Every year, the holidays seem to arrive a little faster.

One minute, you’re settling into the school year rhythm and squeezing in the last warm evenings at the beach. Then your calendar is full of soccer games, birthday parties, Halloween plans, Thanksgiving travel, and a growing list of things you’d love to have done before December.

Family photos are often somewhere on that list, but get postponed due to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

If you’re hoping to use your photographs for holiday cards, gifts for grandparents, or simply to document your family before another year slips by, the best time to inquire about holiday family photos in Manhattan Beach is between July and August as I get booked out pretty fast for the fall & winter months. Most families have their sessions photographed between September through October. 

That might sound early, especially when it still feels very much like summer in the South Bay but booking early gives you something that becomes increasingly hard to find as the holidays get closer: options and a chance to breathe. The holiday season is the busiest for photographers and booking early gives you a better chance to get the photos you actually want!

More than anything, planning ahead helps the experience feel like something to look forward to rather than one more thing you’re trying to squeeze into an already-full season. This also allows time for any rescheduling that may be needed!

A Simple Holiday Family Photo Timeline

July- August: Reserve your session and choose a date.

August-September: Plan outfits and decide on a location.

September-October: Have your family photographed.

October-November: Choose images for holiday cards, prints, and gifts.

December: Enjoy the holidays with one less thing on your list.

There is, of course, no perfect schedule for every family; but if you know family photos are important to you this year, giving yourself a little extra time makes the process easier.

Why Do Holiday Family Sessions Book So Early?

Fall is one of my favorite times to photograph families in Manhattan Beach and throughout the South Bay. The evenings are beautiful, the light is soft and golden, and our Southern California weather lets us create holiday photographs that still feel relaxed and true to life here.

It’s also one of the busiest seasons for families.

Once school begins, weekends have a way of disappearing. Sports, parties, travel, school events, and holiday plans all start competing for the same few Saturdays and Sundays.

Booking early means we’re choosing a session date from your actual availability instead of trying to find the one remaining evening that everyone can make work. It also gives us more flexibility if someone gets sick or life with little ones changes the plan at the last minute.

And if you have toddlers, you already know that flexibility is never a bad thing.

Why I Love September and October for Holiday Photos

You don’t have to wait until November or December for photographs that will go on a holiday card.

In fact, September and October are some of my favorite months for family photos in Manhattan Beach. We can still have warm evenings, beautiful coastal light, and plenty of room for kids to move and play.

I love that an early fall session doesn’t have to feel particularly “holiday.” You don’t need matching Christmas pajamas, red and green outfits, or a heavily themed setup unless that’s genuinely your style.

Instead, we can create photographs that feel like your family: barefoot on the beach, walking together at sunset, chasing your toddler through the sand, cuddling your baby, or simply slowing down long enough to notice what this season of your life actually feels like.

Those photographs can become your holiday card but they’ll also belong on your walls long after the decorations are packed away.

What If My Kids Don’t Cooperate?

This is one of the questions I hear most often from parents, and I completely understand why.

But your children do not need to perform for our photoshoot!

They don’t need to sit still for an hour. They don’t need to smile every time I lift my camera, and you don’t need to spend the drive to your session reminding everyone to be on their best behavior.

I’d much rather give your kids something to do. We’ll walk, explore, play, cuddle, run, and let them warm up in their own time. Some of my favorite photographs happen when nobody is looking at the camera at all.

If you have a toddler, my guide, How To Prepare Your Toddler For Family Photos, goes deeper into how to make the experience feel easier for both you and your child. 

The goal isn’t a photograph of a perfectly behaved family. It’s a gallery of images true to the authentic essence of your family!

Where Should We Take Holiday Family Photos in Manhattan Beach?

One of the things I love most about photographing families in the Beach Cities is how many different settings we have within a short drive. The right location depends less on what looks impressive online and more on where your family will feel comfortable.

The Beach

For families who love the classic South Bay feeling, the beach is hard to beat. There is room for children to move, beautiful light at sunset, and a simplicity that keeps the focus on your family. We can do the Manhattan Beach Pier for a classic look or a location along the strand for a more nature focused vibe!

A Park Setting

For little ones who love to explore, a park can feel wonderfully relaxed. Green space gives us room to play and can be especially comfortable for younger children or extended-family sessions. Polliwog and Live Oak park are two local locations that kids love! Parking for both is plentiful, which can be difficult at the beach during peak hours. 

Palos Verdes and the Coast

If you love a more dramatic landscape, nearby Palos Verdes offers beautiful coastal scenery, open spaces, and golden-hour views. I have a number of spots within Palos Verdes depending on the exact look that you want!

When we’re planning your session, I’ll help you think through the location based on your children’s ages, your family’s personality, and the overall feeling you want from your photographs.

What Should We Wear for Holiday Family Photos?

You don’t need to dress your family in traditional holiday colors just because you’re using the photographs for holiday cards.

I usually encourage families to think about what they’ll still love five or ten years from now. Soft neutrals, warm earth tones, gentle patterns, and texture photograph beautifully against the beach without making the images feel tied to one particular season.

Rather than matching everyone exactly, think about creating a palette where the colors work together.

And above everything else, choose clothes your children can comfortably move in. A beautiful outfit isn’t worth much if your toddler spends the entire session trying to take it off.

What About Maternity Photos or a Holiday Pregnancy Announcement?

Holiday photo seasons can be especially meaningful if your family is growing!

If you’re expecting in the fall or winter, a September or October maternity session can serve two purposes beautifully: documenting your pregnancy and creating photographs for your holiday cards.

It can also be a lovely time for a pregnancy announcement. The announcement doesn’t need to take over the entire session. A growing belly, an ultrasound photograph, tiny shoes, or an older sibling cuddled close can quietly tell the story while the rest of your gallery remains timeless.

I especially love these sessions because they document a family in between chapters: who you are right now and the new family member you’re already making room for.

Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Family Photos

When should I inquire about holiday family photos in Manhattan Beach?

For the best choice of dates, I recommend reaching out between July and August. Weekend sunset sessions typically fill first.

What month is best for Christmas card photos?

September through October are ideal for many South Bay families. You’ll have time to receive your photographs and order cards without adding another deadline to December. 

Can grandparents join our session?

Absolutely! Including grandparents can make the photographs especially meaningful, and the finished images often become some of the most treasured gifts from the session.

What happens if my child gets sick?

Life with young children is unpredictable. Booking earlier in the season gives us more flexibility if we need to adjust the plan.

Can we bring our dog?

If the location allows dogs, I’m happy to include them! They are part of the family too!

Can maternity photos be used for holiday cards?

Yes! A maternity session can create beautiful holiday card photographs while also preserving a season that goes by incredibly quickly.

Book Your 2026 Manhattan Beach Holiday Family Photos

The holidays already ask a lot of families. Your photographs don’t need to be another source of stress. 

Booking early gives you time to choose a date that works, plan what everyone will wear, and arrive at your session knowing the hardest part is already done.

Because while holiday cards may be the reason you finally put family photos on the calendar, they’re rarely the reason the photographs matter years later.

What you’ll remember are the little hands, the belly laughs, the toddler who wanted to run straight toward the ocean, the baby who still fit perfectly against your chest, or the quiet anticipation of waiting for someone new to join your family.

That’s what we’re really photographing.

If you’re thinking about holiday family photos in Manhattan Beach or the South Bay this year, my 2026 fall & winter calendar is officially open! Booking early will give you the best selection of dates, especially if you’re hoping for a weekend sunset session.

I’d love to photograph this season for you.

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