with. 

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

Newborn sessions: why you shouldn't delay | Washington, DC Family Photographer

Choosing when to have family photos made can be tough. Newborn sessions are popular for good reason. Those first weeks are fleeting and details are lost in a sleep-deprived haze. But when there are siblings to consider too, many families consider holding off on a photo session until baby is older so that everyone can be more involved in taking photos and the focus isn't just on the newborn. Some families want to wait until baby is older and has more "personality." But after photographing numerous newborn sessions (and three babies of my own), I say don't wait. 

NEWBORN DAYS ARE BRIEF: PHOTOS MAKE THEM UNFORGETTABLE

The newborn days, even with siblings involved, exist in a sort of bubble. They truly are special. One or both parents are home from work. Competing priorities are put to the side. If you're lucky, you have extra hands of family or friends to entertain toddlers, cook meals, or hold a baby so you can shower (or eat a meal yourself!). This bubble pops eventually and life starts to develop a new normal. But those first days and weeks are unforgettable. It's especially sweet to look back on a brief period of time where your only real "to-do" is simply love and be loved.

With documentary family sessions, the focus is on relationships, so a session can capture both the wonder and joy of those first newborn days and the exuberant energy of an older sibling (hey, he's not the one losing sleep!). Sessions are relaxed and flexible, so there's no need to worry about toddler meltdowns or newborn fussiness and no need to coax everyone to smile or perform for the camera (though siblings often do this willingly).

It's even possible to capture a bigger story when grandparents are part of a session. Their hands can be such a welcome addition when bringing home a newborn, especially with an older brother or sister at home. Capturing the bond with grandparents is an important part of the family story which can be lost when a session is put off until baby is older and family has departed.

Films are also a wonderful way to preserve the newborn days. Here's one new mom on the value of a newborn photo and film session.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

Tips for celebrating the holidays in a new home - Northern Virginia Family Photographer

Our family moved to a new home in Alexandria in December. We've settled in nicely despite having a laundry list of things to be done. The move, especially coupled with the holidays, got me thinking a lot about family traditions and what makes a house home. It was clear amid the chaos and stress that what mattered most to the kids wasn't our things, but us. Making time to put the list aside and enjoy spending time together with no other agenda was sometimes hard, but it was all we really needed to feel at home. The holidays have passed and the list remains a mile long, but we have a ton of new memories and maybe a few new traditions as well.

I had a holiday session with this favorite family in Northern Virginia who were also celebrating their first holidays in a new home. I've documented pregnancy, newborn, and one year milestones with them and it was so nice to share in their latest, creating new traditions and celebrating old ones to mark their first holiday in their new home. That their extended family was there to share in the love was icing on the cake. Families come to life when little ones are involved and these little guys were the life of the party.

So, in honor of new homes and new traditions, here are a few tips for celebrating and documenting your family's holidays at home:

Let the kids take the lead.

Planning for a specific activity can be helpful, but being flexible about specific moments is key. As soon as your kids know you have something particular you want them to do, that's the very last thing they'll wasn't to do. The best images come from spontaneous interactions and activities they choose themselves. Like impromptu dance parties.

Invite their favorite people.

Intimate family sessions are amazing. But if you have the opportunity to involve extended family, like grandparents and aunts or uncles. Kids will be most likely to act like themselves around adults that they're comfortable with and it's a wonderful way to highlight those special relationships that will be meaningful to them throughout their lives.

Savor the small moments.

With a documentary session, there's no need to rush from one activity to another. Those in between moments when your little one comes in for a hug and a bit of rest are truly the sweetest.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

The answer for fun and stress-free holiday photos that your family will treasure | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

Holiday photo sessions that capture some of the magic of Christmas and the winter season are a popular choice for families. But dragging your kids out, all dressed up, for a studio or outdoor session (especially with the unpredictable weather in Northern Virginia) doesn't exactly bring on the holiday cheer. Here are a few reasons why documentary family sessions are the best way to capture unique and stress-free photos of your family's favorite holiday traditions.

1. You don't have to leave your house (or your PJs).

   Wake up, roll out of bed, and prep however you like. Family documentary sessions are laid-back. There's no rush to get out the door or into the car. No need to cajole your kids (or your spouse) into getting dressed. You can snack when you need. Nap when you need. Take a break when you need. No worries if your kid has a meltdown or you need to stop

2. Family connections is strongest at home.

   Home is where you are most comfortable. Most able to be yourselves. And most connected to each other. Without the stresses of worrying about public behavior or restrictive timelines, your whole family can relax and just enjoy being together and doing whatever you find yourselves interested in that day. For a holiday session, incorporating family rituals is a great way to celebrate what makes the season memorable. Whether it’s decorating the tree or baking a family favorite recipe, think about traditions you remember from your own childhood and what you most want your children to remember from theirs.

3. Memories from home are the foundation our children draw from for the rest of their lives.

   Holiday memories have a particular way of standing out more strongly in our hearts. Preserving them in photos where everyone can be present (and not behind a camera) is a wonderful way to highlight those things that matter to your family and that are the best parts of the holiday season. Being together, sharing love and laughter, and honoring old traditions and creating new ones.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

How to preserve family traditions that your kids will remember forever | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

Holiday memories are steeped in family traditions.

We take pictures of experiences that are meaningful to us. Places and people we want to remember. Lots of people have the fondest and strongest childhood memories around holidays. They stand out in our memories as more poignant because our recurring family traditions and rituals strengthen the memories over time. And also because we take pictures and videos of them. 

It’s so much more than Christmas morning.

Most often, our Christmas photos are from Christmas morning, unwrapping gifts, or playing with new toys surrounded by scraps of discarded wrapping paper, a colorfully lit tree in the background. If we're lucky, there are a few images of our parents too. But rarely do these photos tell more of the story than what happens on Christmas day. This post is my call to take pictures of your family that go beyond the main event.

Traditions don’t just happen. We make them happen.

Now that I have kids, I appreciate all the effort my parents, and my mom especially, put into making Christmas a special time for us as kids. Decorating was especially fun. Each year taking out the tiny ceramic village with it's fake snow and lit up houses. Carefully taking out the individually wrapped glass ornaments and the growing assortment of hand made ones from school. And, as we got older, having wrapping parties in the floor passing scissors and tape back and forth whole watching cheesy hold movies. 

I know now that these traditions didn’t just happen. My parents made them happen. And by doing so they shared with us what was meaningful to them and what was valuable to our family.

Family photos and videos highlight the best of the holiday spirit.

It's the memories that stand out most for us that we're most likely to pass down to our own children as tradition. And that's why it's important to document more than just the unwrapping of gifts. Documenting this time with your children with photos or a family film is a special way to highlight the best of the holiday spirit. As we all know, it's not about the gifts on Christmas morning. It's about the thrill of anticipation, the magic and mystery, and most of all the joy and love of family. 

Traditions are how we highlight what matters.

Whether that's driving to the local farm to pick out a tree or baking holiday cookies to share with friends and neighbors, traditions are how we highlight what matters.  So this holiday season, document those rituals that are important to your family and preserve those values for your children and for generations to come.

P.S. I’m booking 2019 films and photo sessions now! Happy Holidays!

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.

A new mom on why a newborn photography session is a must | Northern Virginia Newborn & Family Photographer

Meeting new families is one of my favorite things about being a photographer. Developing relationships with families and documenting their family's growth over time is icing on the cake. I caught up with this family, who just welcomed their third little one, for a newborn family film at home. I could gush about newborn details, nursing, naps, and sibling love for days, but instead, I'll leave you with some words straight from this Mama on why she chose to have a newborn family film session, even amidst the craziness of adjusting to life with a new baby.

“In the early days with a newborn, it’s oftentimes just a matter of survival day in and day out. And it’s normal to want to get through it before thinking about taking pictures and videos. But it’s so important and priceless to capture those early days. And working with Nicole gave me so much peace of mind. It felt like I was just inviting a good friend over for coffee. We didn’t fuss over what we were wearing or how the house looked. My kids were relaxed and being their unpredictable selves. And she was able to capture so much of what I cherish the most about these early days — the mundane moments that I know will be most precious to me years from now.”

— S., Mom of three

They're only this little once. Between sleep deprivation, the other details of life, and time just flying, don't let those early days go by without preserving them! For more from this beautiful family, check out “Three reasons to have your newborn session at home.” And for a trip down memory lane, see how much has changed since our first session in northern Virginia a couple of years ago.

Nicole Sanchez Photography works with busy parents in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland to create stress-free photo sessions that take all the loving, fun, and chaotic moments of family life to make beautiful photos and films that families will love looking at year after year.  Contact me today to start planning a custom photography experience that's perfect for your family.