Christmas Mini Sessions 2025,
Your Complete Prep Guide
Everything you need in one place, so your session feels calm, polished, joyful.
106 Howberry Road, HA8 6SY, Edgware, London
You may park on my driveway. Please park considerately so another family can use the second space.
Address and Parking
The Christmas Mini Sessions run every 30 minutes. Punctuality is crucial, so please factor in extra time for your journey and possible traffic. I recommend adding at least 30 minutes to your estimated arrival time, or more depending on your location.
Arriving up to 10 minutes late means we will need to shorten your session by the same amount. Arriving more than 10 minutes late will result in a cancellation and loss of the deposit. To schedule a new time, a fresh deposit is required.
Aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. You will be asked to wait in your car until your slot begins. This keeps the environment safe, gives me time to reset for you, and ensures the studio is clean and ready.
Punctuality and Arrival
Maximum two outfits per person.
Choose one outfit that works for both setups, then enhance it with accessories for the second scene. Think scarves, hats, and coats. This saves time and helps us create an outdoor feeling quickly and beautifully.
We always start on the indoor setup (plum & gold). Please ensure you arrive dressed for this first scene.
Clothing Overview
Indoor Outfit Guide (Plum and Gold)
Best colours
Pick one main colour. Plum, dusty pink, or emerald. Pair it with dark greys and navy as foundations. Use cool white only as a light accent. This palette keeps the set calm and elegant.
Foundation 60%. Navy or dark grey for trousers, suits, cardigans, and dresses.
Hero colour 30%. One strong piece only.
Accent 10%. A hint of cool white, brushed gold jewellery, a ribbon, a tie, a hair bow.
Easy proportions
Women
• Plum velvet or crepe dress, navy or charcoal cardigan, dark shoes, brushed gold earrings
• Navy trousers, cool white blouse, plum scarf or headband
Men
• Navy jumper, charcoal trousers, plum tie or pocket square
• Charcoal suit, cool white shirt, small plum accent only
Girls
• Plum dress or cardigan, grey tights, black or dark brown shoes
• Navy dress with a small plum bow
Boys
• Navy knit, grey chinos, tiny plum bow tie if you like, dark shoe
• Grey jumper, white shirt collar, plum braces or socks
If you choose Plum as the hero
Matte fabrics read best. Avoid bright burgundy and heavy shine.
If you choose Dusty Pink as the hero
Women
Dusty pink dress in crepe or velvet, soft grey or charcoal wrap, dark shoe, brushed gold earrings
Navy trousers, cool white blouse, dusty pink scarf or headband
Optional layer for arrivals, stone or charcoal coat, remove for portraits
Men
Navy jumper, charcoal trousers, dusty pink tie or pocket square
Charcoal suit, cool white shirt, a small dusty pink accent only
Shoes in espresso, dark brown, or oxblood, belt to match
Girls
Dusty pink dress or cardigan, grey tights, black or dark brown shoes
Navy dress with a small dusty pink bow or hair ribbon
Boys
Navy knit, grey chinos, tiny dusty pink bow tie if you like, dark shoes
Grey jumper, white shirt collar, dusty pink braces or socks
Choose cool, muted pinks; avoid bright or neon pinks.
If you choose Emerald or Forest Green as the hero
Women
Emerald dress in velvet or crepe, soft grey or charcoal wrap, dark shoe, brushed gold earrings
Navy trousers, cool white blouse, emerald scarf or headband
Men
Navy jumper, charcoal trousers, emerald tie or pocket square
Charcoal suit, cool white shirt, a small emerald accent only
Shoes in espresso, dark brown, or oxblood, belt to match
Girls
Forest green dress or cardigan, grey tights, black or dark brown shoes
Navy dress with a tiny emerald bow or hair ribbon
Boys
Navy knit, grey chinos, tiny emerald bow tie, dark shoes
Grey jumper, white shirt collar, emerald braces or socks
Matte fabrics read best. Avoid neon greens and heavy shine.
Navy and charcoal are your safest base
Cool white is welcome in small areas like collars and tees under knits
Shoes in espresso, dark chocolate, or oxblood
Tights in sheer black or plum
Jewellery in brushed gold, small and refined
Foundations that always work
Textures that photograph beautifully
Velvet, wool, cashmere, brushed cotton, chiffon, matte silk. Keep shine gentle so the candles provide the glow.
Do keep logos and busy prints out of frame
Do coordinate, but avoid perfect matching
Do think about comfort, especially for kids
Do not bring bright red, neon colours, or creamy ivory that leans yellow
Simple do’s and don’ts
Plum theme: Mum in a plum dress, Dad in navy and grey, child in soft grey knit with a plum bow or plum socks.
Dusty pink theme: Mum in dusty pink blouse, Dad in charcoal and navy, child in slate or soft sage
Emerald theme: One person in emerald, everyone else in navy and grey, one tiny green accent on a child
Quick family recipes
Outdoor Outfit Guide (Snowy Scene)
Keep what you wore indoors. Add warmth with coats, jumpers, knitted scarves, and hats. Use navy and charcoal for larger pieces. Choose boots in dark brown, oxblood, or black.
Carry your indoor look outside
Evergreen calm
Forest, dusty sage, navy, charcoal.
Women. Navy coat over your indoor look, sage scarf, dark boots
Men. Charcoal coat, navy knit, forest scarf
Kids. Sage cardigan or hat with navy and grey
Cream and browns
Cream, camel, cognac, espresso.
Women. Cream cable knit, camel coat, espresso boot
Men. Ecru fisherman knit, dark brown coat, charcoal trousers
Kids. Cream knit hats and mittens, brown boots, navy coats
Teal and sapphire
Deep teal, sapphire blue, navy, charcoal. You can mix both or choose one.
Women. Teal knit with a navy coat, espresso boot
Men. Sapphire knit under a charcoal coat
Kids. One teal hat, one sapphire scarf, the rest in navy and grey
Deep berry
Blackberry and cranberry, not bright red.
Women. Berry knit or scarf, charcoal coat
Men. Berry scarf with a navy coat
Kids. Small berry bow or hat with grey layers
Proportions that work
Sixty percent navy and charcoal. Thirty percent in your chosen palette.
Quick recipes
Evergreen. Mum navy coat. Dad charcoal coat with forest scarf. Child in a sage hat
Cream and browns. One person in a cream cable knit and camel coat. Others in navy and grey with brown boots
Teal and sapphire. Teal knit for one adult. Sapphire scarf for another. The rest in navy and charcoal
Deep berry. One berry knit or scarf. The rest in navy and grey. A tiny berry bow for a child
Studio Policy
All clients are asked to remove their shoes upon arrival at my home studio. Simple, long black socks or knitted socks are great. Please avoid short socks and white socks, except when wearing white trousers.
Please bring the shoes you will use during the shoot in a separate bag and thoroughly wash the soles (water + soap) before you come. A quick wipe isn’t enough. Thank you for keeping the studio clean for everyone. If shoes aren’t clean, we won’t use them.
During the Shoot
Depending on your children’s ages, I may ask for a little parental help drawing attention to the camera. Singing nursery rhymes, clapping, dancing, conversation, and simple games work well.
Children’s Prep Checklist
Before you leave home, please ensure that all children have clean hands and hair, trimmed nails, are well-fed, and well-rested. Food is not permitted in the studio, except for formula.
If you would like a second opinion on clothing or items, send me pictures or links. You will receive a reminder a couple of days before your session.
Reminders and Contact
We will always start on the indoor setup (plum & gold), so please arrive dressed for that and ready to start the shoot. This saves time and helps us create more images you love.
Whether you’re back again or just discovering me, I can’t wait to create magic with you.
Preferred contact via Whatsapp: +44 7456 869366
Thank you,
Elberta