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A holiday family photo is one of the most precious and heartwarming photos you’ll take and share this year with family and friends. After all, it will be the star of your holiday cards! Seasoned photographer Morgan Pansing takes the guesswork out of everything from what to wear to how to make the experience fun and relaxing for little ones. Here are her top tips on taking a holiday family photo you and your loved ones will cherish forever. (Oh, and once you're ready to share your festive snaps, Evite's holiday cards make it easy to personalize and send them in minutes.)
Guest contributor: Morgan Pansing
Select a wardrobe that photographs well
- Opt for comfort. Be sure to pick outfits that feel authentically you. Whether it be holiday dressy, or casual jeans and t-shirts, make sure that you feel comfortable in the clothes you choose.
- Pick a color palette with the full family in mind. I personally prefer a few different colors and textures together rather than being super matchy. Denim and white or off-white are always a winning combination. It works well to pair denim and white with a few different colors. Choose a specific color palette that complements each other—for example, pastels or earth tones.
- Stay away from small stripe patterns—they create a weird effect when photographed. Larger stripes are ok.
- Be wary of too many patterns. Be sure to intersperse any busy patterned clothing with more solid colors.
- Stay away from lots of super dark colors. Darker colors can work well when they are interspersed with some lighter colors.
Choose a location that makes sense for you
I live in Los Angeles, so there are lots of beautiful outdoor locations, from the beach to roaming fields. Be sure to pick a location that will be fun and easy for your kids. I love in-home family shoots just as much as a gorgeous location. I think it is all about where your family will feel happiest. In-home shoots are typically easier than outdoor locations with smaller children. If you choose to shoot in-home, be sure that the space where you will shoot is clean and isn’t too cluttered. Studio shoots can also be a great way to go!
Pick the right timing
The best time of day to take photos is whenever the kiddos are the happiest, whether that be after nap time or in the morning after a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast! Late afternoon magic hour shoots are super gorgeous, but only if your kids are happy at that time. If you are shooting outside, be sure that the location has proper shade.
Go for poses that feel authentic
I love it when families are hugging and holding hands etc. I am a big fan of family snuggles. The closer you are to one another during the shoot, the more intimate everything feels. One of my favorite tricks is a game of family telephone where everyone whispers a word in someone’s ear. At the end, the kids are typically laughing and everyone is close together for a sweet family moment of togetherness.
Find the right photographer
There are so many different styles of family photography, from more posed shoots, to studio shoots, to natural lifestyle imagery. Make sure you love the work you see from the photographer you choose. You can always send an email with some questions about how the photographer works to see if they feel like the right fit. After you choose your photographer, you can feel free to share with them the specific shots that are important to you to accomplish during the shoot.
Be mindful of snacks and treats
Be sure that your kiddos have eaten well before the shoot. Try to stay away from snacks and treats during the shoot and wait until after the shoot, if possible. Candy, treats and snacks can really get in the way of the kids looking their best in the photos.
Have fun!
If you are having fun, the kids will typically be having fun as well! Make sure that your hair, makeup and wardrobe all feel great, and then relax and trust your photographer to capture the magic of your family!
Morgan is a Los Angeles-based photographer specializing in lifestyle and editorial imagery. She is always up for travel and is passionate about telling stories through her photography. Her featured work/select clients include Vogue, InStyle, Sézane, Kit Undergarments, Anthropologie, Rachel Pally, Jenni Kayne, goop, Wall Street Journal Magazine, Chalkboard Mag, Glamour Online and many more. Morgan can be found adventuring with her husband and two children, capturing all of the magic of the motherhood journey along the way! You can check out more of her work on her website and Instagram.
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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from other signup tools?
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than other signup tools:
- 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
- Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
- No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
- Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
- Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
- User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
- Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.
Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!
What is a SignUp Sheet?
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer!
Long story short, SignUp Sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
How do I create a SignUp Sheet?
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
- Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
- Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
- Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
- After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
- Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
- After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
- Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!
What information should be included on a SignUp Sheet?
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
- A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
- When and where the event is taking place.
- The organizer’s name and phone number.
- Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete.
When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
What are the benefits of using a SignUp Sheet template?
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
- A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
- Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
- No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
- The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
- Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
- An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
- Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.
With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.
