Holiday Card Timeline and Planning
If you are reading this in November wondering when to book your holiday card session, the answer was two months ago. Here is how to plan it right next year.
The Month-by-Month Timeline
Every year I get messages in late November from parents in a panic because they need holiday card photos. And every year I wish I could go back in time and tell them to call me in September. Here is the timeline that actually works:
August: Start Thinking
I know. It is still summer. The kids are at the pool. Nobody is thinking about holiday cards. But this is when you should reach out to book. My October weekends start filling up in August because experienced holiday card families know the secret: fall colors in Colorado are the best backdrop you could ask for, and the window is short.
September: Book and Plan
This is the sweet spot for booking. We will pick a date (usually in October), choose a location, and talk about what you want. Early September sessions can work too, especially at higher elevations where the aspens turn first. The cottonwoods along Boulder Creek start changing in mid-September, which gives you golden canopy light that looks incredible in photos.
October: Shoot
Peak time. The aspens along the Peak to Peak Highway are blazing gold. The cottonwoods in Boulder are warm yellow. The light is lower and warmer by 4 PM. This is when most of my holiday card sessions happen. Early October for mountain aspen backdrops, mid-to-late October for in-town fall color.
The catch: Colorado fall is unpredictable. An early freeze can strip the leaves in a weekend. A warm spell can push peak color later. I watch the conditions closely and will suggest moving your date by a few days if the color is not quite right yet or is about to peak.
November: Edit and Select
I deliver your gallery within two weeks of your session. For October sessions, that means you have your photos by mid-to-late November. This gives you time to browse, pick your favorites, and get them uploaded to whatever card service you use.
December (first week): Order Cards
Place your print order by December 1 to 5 for standard delivery. This gets cards to your door by mid-December, giving you time to address, stamp, and mail them before the holiday rush hits the post office.
Best Locations for Holiday Card Sessions
The location depends on the look you want and what is peaking when we shoot.
- Chautauqua Park: Golden grass, mountain backdrop, warm evening light. Classic Colorado feel that works for any style of card.
- Boulder Creek Path: Cottonwood canopy in full fall color. Great for a warm, golden tunnel-of-trees look.
- NCAR Trail: Wide open meadows with the Flatirons. If you want that big, expansive Colorado landscape behind you, this is the spot.
- Flagstaff Mountain: Higher elevation means earlier color and panoramic views. The aspen groves up Flagstaff Road are some of the closest to downtown Boulder.
- Pearl Street: If you want an urban holiday feel, the brick walkways and string lights on Pearl Street add charm. Works especially well in late November when the holiday decorations go up.
What to Wear
Holiday cards do not have to scream "Christmas." In fact, the best ones usually do not. Here is what works:
Coordinate, do not match. Pick a color palette and let everyone choose pieces within it. Burgundy, olive, mustard, rust, cream, and denim all play well together against fall foliage. You want everyone to look like they belong in the same photo without looking like a catalog ad.
Layer up. Colorado October evenings drop into the 40s fast. Jackets, scarves, vests, and sweaters add texture to photos and keep everyone comfortable. A family huddled together because it is chilly makes for a better photo than a family standing apart in t-shirts.
Skip the holiday costumes. Unless matching reindeer pajamas is genuinely your family's thing (and for some families it is, and that is great), go for timeless over themed. You will not regret a card with earth tones and mountain backdrop. You might regret the elf hats.
Card Design Tips
A few things I have learned from seeing hundreds of holiday cards over the years:
- Horizontal photos fit more card layouts than vertical ones. I shoot both, but I always make sure we get strong horizontal compositions for card flexibility.
- Leave space for text. I compose some shots with open sky or blurred background on one side, which gives you room for your family name, greeting, or year without covering anyone's face.
- Pick one strong photo, not a collage. The most impactful cards use a single image that fills the space. Save the collage for the back if your card allows it.
- Artifact Uprising and Minted consistently have the best print quality and design templates, based on what my clients have told me. Both offer thick paper stock and clean layouts.
The Backup Plan
What if it rains on your session date? What if the kids are sick? We reschedule. I always build buffer time into the holiday season for exactly this reason. That said, the buffer is limited, which is another reason to book early. A session booked in September with a rain reschedule still gets done in October. A session booked in late October with a rain reschedule might push into November, which tightens everything.
Start early, plan ahead, and you will have cards in mailboxes while everyone else is scrambling. That is the whole secret.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I book my holiday card session?
Book in August or early September. I start taking holiday session bookings in late summer, and October weekends fill up fast because everyone wants the golden aspen colors. If you wait until November, you might still get a spot, but your options for timing and locations will be limited, and you will be rushing to get cards printed.
How should we coordinate outfits for holiday cards?
Skip the matching Christmas sweaters (unless that is genuinely your family's thing). Go for coordinated tones instead: earth tones, warm neutrals, burgundy, mustard, olive, rust. These look great against fall foliage and mountain backdrops. Avoid logos, neon colors, and busy patterns. Layer up because Colorado fall evenings get chilly fast. Check my What to Wear guide for more detailed tips.
When do I need to order prints to get cards in time?
Most print services (Minted, Shutterfly, Artifact Uprising) need your order by the first week of December for standard shipping. If you want cards in mailboxes by mid-December, work backwards: order by December 1, have your photos selected by November 20, which means shooting in late September or October. Rush printing is available but costs more and limits design options.
Photography Services
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