What time of year is best for the event?
In areas with cold winters, timing is important for two reasons: many of the photographers shoot outdoors and it is hard on the kids (and adults!) in winter. Also if you hold the event in the winter you can risk low turnout due to bad weather. A good time to start shooting might be April/May which would place the event in the early fall. The gallery where we have the big Santa Fe opening has a nice garden with a waterfall, sculptures, etc so we had a great private party there with a magician and stilt walker, and wonderful food (all donated of course). The Heart Gallery kids here are from all over the state so many were hungry by the time they arrived. Having the great food there for them at 4pm worked well. The public came in at 5pm to see the portraits and hear speakers, Randy Travis, etc. Of course you could have the party indoors. We had a canopy one year in the garden and it was a good thing as it rained earlier.
