Even if you haven't been fortunate enough this summer to take an actual vacation, you've probably managed a couple of relaxing days at the beach or in the pool. Your kids don't have any homework and, whatever sports they have, even the super intense ones are finishing up or winding down. Wouldn't it be easy to gather up your loved ones for a night at the beach, eating a picnic dinner and getting photos done? Absolutely! It's a lot easier than saying, "Hey, it's 47 degrees outside but we need that Christmas card photo so get out there. Yes, you have to take your coat off. Your outfit is too cute to hide under that hideous jacket!"

6) Um, it's gorgeous out.

The park, the beach...in front of your house...it's all so lovely right now. Everything is so fully exploded in green. In October you'll be scrambling to get a pic in front a tree that hasn't quite lost all of it's leaves yet. And in November, well, they'll be in a sad, rotted pile and everyone will be freezing. Whatever money you will have saved on your fall mini session will be spent on hot chocolate and hand warmers.  

5) Beach photos at Christmas time make people so completely happy.

Have you ever opened your mail and found a Christmas card with a beach vacation photo on it? Didn't it make you feel so wistful and happy? Once December rolls around you'll be pining for this weather. Your adorable beach Christmas card photo will be a nice reminder that once, not so long ago even, you had concerns other than snow delays, wet mittens and holiday shopping. And, let's face it, your card will probably have a place of honor in the pile. Maybe even some dried teardrops on it.

I mean, I will take the below photo if you ask me to. Ok, maybe not this one. He clearly waited too long to get his act together for Christmas card photos and it really shows in his images.

4) If not now, when?

September? That's kind of funny when you think about it, isn't it. Have you ever gotten anything done in September besides get your kids to school every day fully clothed, maybe? School will be back in full swing and you'll be trying to gently roll out of summer without having a nervous breakdown. You're certainly not thinking about Christmas card photos. Although, I'll totally take them in September if you want me to. It's not like they'll come out bad...you'll just be too busy to remember to do them, is all.

3) Photographers want to put your photo session in the best position for success.

Beach photos at sunset are great, but sunset sessions happen only once a day. In the summer, photographers have an easier time scheduling those sunset sessions. Folks are generally around in the evenings if they're not on vacation and photo sessions can start around 7:00 or 7:30. Sunset sessions in October would have to begin around 3:30, not ideal for working parents. Plus it reminds you how depressing it is that the sun sets like 20 minutes after it comes up and that's not good for anyone.

2) You can actually save money!

I'm happy to work out prices that include digital copies of your photos. Then you can order your Christmas card photos whenever they go on sale. Who doesn't love a great sale??

1) Your sanity.

I saved the best for last. Weekends in the fall I tend to stack up a bunch of "mini session" at a local farm or park. It has to be on the weekend because of a) how early the sun goes down during the week and b) because of work and school schedules. The later into the fall it gets, the fewer timeslots I have available. I have had the occasional panicked mom who is booking into late November/early December because time just got away from her. But you? You'll be already done because you will have had a nice, relaxed beach session in the middle of the summer with me. I will have had lots of time to edit and return your images to you, you ordered at your leisure. By December 1st we could really just get together at Starbucks and laugh about how everything else is freaking out about their Christmas cards and you're sitting pretty.

*Ok. So it's totally possible that you've stumbled across this blog post in October and now you're kicking yourself. First of all, there's always next summer and secondly, I'm happy to fit you in. Don't worry, mama; we'll get it done. And hey, maybe you read this in July and thought to yourself, "This is dumb!" and now it's November and you're crying because you and your family barely survived a really stressful Thanksgiving and this will be the second year in a row that you didn't get your cards done. I've been there, mama. Just call me, no worries.