Holiday Card Photo Ideas from a Professional Christmas Card Photographer

The start of Fall means cool fresh air, a change of wardrobe, seasonal beverages, and family gatherings. It’s also time to
start thinking about the holidays! Christmas card photography may be a bit traditional, but we love photo traditions because they are a way to see the family grow and change every year. It’s also the one chance you have to get everyone together in one photo!

Whether you stage a family portrait every year, come up with a fun family Christmas card theme, or put together a Christmas card collage of the year’s memories, sharing these moments with your friends and loved ones during the holidays is a great way to add warmth during a chilly season.

We asked professional Christmas Card photographers for their favorite tips and creative holiday card photo ideas. Whether it’s ideas for Christmas Card poses, how to dress a large family, or even how to keep kids from going rogue and give a genuine smile, these insights from family photographers will have everyone looking their best.

Choose Your Holiday Card Photography Setting

What setting do you envision for your holiday card photo ideas? Is it in a studio with tons of props, from the comfort of your home, in a nearby park, or while you are on a family vacation? Having the backdrop in mind will help you style everyone and hire a Christmas Card photographer.

Candid Family Holiday Card Photo Ideas

Some families need to be posed, but if you want to capture the heart of what makes your family YOUR family, hire a Christmas Card photographer to capture some candid family moments. Dance, play, laugh, kiss – have F-U-N! You can then arrange the photos in a collage on your family Christmas card and enjoy the photos for years to come.

Coordinated Christmas Card Outfits

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – don’t go matchy-matchy (well….Christmas pajamas are an exception). There’s a rule in fashion that you can mix patterns as much as you want as long as the colors work. Plaid, stripes, polka-dots are all fair game as long as the colors go together. Professionals suggest children wear items that pop like buffalo plaid and the bolder colors. Moms and dads can compliment the kids with black, navy, cream, etc. Everyone should have a pop of the chosen color. For example, if Mom is in a red dress, hubby can wear a red tie, and children can wear red plaid. Also – loosen up! Wear something comfortable and not to stiff. Silly sweaters, antlers, hats, or New Year’s glasses are just what your Christmas card needs.

Fun At Home Holiday Card Photo Ideas

Sometimes you don’t have to go far! Arrange the living room in a fun way, set up a camera, or get a Christmas Card photographer who is experienced with at-home photoshoots to capture your family in their natural habitat. You’ll be extra comfortable and you’ll get to remember how your home looked in the years to come.

Get out the silly pajamas, strings of lights, champagne, and anything else festive you have around the house! Make it a party.

Christmas Card with Kids: Let Kids Be Kids!

Go easy on the kids! Don’t pressure them to be perfect. Children absolutely sense the tension and will turn on you because they are uncomfortable. Let them be kids! Capturing your family candidly and organically is what every professional Christmas Card photographer strives for — but kids are unpredictable so maybe keep some snacks or candies handy.

A good trick for handling children in Christmas card photos is to give them a job! Have them hold an ornament, or focus on holding a coin in their hands. It’s a great trick to keep them still for a few moments!

How to Arrange People in Christmas Card Photos

Try to get everyone’s faces on the same level. Pick up small kids or sit together on a blanket. This way you can capture a grand family portrait as well as cozy intimate family moments. You want to create a sense of balance, so mix the heights so your Christmas Card photography doesn’t look too unnatural.

Do Something Active in Your Christmas Card Photography

Forgo the formal, standard family Christmas Card photography and capture you doing something together. You can bake something sweet, decorate the Christmas tree, make a snowman, pick out a Christmas tree, or light a menorah to capture more active Christmas moments.

Get Close!

Snuggle together, and take tight shots – focus on the family. If you try to capture the whole room or the entire Christmas tree, the kids’ faces will be too small. Get down and get in closer,  be more intimate, and the kids will be the focus. You and your family should take up at least 60% of the frame, preferably 75%.

Hire a Professional Christmas Card Photographer

Take advantage of your family vacation for professional Christmas card photography in a beautiful setting. If you travel as a family for vacation during the holidays, a Christmas Card photoshoot is also a great way to remember your yearly tradition by. We have professional Christmas Card photographers in over 200 cities! If you are interested, check out our photography packages below.

Find a Christmas Card photographer

How to prepare for family Christmas Card photography?

We’ve got the ultimate guide and tips for family photos.

How much is does a Christmas Card photographer cost?

Prices vary by city! Find your city and scroll to see the pricing table. 30-minute mini sessions are as low as $150!

How are my photos delivered?

You’ll get a link to your online gallery in your email. Everything about your photoshoot is contact-free!

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