With Christmas looming on the horizon, I’m deviating a little from the usual Spotlight interviews to instead talk to head photographer Abigail Nilsson at Abigail’s Studio about how she approaches the festive season from a photographic point of view.
For photographers, Christmas can be a great time to introduce seasonal photo shoots, with images that will make great presents for family members, or that can be turned into Christmas cards. Every professional photographer has their own approach but if you’re looking for ideas – regardless of your skill level, it can be hard knowing what will work and what won’t.
Abigail Nilsson is a successful portrait and wedding photographer based in the UK. Working in the industry since 2000, she’s the perfect person to ask about Christmas photo shoots. We had a brief chat to talk about the way she approaches this time of year.
Abigail: “I don’t believe in charging a huge amount for Christmas photos as I’d rather get people into the studio for a full portrait session. With this in mind, I always set up a day of Christmas mini sessions. This gives you a chance as a photographer to get to know people and help get your name out there amongst local families.”
What does a Christmas mini session consist of?
A: “A mini session is a short shoot advertised as 30 minutes of studio fun with a stunning photo included. In reality, I allow 45 minutes per shoot so there isn’t any crossover between families. I offer a much cheaper price and this year I’m including a free mounted print to encourage clients to get the photos off their phones and onto their walls! I’m shooting in the studio space at a local framer’s – they will do the image selection with customers and upscale with extra prints and frames.
You need to charge enough to make the day worth your while and cover your costs, but this is really an opportunity to get to know people and give them a nice Christmas photo they can give to family and friends. It’s about building connections without devaluing your services.”
How do you set up the shoots?
A: “I started marketing the Christmas mini sessions in mid-October and sold out within a week. I am doing a one-day special offer and have 10 shoots booked in for that day. I have found these mini sessions really only sell at Christmas. I know lots of people run Autumn and Bluebell shoots, for example, but I’d rather concentrate on running full shoots at those times of year.
One important tip – do make sure you confirm exactly who is coming to the shoot. I often have to chase people to let me know numbers, but you need to know exactly how many people they’re expecting to be in the shot, and whether it’s actually feasible.”
How do you create a Christmas look to your images?
A: “I use Kate’s backdrops (which come from China, so make sure you order in advance). They do a massive range of Christmas backdrops, although a lot are designed to accommodate very large families.
I always choose a backdrop with interest in the centre, so I’ve got the ability to photograph one child. Do be careful with perspective when choosing a backdrop – for example, if they’ve got Christmas presents in, these can look ridiculously large next to a small child. It is down to personal taste obviously. Some people do full room sets and put sofas, trees, presents etc in front of the backdrop but for small mini sessions, I think it’s better to just shoot your subjects standing in front of the backdrop.
I’m also going to provide mince pies, hot chocolate and mulled wine to add a festive feel and provide a little luxury treat. Do make sure you’ve got something to engage young children – you’re going to be shooting quickly so you need to grab their attention.”
What do you hope to get out of Christmas mini sessions?
A: “I think the contacts that you can make can be really useful for getting more work. These are all new clients who have booked a mini session, so there’s plenty of opportunities for more work in the future. People who came to the mini sessions last year have booked in for full sessions afterwards and that’s the goal.
Engaging with the customers is so important. I often have my portfolio on hand so people understand my style and the images I create. Be specific about what these photos are for, but let clients know they can book full shoots or buy more prints / framed images. Working with a framer will also hopefully be beneficial for both of us.”
You can view Abigail’s work on her website, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find out more about the framer she is working with here.
