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How to Choose the Perfect Outfit for Your Photo Session: Season and Location Matter
One of the biggest questions families and clients ask before a photo session is: “What should we wear?” The answer often depends on two important things: the season and the location of your session. Choosing outfits that complement both ensures your photos look cohesive, timeless, and effortlessly beautiful. 1. Consider the Season Spring: Soft pastels, light fabrics, and floral accents work beautifully. Think airy dresses, lightweight sweaters, and neutral tones. Summer:


How to Set Goals That Are Actually Achievable
(This isn’t a photography post — just a little inspiration for life, growth, and making your goals happen!) The start of a new year — or a new season — often inspires us to set big goals. While dreaming big is important, the key to success is creating goals that feel realistic, attainable, and motivating, not overwhelming. Here are a few simple ways to set goals you can truly follow through on. Start With Clarity Vague goals are hard to achieve. Instead of saying “I want to b


Celebrate the Journey: Turning Your New Year’s Resolutions Into Memories
No matter what’s on your New Year’s resolution list this year, it’s worth celebrating with photos. Big goals, small wins, and everything in between deserve to be remembered — not just the end result, but the journey it took to get there. Whether you’re starting something new, working toward a personal goal, celebrating growth, or reaching an exciting milestone, booking a photo session is a meaningful way to mark that season of life. Photos allow you to look back and see how f


A Slower Week to Reflect and Be Thankful
The week between Christmas and New Year’s has a different rhythm. Schedules slow down, the pressure eases, and there’s finally space to breathe. It’s the perfect time to pause — even just for a few minutes — and reflect on the moments that filled this past year. One of the simplest ways to do that? Scroll through the photos on your phone. Look Back at the Moments You Lived As you swipe through your camera roll, you’ll see more than pictures: Ordinary days that turned into mem


Looking Into the New Year: Planning When You Want Your Photos Taken
A new year always brings a sense of possibility — fresh starts, new routines, and moments waiting to be remembered. As you look ahead to the months to come, it’s a great time to start thinking about when you want your photos taken and how you want to document your family’s story this year. Planning ahead not only makes life easier, but it also ensures you don’t miss the seasons and milestones that matter most. Why Planning Early Matters Life fills up quickly. Between school


Book Ahead: Schedule Your 2026 Photo Session Before the Year Ends
As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to think ahead. Between busy schedules, growing families, and quickly filling calendars, planning your 2026 photo session now can save you time, stress, and disappointment later. Booking before the year ends means better availability, preferred dates, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your memories are already planned. Whether it’s family photos, milestones, or simply capturing life as it is right now, having yo


Christmas Eve: Savor the Moments (and Capture the Candid Ones Too) 🎄✨
Christmas Eve has a way of slowing time — even just for a moment. The lights feel softer, the house feels warmer, and the moments feel especially meaningful. It’s a night filled with anticipation, tradition, and quiet magic. Tonight isn’t about perfection. It’s about savoring the moments as they happen . The laughter in the kitchen.Little hands setting out cookies.Pajamas slightly too big.Whispers before bedtime. These are the moments you’ll want to remember. Capture the Cand


How to Use Your Photos After the Holidays (Beyond Cards!)
The holidays may be over, but your photos deserve more than a moment in the spotlight. While holiday cards are a wonderful way to share your images, there are so many meaningful ways to enjoy and use your photos long after the decorations come down. Here are some ideas to help your photos live on all year: 1. Create a Family Album Albums are one of the most timeless ways to preserve your memories. Gather your favorite images from the year and turn them into a beautifully cur


The Magic of Winter Light for Photos ✨
When most people think about scheduling photos, winter isn’t always the first season that comes to mind — but it should be. Winter light has a unique magic to it, creating images that feel soft, intimate, and beautifully timeless. Here’s why winter is such a wonderful season for photos: 1. Soft, Flattering Light Winter sunlight sits lower in the sky, which creates naturally soft, even light. This means fewer harsh shadows and a more flattering glow on skin tones. The result?


Holiday Crafts You Can Make With Your Photos (Perfect for Gifting!)
The holiday season is here, and if you’re anything like us, you love gifts that come from the heart — and from your hands. Now that you have your beautiful photos in hand, it’s the perfect time to turn them into creative, personal, and memory-filled gifts your loved ones will treasure. Here are some fun and easy photo crafts you can make this season: 1. DIY Photo Ornaments One of the most timeless holiday crafts! Print a small square or circle photo Pop it into a clear orname


Your Holiday Photos Are Here! Now What?
Your gallery has arrived — yay! 🎉 Whether you booked a festive family mini, captured sweet moments with the kids, or finally got that long-overdue updated portrait, now’s the fun part: putting those beautiful images to use. Here are a few easy (and meaningful!) things you can do now that your holiday photos are officially delivered: 1. Download Your Gallery Right Away First things first — save your images!Download your full gallery and store it in at least two places: your c


The Ultimate Gift Guide for Photo Lovers
The holidays are the perfect time to give something personal, meaningful, and truly memorable—and what better way than with the gift of photos? Whether it’s for a parent, grandparent, sibling, or best friend, gifts that capture memories last far longer than any trend or gadget. Here’s your ultimate guide to gifting for the photo lover in your life. 1. Framed Prints A classic for a reason. Choose a favorite family photo, maternity shot, or holiday portrait and frame it beautif


Holiday Fun in Albuquerque: 10 Things to Do with Your Family This December
The holiday season in Albuquerque brings a unique blend of lights, tradition, community events, and cozy memories. If you’re looking for festive ways to celebrate, make memories, or capture some beautiful holiday photos — here are 10 great ideas to add to your December calendar: 1. Stroll Through the River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark Each December, the Botanic Garden transforms into a shimmering walk‑through winter wonderland with hundreds of handmade light displays, glowing


Why Winter Is an Amazing Time for a Family Session
If you think winter is too cold or too dull for family photos, think again! Some of the most beautiful, heartfelt, and timeless images happen during the winter months. Between the soft glow of the sun, the cozy textures, and the peaceful scenery, winter photos have a magic all their own. Here’s why winter might just be the most underrated (and perfect!) time to book your next family session. ✨ 1. The Dreamiest, Softest Lighting of the Year Winter light is every photographer’


🎄 How to Prepare Kids for Holiday Photos (Without Stress!)
Holiday photos are some of the sweetest memories of the year—twinkling lights, festive outfits, cozy hugs, and all the joy this season brings. But let’s be honest… getting kids ready for photos can feel like a whole event of its own. The good news? With a few simple tricks, your holiday photo session can be smooth, fun, and full of genuine smiles. Here’s how to set your little ones up for success! 🎁 1. Keep It Light and Fun Kids feed off your energy. If you’re relaxed, they


Why Booking Early for Your 2026 Photo Sessions Will Save You Stress
As the year begins to wind down and everyone starts planning for the new year, there’s one thing we can already promise: 2026 is going to fly by just as quickly as every year before it. Between school events, sports seasons, holidays, and family commitments, your calendar fills up long before you even realize it. That’s why booking your 2026 photo sessions early is one of the best gifts you can give yourself—peace of mind, beautiful photos, and a stress-free experience. Here


❄️ What to Wear for Winter Family Photos (Without Freezing!)
A Kate Buckles Photography Style Guide Winter photo sessions are some of the most magical of the entire year—cozy textures, soft light, rich colors, and that crisp, dreamy New Mexico air. But one of the biggest challenges families face? Figuring out what to wear that looks amazing and keeps everyone comfortable. Good news: you don’t have to choose between stylish and warm. With the right layering, colors, and fabrics, you can have both! Here’s your go-to guide for dressing y


📸 December Phone Photo Challenge
Capture the Magic of the Season — One Day at a Time The holiday season is filled with tiny, beautiful moments that deserve to be remembered. This month, do our December Phone Photo Challenge and snap one quick photo a day using just your phone ! No pressure, no perfection—just capturing life as it happens. Use the list below as daily prompts, or jump around and choose whichever inspires you each day! ✨ December Photo Prompts Something Cozy Your Morning View Favorite Holiday


🎄 It’s Officially December 1st — The Holiday Season Is in Full Gear!
The lights are twinkling, the calendar is filling up, and the magic of the holidays is officially here! As we step into the busiest (and most joyful!) time of the year, it’s easy to feel the pressure of to-dos, events, and family obligations. But with a little intention, this season can be filled with peace, connection, and memories you’ll treasure long after the decorations come down. Here are my top tips for a stress-free holiday season so you can enjoy the moments that ma


Here Are the Best Places to Order High-Quality Christmas Cards
Our Doc Long Christmas Minis were pure magic again this year — sparkling light, cozy outfits, and families looking absolutely stunning among the pines. Now that those sessions are wrapped, it’s time for the next (very important!) step: Ordering your Christmas cards. 🎄✨ If you want cards that do justice to your beautifully captured photos, choosing a high-quality printer makes all the difference. Here are some of the best places to order premium Christmas cards that will ma
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