If you’re considering hiring a professional photographer to take memorable holiday photos of your kids or the entire family, it may not be too late to schedule your appointment. While fall and the holidays are the busiest seasons for professional family photographers, “we do our best to give everyone as much personal attention as possible,” says Farrah Braniff, a professional photographer in Houston.

Here’s how to find a good photographer in your area and get the best results:

Find a top-notch professional. Get references from friends or your child’s pediatrician. Also check parenting blogs, local message boards, and notices in children’s boutiques and playspaces, suggests Diana Berrent, a professional portrait photographer in New York City. Then, go online and scrutinize the photographer’s Web site. “Make sure they have a lot of different actual children represented,” says Berrent, which is an indication of the breadth of their experience. Once you’ve narrowed it down to one or two, you can meet with them in person before you commit. Having good chemistry with the photographer you select can resonate in the photograph.

Be upfront about your budget. Working with a professional photographer is an investment; depending on where you live, charges may vary from $100 to $350 for an in-studio sitting fee, $200 to $500 if the photographer comes to your home or another location, plus more for any prints or cards you select--although sometimes part of the fee is credited to printing charges. If your budget is tight, say what it is upfront when photographer-scouting to see if there’s a match, or consider working with someone who has less photography experience. What matters most is getting photos you’ll love.

Schedule the shoot when your child is freshest. If you only get a slot with a photographer at your child’s naptime or after school, keep calling around until you find someone who can schedule you at a more kid-friendly hour. All the bribery in the world can’t coax a tired toddler. “We always ask clients what the best time of day is for the child and try to schedule around that,” says Braniff.

Bring snacks. Professional shoots with kids can typically take up to an hour, plenty of time for babies and toddlers to get cranky. To keep them smiling and happy, bribe them with mess-free snacks, such as Goldfish crackers or a bagel. But if possible, save the treats for after the shoot. Stay away from colored candy, which can stain your child’s tongue. “Having to Photoshop the tongue in every picture can be a tremendous pain, even for a professional,” Berrent says.

Don’t expect your child to pose if he’s 18 months to 3 years old. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to get him to sit still. For this age, it’s better to go on location such at a park, where a photographer can follow your child around and capture his natural inquisitiveness. Or, suggests Berrent, just leave your child alone with the photographer. “Sometimes children will behave better then.” Or take the photo yourself with your digital camera.

Plan photo-day outfits. “Busy parents come in all the time with clothes for their kids still on the hanger with the tag on,” Braniff says. Inevitably, they’re too big or too small. Now what? Clothes should be weather-appropriate too. “No sweaters when it’s 85 degrees, no matter how cute.”

Think year round. If you want to enlarge your holiday card photo into a portrait for the mantel, don’t dress your kids in “holiday” attire. “Velvet is okay, or something that would translate into non-holiday, but you won’t want to look at Santa outfits year round,” Braniff says. Also see if the photographer will allow outfit changes; that way, you can get both types of shots, as long as your child is up for it.

See our related information, including how to take better baby photos, digital camcorders for new parents, and our digital cameras buying guide.