family photos, christmas cards & the barn

I know it’s that time of year when we all start thinking about Christmas cards, which mean family photos.
Not because I am on the ball and have mine all addressed and ready to go or anything
(in fact I never even sent mine last year although they were adorable and I still haven’t sent my thank you notes from the wedding…perhaps I should merge the two?) it’s  because of the barn.
The barn at the bottom of the hill that I pass at least once a day to get anywhere.
It is old and white and otherwise quite ordinary except for the fact that it is some kind of photographic oasis.
The last few weeks whenever I pass by there is a BIG LINE of people just waiting to have a chance to pose in front of it’s white glory.
I wonder if fights ever break out at the barn between territorial photographers?
Or if anyone  is profiting off the barn’s magnetism, if not, perhaps I could pose as barn owner and charge a royalty for it’s use?
I wonder how barns came into play so hard in the Utah family photo scene, are they here to stay?
Is it just a passing fancy like all denim or arms folded back to back posing?

(this is my lovely sister Heidi and her gorgeous fam. They don’t live near here so I felt it was only right that they get photos at our landmark…when in Rome!)

Anyway, so that’s the very long story of how I know it’s on all yer minds.

Which is why I thought it would be helpful to post some tips tricks and tutorials on photo hair, makeup etc.
I took some photos of my sis and her family.
This week I’ll show you how to get her hair and her makeup from this shoot.

to get her outfit: Skirt-{Target} Top-{Forever21}

I also made a Christmas card template for anyone who  likes free stuff.

{to download click here}

This file is .PSD so if you have Photoshop or Gimp you can download it, edit the name and add your gorgeous photo!