Lisa Phillipson Photography » Atlanta Family and High School Senior Photography

Tag Archives: Christmas gifts

On the 5th day of Christmas…

A handsome Senior High School boy

Atlanta, Georgia

A Senior Boy Session is definitely different than a Senior Girl Session (usually).  The girls have lots of ideas and we try all kinds of new things.  The boys do whatever I ask of them and are there just to make their Mom happy.  This young man was no exception – so polite and I liked him immediately.  He did not even mind sitting next to his twin brothers for a quick Christmas Card shot!  😉

Looking for a good teenage boy Christmas Gift? I have no ideas for you.  I’m assuming something electronic would be good.  Even my 11 year old doesn’t give me ideas and says “anything is fine, there is nothing I want.”  Is this where having a boy starts to pay off?

Gift Idea: I can frame and wrap a gift certificate for a customized Senior Portrait Session.  I will be doing these again starting in February and it applies for Class of 2013 and Class of 2014 Seniors.  Email me for details.

Camera: I’m sure I am biased but I think a nice camera is a great gift for anyone especially a teenager.  I don’t know that much about all the brands and what options are out there, but I know I loved the Canon Rebel I had years ago. You can check this link or Costco to see what has the better price.  Unless you know a lot about it, purchase the camera with the kit so you have all the pieces needed and make sure you pull out the battery and charge it before Christmas morning.  What a bummer to open it and not get to use it right away.

Merry Christmas!

posted in: High School

These beautiful sisters were lucky enough to get two new puppies this year.  Meet Shrimp and Grits.  They were every bit as wiggily and playful as you would expect.  We laughed a lot and had fun.  When I got the call for this session it was very much like one for a newborn session.  We had to rush and fit it in ASAP to make sure we captured these puppies before they got any bigger.  Mom said “they are already changing!”

We are in the process of hanging their favorite images in a collection of Obrien Schridde black frames.  It is going to look so great.  I have these same frames hanging in my family room and I think I love them more each year.

Christmas Gift Idea:  Frames!  Of course.  Grandmas and family always love getting framed pictures of their family.  I also love to give framed chalkboards or mini ornament frames that can be hung on the tree.  I have several of these on hand if you need help.  If you want to try canvas, I know Canvas on Demand has a good product you will be happy with.  Instacanvas is what you need to check out if you are an Instagram user. (They have Gift Ideas to check out and just make sure you order by December 10th for Christmas delivery).

Merry Christmas!

 

 

posted in: Pets

Because I have been so busy and behind on session-shares, I am going to try to catch up and fit in many during my 12 Days of Blogging.

This family will have a wonderfully fun Christmas with their one year old boy.  He was learning how to stand on his own and walk at his One Year Session.  I’m wondering now if he can keep his hands off the Christmas Tree.  He is so smart and curious to learn everything around him.

He is such a cutie and I sure love the blonde curls on the back of his head.  As I was going he showed me how good he is at stacking blocks and his framed newborn picture.

Day 3 Christmas Idea:

I am seeing many many The Elf on the Shelf sightings on Facebook now.  Everyone seems to love their Elves so if you have wee little ones and don’t have your own yet I guess I will recommend it before we get any further into the Christmas Season.  Our Elf, Tom, had a rather tragic ending a few years ago and Santa doesn’t feel like our family can handle that responsibility.  Personally, I am glad to have one less thing added to our already full Holiday season.  If you are one of the few that don’t know how our Elf went back to the North Pole, you can read about it here on my old blog.  The infuriating thing is that Alex keeps insisting that the Elf will be coming back this year and I have to keep explaining how Santa isn’t going to allow it.  If you already have your own Elf and run out of creative ideas, check out my friend, Katherine.  She has a posting on some fun things you can try.

Merry Christmas!

posted in: Baby,Childhood

The word Advent is from the Latin “Adventus,” which means coming.

Preparing for the coming of Christ…

Day 2: We are on our way with our Advent Calendar!  Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas but like most people in America, we follow it in our home starting the first Calendar day of December leading up to Christmas.

You can search Advent Calendars online and find many different options.  It is especially fun with little children to open up a surprise every day until Christmas.  We were given the above Wooden Advent Calendar and every day we can open it up and unwrap a magnetic piece that fits onto our nativity scene.  It was a bigger negotiation for our kids when they were younger on who opens the box and who places it on the board each day.  I recommend also getting some of the cheaper paper ones you can find at stores like World Market so they can have one of their own.  My kids have never opened candy or small presents in their calendar but I know some people do.

We also have (had?) the LEGO City Advent Calendar and that is fun to put a little figure together every day.  I think I was able to get it back in the box for a second year missing a couple of pieces and then I just had to let it go.  We live in a sea of Legos and there was no way I could keep them from playing with the little figures or getting them mixed up with our regular pieces.  Luckily the prices have come down so you don’t have to feel bad if it is a one year calendar.  There are a lot more fun options now too.  The Star Wars Advent Box looks fun for children older than 6 years old.  It is not too late to get one especially if you have 2 children – do it every other day so they each get to open their own.

If you haven’t done one of these before, get the less expensive one from last year – your kids won’t care.

I think I want to get one of the last two for me Kate.  She misses out on a lot because the boys wreck stuff we have been there and done that with the boys.

The nativity one will still be our primary one because it is just easier to keep your head in the right place and a great visual to talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

posted in: Musings

picture perfect family atlanta

Picture Perfect Family: Another edition of What to Wear Wednesday and I like this one because of all the Gray.  I am itching to paint a wall in my house gray.  It is a popular color right now and I see it paired with yellow a lot.  I guess the great thing about it is that you can put any bright pop of color and here I have a couple of bright pinks that stand out.  Red for the holiday season would work just as well or even more of the plum color (pants).

It may be too late in the year for a family Christmas portrait to be made by most professional photographers.  If you missed out on one this year you can still coordinate your colors and try to take your own Holiday card pictures.  Minted is a newer card company that your friends may not know about if you are looking for the latest and greatest designs for a card.  I have samples of their cards and they offer a thick card-stock and good quality products.  Take a look at my children below.  They are a tough crowd to get a decent picture from but I just go with it.  I like a more candid picture included on my Christmas Cards anyway. If you can’t get the picture-perfect shot you are looking for, do something fun.  Be real.  Life isn’t picture perfect so show your kids like they are.  For mine that means VERY silly.  Think about what you enjoy seeing on Christmas Cards from other people.

picture perfect family atlanta

I am a self proclaimed slacker blogger.  I’m going to make a big push at the end of this year and have 12 days of blogging.  I have lots of session shares and things I never got online and I also will share some favorite photography related products and gift ideas.  Enjoy your last few days of November.  My oldest turns 11 years old on Friday so it is a big week for us.

 

What to Wear | Picture Perfect Family

posted in: What to Wear

shop small atlanta photographer

My crazy kids.  Nothing is easy with these three!

I hope your Thanksgiving was as good as mine.  I cooked ALL morning and didn’t have much to show for it.  Luckily my Mom and Aunt do most of the cooking.  Like every other photographer I know, I haven’t cooked for my family at all this month.  It was a nice change of pace for me.  I’ve also been shopping online trying to get some great Black Friday deals.  I’m so glad I can do it all in my pajamas.  It takes everything I have to keep myself from getting out in the frenzy of shoppers in Retail stores and later regretting it!

This is a reminder that tomorrow is Shop Small Saturday.  Remember all the small businesses in your local area as you search for the perfect Christmas gift.  I love Amazon too but it is great to support the people in my very own community.

I offer gift certificates for custom photography sessions through Christmas.  However, for Black Friday through Cyber Monday you can email me and I will create a custom designed card just for you and also frame it so you have a nice tangible gift for your loved one(s) to open at Christmas.  Any Mom would love this and it is also a fun gift for Middle School and High School girls.  They especially love to have Best Friend-Sessions at this age which I will be scheduling in February.  This would be such a unique and unexpected gift that you could also pair with a gift card to a favorite clothing store to pick out something new for their session.  I have lots of ideas…you can go to the “Contact” page and email me for details.

shop small atlanta photographer

 Shop Small Businesses!

Pre-register your Amex card at shopsmall.com and get a $25 statement credit on any participating small business purchase made on Saturday.

 

Have a great Holiday Weekend!

posted in: Products

Newer posts »