Fall is here which also means the holiday season will be in full swing before we know it! Our home is buzzing with excitement and I am walking around with a goofy grin on my face because I just absolutely love this time of year. The anticipation, the planning – I just can’t help myself. And of course, with all of that, we will be documenting moments with our loved ones. Those memories that we will lovingly look back on as we reminisce about the good ol’ days when we were in the trenches of parenthood. I am sharing five tips for documenting the holiday season with intention. And my hope is that it inspires you over the next several months in all of your documenting endeavors.

Whenever I share family photographs or family films from our archives, I get questions as to how I document photographs and home movies that evoke so much emotion. Why? Because it’s what each of us feels within those moments. And we want that to translate into our photographs and documenting.

So let me share my five tips for documenting the holiday season with intention and I will make sure and share visuals to better illustrate them.

Tip 01: Find the in-between moments

These are the moments “in-between” the bigger ones. They are the seemingly mundane pieces of your everyday life. The most simple of moments that, when strung together, help to tell your story. And this time of year? Document the cozier moments. Document the warmth. It’s when they linger longer in bed to soak up the last bit of cuddles. It’s the first fire of the season. Its little feet nestled in socks pitter-pattering on the kitchen floor. It’s wrapped up in blankets for a movie night. It’s hot cocoa while window shopping.

Tip 02: Document the changes in your surroundings

Do you live somewhere where it snows? Is it cloudy and overcast throughout the fall? Does downtown get donned in twinkle lights where you always go for a weekend date night? Whatever it is, include it. Soak it in. It’s those details that give life to the season.

Tip 03: Be a fly on the wall

Those really meaningful photographs? They are usually the ones that require no pose, no smile, no “look at the camera and say cheese!”… be an observer. Watch for those moments that depict the very essence of this time of year.

Tip 04: Remember your own childhood

We all have those triggers that bring back the sentimental things we loved about growing up and the holidays. Maybe it’s baking your grandmother’s cookies or the excitement of running out the door to catch the first snowfall. Maybe it’s laying under the tree to stare at the lights. Whatever it was for you it will be for them too. Document it for them to relive when they are older and their heart yearns for those days.

Tip 05: Be present in your story

Your story isn’t complete without you. Don’t let the word “selfie” turn you off. We are blessed with technology that makes it so easy for us to show up and be present. Make it happen. Include yourself. Bless you and them with being present. It’s a priceless gift that they will be thankful for again and again as the years go by.

Those are my five tips for documenting the holiday season with intention. Remember to look for those moments to capture that pull at your own heartstrings over the next few months. Bring them altogether alongside the big, traditional moments and you will see the story of the season unfold. Some of the most wonderful times of the year, documented intentionally for you and your family. 

I hope this helps in all of your memory keeping endeavors over the holidays! For more tips, browse more of my posts here.

All of these photos were taken using my iPhone 11 Pro Max and edited using the editing presets from my signature collection. You can shop them right here.

And if you are wanting to dive in even more with me to really learn how to document your everyday life beautifully, please make sure and check out my course here. Re-launching with brand new updates soon – simply leave your email to get all of the latest updates! I would love for you to be a part of it!