80+ Family Christmas photo shoot Ideas for your Holiday Cards

Making cookies over the holidays is a popular holiday tradition in many households. What if you photographed that event for your annual year-end greeting card? This casual approach to getting a perfect Christmas family photo will showcase the natural fun your family shares together during the holiday season. Don’t worry if the kids or counter get dirty because it’s all part of the authentic photo look! We even have some adorable holiday-themed kids' aprons that will pair perfectly with your photo shoot.

Looking for an easy, casual, and fun family Christmas photo idea? Look no further than your own phone. Taking a selfie can be as simple as using your arm, or if you truly want a bit more height, purchase an inexpensive selfie stick (elongating the distance between the camera and your family will also allow you to capture more of the background). A more casual selfie pose may also work well if you want to use a non-photo holiday card and place your family photos on the inside or back of the card.

Another Christmas photo idea can center around the act of decorating the tree once it is home. Everyone has their favorite ornaments, and someone always receives the honor to top the tree with a star or special topper. Photograph this family event and share it with your close friends and family in 2025.

Try looking inside your home with a new perspective to find fun Christmas card picture ideas. Have a favorite chair, a cozy couch throw, or a large plant? Put those three items together into a scene, and you have a great setup for a family photo. This works perfectly, especially if you have just moved to a new home. Make sure to check out Holiday Moving Announcements to send out to your family and friends.

Is your household brimming with energy, fun, and lots of hijinks courtesy of your kids? Let all of that love and laughter take center stage in your holiday photo by snapping a candid shot of your kids doing what they do best — causing chaos. To keep things feeling special, do your best to get your family into coordinated outfits (you can check out our full guide to planning Christmas photo outfits for a few ideas) and then let your kids run wild in your chosen background!

Why waste a bunch of time this holiday season searching for the perfect setting? Just head to your front porch to get the perfect shot (and then watch your favorite Christmas movie as a family with the time you saved). To give this photo setting a bit more holiday flair, make sure to decorate your porch with a few festive touches like poinsettia plants, a beautiful wreath, or even a cheeky bit of mistletoe.

Posting on your front porch or in the front yard of your home is also a perfect photo idea if you are moving during the holidays. Combine your moving announcement with your holiday card seamlessly by shopping our holiday moving announcements for a chic “we’ve moved” holiday card. It can be a creative juxtaposition to showcase a simple picture taken on the front porch inside the card and an elegantly framed gold foil card design on the front.

If your kids spend December impatiently counting down the days until Santa arrives, this is a great Christmas family photo idea for you. Get your family dressed up in holiday sweaters or pajamas, and have them pose underneath the stockings hung up on your mantel or by the tree, holding up a calendar with a few days crossed off. The more excited they can look in the photo, the better!

The fireplace is the heart of the home any time of year, and especially during the holidays. So gather your family around the mantel for a traditional at-home Christmas photo. To keep this feeling modern, you can create a more candid scene by having your family pose as if they’re spending an afternoon cozy by the fireplace, or you could go more formal by having everyone stand around the fireplace. Bonus points for swapping out your usual mantel decor for a holiday-themed art print!

Sometimes the perfect photo-op is right in your bedroom. Gather the family for a cozy photo shoot in the comfort of your own bed. This is a great option if you are announcing a new addition to your family this holiday season. Combine your holiday card with your birth announcement by showcasing your new little bundle in the safety of your home. We can help you find the perfect holiday birth announcement for your growing family.

Why limit holiday decorating to the living room? Your hallway or entryway can become a festive backdrop perfect for snapping a Christmas card photo. Drape garlands along stair rails, hang twinkling fairy lights, and add some personalized stockings to set the scene. Everyone lining up or casually gathered in this cheerful setting will create a picture-perfect moment.

The kitchen is the heart of holiday hustle, and is often full of hilarious chaos! Capture the fun (and maybe a little mess) of your family prepping festive meals or whipping up seasonal treats. Don’t worry about perfect smiles; the real laughter, spontaneous taste-testing, and flour-covered faces are exactly what will make your photo memorable and charming.

If family game nights are a beloved part of your holiday traditions, consider using them as inspiration for this year's Christmas card. Cozy up around your favorite board or card game in the living room or by the fireplace, and let the camera capture all the genuine reactions, friendly rivalries, and joyful moments. Matching holiday pajamas are optional, but highly encouraged!

Live in a place where the leaves turn fiery red and orange? Or where evergreens lend a Christmas-y vibe year-round? Use that to amp up the holiday flair of your Christmas family photo! To make the most of your beautiful backdrop, use it to build the color palette of your family’s outfits around. Then, layer in some fun props and lots of opportunities for your photographer to capture genuine smiles from you and your crew!

Capture a holiday card pose of your children in one of their favorite spots: the playground. Whether that’s in a neighborhood park or on a collection of logs in the woods, capturing your children playing and exploring will be sure to translate to smiles that look perfect for the family Christmas card. Get creative with the family poses for these adorable Christmas card picture ideas. Soaring on swings, arranged along a slide, and playing in a sandbox are just a few Christmas poses to consider for your kids’ Christmas pictures.

Artists have created beautiful art on exterior walls in both large urban cities and small rural neighborhoods. These are sometimes called wall murals or wall graffiti and come in many different artistic designs and colors. You may already know of one nearby, or you may have to search the internet to find a new spot. Either way, discovering an amazing outdoor wall mural, taking your family photos in front, and pairing it with a cool Christmas card design will make for a stunning family Christmas photo shoot idea.

Does your family love nature? Bring the outdoors into your holiday card! This woodland setting is perfect for a holiday family photo shoot. The natural greens and browns of the grass and trees will create a backdrop that makes your family pop, and the light shining through the leaves will give you a luminous glow. Take a stroll in the woods and capture some precious family moments for this year’s Christmas card. Pair with complementing, but not matching outfits for a more relaxed vibe.

For families that adore biking, boating, skating or any kind of get-up-and-go activity, consider showcasing these passions with a unique family Christmas photo idea. Whether you’ve just picked up a new hobby recently or have been going strong for years, a playful photo displaying how your family gets from point A to point B can be fun to engage with. Think about how you can pay tribute to a shared activity that means a lot to you all in this family-themed holiday card idea.

Let the professionals handle creating a magical holiday atmosphere by taking your Christmas family photo at a theme park or fairground that is decked out in festive cheer. This works perfectly if you plan to head to a Disney resort this fall — as the park brings out its holiday decorations in early November every year. If you can’t make it to Disneyland or Disney World, look up when your local theme park transforms into a winter wonderland and plan to take your photos then!

Pose at sunset for the perfect light to frame your family. Also known as “the golden hour,” dusk provides a warm golden glow that photography buffs adore because it is universally flattering. If you are taking your own Christmas family photos this year, taking your photos during the golden hour will help your holiday card look like it was done by a pro! Friends and family will be able to feel the warmth radiating from your gorgeous holiday photo. Pair the glowing colors of a sunset with one of our beautiful Christmas cards.

Make your holiday card instantly memorable by posing in front of a beloved local landmark or iconic destination. A popular bridge, historic building, or quirky roadside attraction can serve as a charming backdrop that adds both personality and local flair. Friends and family will love seeing your family celebrate the season at a familiar and cherished location!

Put that family vacation you already have booked to work by using it as an opportunity to get your Christmas card photo! Minted offers a huge variety of vacation-inspired Christmas card designs, but we especially love ones that feature your family wishing everyone a Mele Kalikimaka by soaking up the sun and sand in a tropical destination like Hawaii.

You won’t need to shout “smile” for this family Christmas photo idea. Take your children to a nearby snow-covered hill and let them play with their favorite winter toy, the sled! Capture their natural joy as they speed down the hill and trek back up. For the brave parents, consider a group shot with the whole family in the sled or on a toboggan as an adventurous family Christmas card idea.

A snowball fight is a perfect way to spread holiday cheer during the most wonderful time of the year. Capture the fun of the holidays by featuring a good old-fashioned snowball fight on the front of your holiday card. Your kids will love the competitive fun, and you will love the cute photos for years to come. And, if you love a good pun, this is the perfect opportunity to pair your snow fight photo with an “Up to Snow Good” Christmas card design.

No white Christmas? No problem! If you live in a warmer climate, bring sunny weather to your holiday card. Take the family to the beach and kick off your shoes for the perfect sandy Christmas photo shoot idea. The beach is also a naturally neutral background, making outfit selection for the family that much easier.

Head to a rooftop with a view for a creative photo shoot opportunity this year. Think if you know of any public rooftop parking lots or elevated platforms that could create a dramatic backdrop for your family photo.

Take the family to a plant nursery for a Christmas photo shoot idea for a holiday card featuring lush greenery. This is the perfect photo location for the family of green thumbs who want to incorporate some beautiful flowers, ivy, or ferns into the backdrop. Nurseries and gardens tend to have a wide variety of plants, so let your children run to their favorite spots and get shooting!

Outdoor decorations are a joyful part of the holiday season, so why not capture your family in action? Snap some playful shots as everyone strings festive lights, inflates fun lawn ornaments, or hangs decorations from your trees. It’s a casual yet charming way to share your holiday spirit.

Headed to the tree farm? Make it a mini-photo shoot! Whether you pose among rows of fragrant evergreens or take advantage of festive props like sleighs, rustic signs, or Santa setups, tree farms offer picture-perfect holiday backdrops. Bonus points if you include a shot of your freshly chosen tree!

If your holiday season includes chilly weather, gather your family around a cozy backyard bonfire. Capture candid photos of everyone roasting marshmallows, sharing stories, or sipping hot cocoa beside the crackling fire. This rustic setting adds warmth and charm to your family’s holiday photo.

Rather than trying to get everyone into matching holiday outfits or worrying about the perfect shoot location, stock up on holiday-themed props for Christmas family picture ideas. Santa or elf hats likely come to mind first, but think outside the stocking cap on this one!

Let the kids lick candy canes. Have each person in the family hold a plate of cookies, slurp on a milk mustache, and look guilty about eating Santa’s treats. String holiday lights around Dad while the kids shove tinsel into his pockets. Even outdoor lawn decor can bring fun and easy Christmas card photo ideas to life without much prep.

Looking for the perfect holiday prop for kids? Pose with them in a wheelbarrow or wagon for a rustic look, fit for the season, and super-cute Christmas family picture ideas. No matter your backdrop, a wagon is a perfect prop for a Christmas photo featuring your young children, and they will stay comfortable with a place to sit. You can even play off the colors of the wheelbarrow to make coordinating everyone’s outfits a breeze.

Feature a holiday wreath for the perfect seasonal detail and an easy Christmas card picture idea. Adding some festive greenery to the background of your holiday photo is the perfect way to incorporate some seasonal elegance, while still keeping the focus on your family. This is a chic family Christmas photo shoot idea for the family that loves minimalism but also wants to show some holiday cheer. Pair with a stylish typographic holiday card design for the ultimate elegance.

Take the family for a picnic to capture those seasonal smiles. All you need is a blanket and the perfect grassy field to capture some holiday photo magic. This is also great for the family wanting an easy backyard holiday photo shoot idea — just grab a blanket and head outside.

What better Christmas photo location than a classic car, filled with all the holiday must-haves? Simply stock up on all your favorite Holiday decorations and take the perfect holiday photo.

This is a great idea if the thought of planning complicated, coordinating outfits is too much for you. Simply get your family to dress in neutral colors (white, tan, and black work well) and then wrap everyone up in a cozy throw or blanket featuring a holiday motif. For something classic and sophisticated, look for a plaid or tartan blanket, but you could also go all out on the Christmas kitsch here!

Take holiday treats outside by having everyone gather around a campfire or bonfire to make some s’mores! Not only will this give your photographer plenty of opportunities to capture candid fun, it will also create a memory for your family to cherish for years to come.

Have an army of little elves? Put them to work in your holiday photo! Transform your dining table or living room into a wrapping or cookie decorating station and have your family dress up in their most festive outfits (think ugly holiday sweaters or even cute elf and Santa costumes). Then, instruct everyone to pose while wrapping gifts or frosting cookies.

If the space under your tree is already crowded with gifts, have your family pose as if it is Christmas morning for your holiday card! If they can resist the temptation of actually opening the gifts, you can snap shots of your family gathered around the tree with mugs of coffee and hot-coco. Or, you can give your kids a gift to open early during the shoot and capture their authentic reactions.

No matter your holiday drink of choice, everyone loves a sweet holiday-themed mug! Use them as fun props in your photo shoot by giving each member of your family a personalized monogrammed mug for them to hold up in photos. Then, get shots of everyone pretending to take sips of hot cocoa, warming their hands outside on their mugs, and more.

This cute family Christmas photo idea captures the magic of writing to Santa. Simply dress your children in a festive outfit and have them sit down at the table with a pen and paper. Then, snap away as they make their Christmas lists! You can amp up the holiday cheer by making sure any areas of your home that will be visible behind them feature festive touches like wreaths, twinkling lights, or garlands.

If the holidays aren’t complete at your home without cozying up on the couch to watch Elf, The Grinch, or Home Alone, use that tradition as the jumping-off point for your Christmas photo! The key with this is to layer in as many festive props as you can to keep the photo looking intentional. So serve your popcorn in a red and green bowl, arm the kids with mugs of hot chocolate, and keep Christmas cookies within easy reach. Then, pose on the couch with the remote and capture your family’s reactions to their favorite holiday movie.

Some family Christmas card ideas forgo the human members of the family entirely. If you have more than one pet, make those furry, finned, or feathered babies the focus of your card! Dress Fido in reindeer antlers, put a festive collar on Kitty, ring the fish tank with colorful lights, and place a tiny Santa hat on your cockatoo for Christmas family picture ideas that are truly wild!

Wrap up oversized boxes in festive holiday paper for a fun, playful photo-op your kids will love. Capture the surprise and joy on their faces as they “pop out” of the giant presents. And if your pets can join in by peeking out too, even better!

Bring some nostalgia into your Christmas photo shoot with classic toys like a wooden rocking horse, a retro tricycle, or a beloved Raggedy Ann doll. These charming vintage props will add warmth, character, and a touch of sentimentality to your family’s holiday card.

Get inspired by the iconic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie poster, and wrap your family up in strings of Christmas lights for your photo. This could give your photo a whimsical and sweet vibe — think soft white twinkle lights and your family out in nature. Or, it could amp up the hilarity of a funny Christmas card.

Turn your photo shoot into an interactive storytime by incorporating classic holiday books such as The Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Capture your kids flipping through the pages or reading together, and consider adding life-sized cutouts of iconic storybook characters for extra holiday whimsy.

For a timeless family portrait, have everyone pose standing still and smiling in front of your backdrop. Make sure to think about how you’re arranging family members based on height —we recommend putting the tallest people in the middle, and then posing children in front of them. You could also pose older members of the family sitting down in a leather armchair and arrange the rest of the family around them.

This has become an easy rival to the classic still Christmas family photo pose. Have everyone in your family hold the hand of at least one other family member and then walk towards the photographer. You could have the whole family form a chain by linking hands, but breaking it up into smaller groups of two or three people holding hands while walking creates a bit more visual interest — and looks more natural, especially if your family is larger than four or five people.

Encourage everyone in the family to jump in unison for the photographer. This is a great photo idea for families with growing children who have larger-than-life personalities. Let everyone pick a signature move and capture all the action for the perfect family Christmas photo. Or, swing your child toward the camera and capture their glowing smile. Friends and family will love seeing their different personalities, and you will enjoy the memories of such a fun holiday shoot.

We all love the classic Christmas song, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” Take that cue and snap pics of you and your spouse kissing each other, each of you kissing the kids, even the kids laying a smacker on each other’s cheeks. These kinds of poses always lead to giggles and laughter, which makes it one of our favorite Christmas photo shoot ideas for the holiday card.

Capture a warm family moment by showcasing some parental love. This is the perfect pose for a family of four. Simply hold one child on each parent’s shoulders for a holiday photo full of love and light. And, you can execute this family photo anywhere, so feel free to get creative with the location!

There is something so special about capturing a genuinely candid moment for your holiday card. It is one of the best ways to put your family’s personality — and your love for each other — on full display! The key here is to give your family members something to react to candidly while your photographer snaps away. Easy ways to do this are to tell jokes, build a snowman together, or play a game like chase during your photo shoot.

Want to incorporate your four-legged family members into the holiday card? An easy way to pose everyone — dogs and cats included — is to sit on the front steps or the porch of your home. This way, everyone is perfectly framed by the features of your house and has a comfortable seat for the family photo shoot. Choosing this option also makes it easy if you are photographing younger children who might need snacks or breaks during the shoot. You can easily run inside and grab whatever it is they need.

Capturing your family as they have a conversation is an intimate spin on a candid photo — and works great if you have older children. Simply gather everyone around a cozy backdrop like the kitchen table, in the living room, or around a bonfire and spark a conversation about something that is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. To give people something to do with their hands, have them hold (and sip!) holiday drinks like hot cider or even a glass of wine.

To achieve this funny family Christmas picture idea, stage a traditional look and then have one family member break the mold. They could be sticking a tongue out, taking a present from under the tree, or doing a cannonball onto the couch where the family is gracefully sitting. This idea also works great if you have a mischievous pet. While the family looks into the camera, your dog or cat could be eating Santa’s cookies.

There’s no better way to showcase the sweetness of a growing family than featuring your smiling baby on the family Christmas card. Having a genuine moment with your child while shooting is the perfect way to capture an effortless and natural feeling holiday photo. Try to plan your photo shoot with your child during a time when they will be fed and well-rested. This way, you are likely to capture more smiling baby photos and fewer crying baby meltdowns.

If your children are in the phase of life where they seem to grow out of their clothes overnight, use your holiday card to showcase their growth! For this Christmas family photo, have your child pop on a festive outfit and line up against the wall or door where you keep track of their height at home, making sure the place that marks their height from the previous year is clear. If you have multiple children, you could take the same picture of each child and pick a card design that features slots for multiple photos.

Do you have something extra special to celebrate this holiday season? Use your holiday card to announce that your family is growing by showing off your baby bump in your holiday card! There are tons of fun ways to announce your pregnancy during Christmas, but one of our favorites is to have mom hold her belly while posing against a beautiful backdrop.

Let’s be real — kids love Christmas because of the pile of presents that await them on Christmas morning. So have fun with it by staging a fight around the Christmas tree! You could instruct kids to play tug-of-war with one of the gift boxes, or have one get caught in the act of trying to steal a present from the other. The possibilities are endless.

If your family is up for the physical challenge, why not arrange everyone into a classic human pyramid? This is an unexpectedly hilarious way to show off multiple generations of family members, and is sure to be memorable for everyone who receives it!

Capture the hilarious moments of holiday mischief with faux candid photos—like kids sneaking cookies, peeking into gift bags, or getting tangled up in Christmas lights. These playful scenes add a touch of humor and personality to your family’s holiday card and are sure to bring smiles to everyone who receives it.

Tell a festive story with a sequence of action shots: decorating the tree step by step, kids excitedly unwrapping gifts, or the journey of a sled ride from takeoff to tumble. These moments work beautifully in a multi-photo card format, showcasing your family's authentic holiday experience.

This pose is sweet, simple, and guaranteed to warm hearts. Position your child snugly between both parents, sharing a warm, cozy hug from either side—or flip it around with the kids embracing their parents! Either way, this pose perfectly captures the love and closeness of your family during the holidays.

Does your family love to have fun together? Christmas family photos don’t need to be stiff and posed. Showcase your family’s personality in your holiday photo this year with some movement! Not only is this a great way to share the joy of the holiday season, but it's also a perfect solution for camera-shy family members. Not sure how to pose? Have a dance party! Jump in the air! Start a pillow fight! There are a lot of easy active Christmas card picture ideas. Friends and family will love your vibrant photo, and you won’t have to stress over how to pose everyone together.

Document the joyful chaos of a family ornament-making session! Break out the paint, glitter, and craft paper to create handmade ornaments and paper snowflakes. Capture candid shots of everyone absorbed in creativity—and bonus, you'll end up with treasured keepsakes from your messy, merry activity.

If your family is musically inclined, showcase your creative talent in your holiday photo! Have everyone get dressed in their holiday caroling outfits and then have them pose as if they are singing in front of your home (or another home on the block with great Christmas decorations). In addition to singing, you could also have family members pretend to play an instrument like the guitar, ukulele, or flute.

Having trouble deciding on a pose for the whole family? Take your holiday photo in motion! Is there an activity your family does routinely on the weekends (a certain hike, a stroll through a farmers market, an outdoor restaurant your child loves)? Walking through a local outdoor market can be the perfect holiday photo setting for a family on the go. Showcase one of your favorite city spots to give friends and family a peek into your daily routine while you enjoy a festive and productive Christmas photo shoot idea for the holiday card.

This is a great activity to do if you’re hoping to get a photo that is simultaneously candid and full of festive spirit. While you can have a photographer snap away during the entire process, be sure to take extra care on the finishing touches of your snowman — that will allow them to get shots of everyone (snowman included!) looking their best.

Another favorite family tradition is picking out the Christmas tree, which can lead to awesome Christmas photo shoot ideas for the holiday card. Capture a behind-the-scenes look at where your family accomplishes this task.

Is there anything more iconic than snapping a photo with the big man himself? Pile your family into the car and head to the local mall or community center where you know Santa will be making an appearance. Then, have everyone pose and embrace the hilarity that often ensues. Capturing your child crying or giving Santa a sly look will only make your photo full of even more authentic holiday cheer.

Highlight your family’s spirit of giving by photographing meaningful moments as you volunteer together this season. Whether donating gifts, serving meals, or packing care boxes, these authentic images showcase your values while spreading the warmth and generosity of the holidays.

Channel your kids' boundless energy into an unforgettable holiday card by letting them jump gleefully on the bed in festive pajamas. Capture parents playfully pretending to “catch” them mid-air—this spontaneous, energetic snapshot perfectly embodies holiday joy, laughter, and family fun.

Family Christmas photo shoot ideas begin with holiday outfits. Your family’s attire can make your holiday card feel special and unique. So what should your family wear for the Christmas photo shoot? Start with something simple, like picking a favorite color that your whole family will look beautiful in. Jewel tones, like blue, green, or burgundy, tend to be holiday favorites. Another option for your family's outfit is to highlight a coordinating pattern. Plaids, checks, and winter florals give off that holiday feeling. Need more ideas? Take a look at our complete guide to Christmas Family Photo outfits!

Dressing everyone in flannel shirts (or simply plaid in the same colors!) is a failsafe way to get a coordinated look to your family Christmas photo. Just be sure to pick flannel shirts that feature some variation in color or pattern size to avoid looking too matchy-matchy.

For a look that is simultaneously formal and funny, dress everyone in matching Christmas suits. This is especially cute if you have small children, or if you want to go bold with suits that feature holiday-themed prints like Christmas lights and red-and-green checks.

Dressing in dark clothes with a light, snowy backdrop is the perfect way to make sure the focus is on your loving family. If you can keep an eye on the weather forecast, you can see when it is supposed to snow and then take some scenic wintery Christmas family photos as it is snowing all around you. Just don’t stay out in the snow too long!

For an effortlessly coordinated look, dress your family in simple, neutral outfits—then let festive accessories shine! Choose bold pieces like matching red scarves, cheerful Santa hats, or sparkly earmuffs to instantly add holiday flair. This approach feels polished, festive, and totally stress-free.

One last outfit idea for your Christmas card is the quintessential matching family pajamas. This festive look shows how cozy and comfortable your family is this holiday season. Whether you are in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate together, in front of a roaring fireplace making s'mores, or cuddled up on a comfortable couch reading a book together, you really can’t go wrong with matching family pajamas.

Get playful by dressing each family member as a beloved holiday character: Santa, Mrs. Claus, a mischievous elf, a festive reindeer, or even The Grinch! This whimsical approach is perfect for themed cards, playful family dynamics, and exploring the classic “naughty or nice” holiday concept.

Step back in time with outfits inspired by your favorite era—mid-century, playful '80s, or elegant Victorian styles. Pair your look with retro props or classic holiday decorations for extra charm. These nostalgic outfits will bring character, warmth, and a fun throwback feel to your card.

If planning and orchestrating a family holiday photo shoot is just not in the cards this year, embrace all the photos you already have on your phone! Even the simplest photos can be spruced up by making them black and white or using a program to apply an artistic filter. Zooming in on your subject’s faces and cropping out anything in the background is another simple trick. There are many ways to start with a simple phone photo and transform it into a beautiful option for the front of your holiday card.

Make the love your family shares the focal point of your Christmas photo with a simple backdrop and casual clothes. Grab the kids, put on your favorite outfit, and have pictures taken in front of a simple gray or white wall. This is a great option for the family looking for an easy and beautiful family picture idea. Choosing a simple backdrop also opens up your options as far as a holiday card design. A chic minimalist photo will pair perfectly with a typographic, modern, or really any holiday card design you like!

Looking for a more classic vibe? You may want to consider a black and white theme as one of your family Christmas photo shoot ideas. A black and white photo is the perfect choice for a timeless Christmas photo that can be cherished for years to come. Black and white photos also pair well with colored Christmas card templates of any style. So if you have your eye on a bold card design, maybe a black and white photo is the right idea!

One of our favorite artistic family Christmas photo shoot ideas is to take the photo from a distance to incorporate some beautiful scenery alongside your family. Whether this is a favorite spot the family visits often or a location you discovered while on a family vacation, loved ones will enjoy the view.

Loving multi-photo Christmas card designs? Get some cute close-ups of your growing little ones. They grow up so fast, so it might be nice to take some individual shots of your children this Christmas. The grandparents will definitely love the additional close-ups!

Make your family the center of attention on your holiday card by taking up the whole frame. Focus on the bond your family shares by being the only subject of your Christmas photo shoot. This is the perfect family picture idea to capture a classic photo of your growing family. Simply find a comfortable spot and zoom in!

If your family includes young children, having small snacks on hand is a smart move to prevent mid-shoot meltdowns. Snacks are great for keeping little hands busy—and can double as cute props. Happy kids mean relaxed parents and natural, joyful photos!

Before your shoot, write down a quick list of 5–7 photos you’d love to capture. Having a shot list ensures you won’t miss out on those special moments and helps keep everyone organized. You’ll be amazed at how smoothly things go when you plan ahead!

Planning your holiday card layout ahead of time can be incredibly helpful. Knowing if you’ll feature one standout image, a collage, or vertical shots helps you intentionally frame and compose your pictures. This little bit of prep makes choosing your final card a breeze.

For families with younger children, scheduling your photo shoot around naps and meal times is a lifesaver. Pick a time when everyone is rested, fed, and cheerful to ensure genuine smiles. Trust us—a well-timed shoot is your ticket to stress-free family photos!

A little festive music can go a long way to loosen everyone up! Create a playlist of favorite holiday tunes to help your family dance, laugh, and enjoy the session. Fun background music sets a relaxed tone and is perfect for capturing candid, playful shots.

Capturing your family’s perfect holiday photos can come with a few questions—here’s everything you need to know to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable photo shoot experience.

Both options are great! A professional photographer brings expertise and high-quality results, while a DIY approach offers flexibility, spontaneity, and often more authentic moments. Think about your budget, time availability, and the style of photos you want.

You don't need professional gear to get beautiful holiday photos! A smartphone with a good camera or an entry-level DSLR works wonderfully. Just make sure you're using natural lighting whenever possible for vibrant, clear images. (And check out this article for more DIY photo tips.)

Planning outfits ahead of time helps avoid last-minute stress. Ensure clothes fit comfortably and coordinate nicely without being overly matchy. Keep basic grooming supplies handy, like combs, lint rollers, and wipes, for quick touch-ups during the shoot.

Aim for a photo shoot duration of around 30–60 minutes. This timeframe works well for young children’s attention spans and helps everyone stay comfortable, energetic, and engaged throughout the session.

Natural daylight near windows creates beautiful, flattering light for indoor holiday photos. If natural light isn't available, use soft, warm-toned lamps or string lights to achieve a cozy, festive atmosphere.

Either choice works beautifully. Including extended family can make the photo more meaningful and memorable, while immediate family portraits capture intimate moments. Consider who you're sharing the cards with and what feels most authentic to your family.

Beyond holiday cards, consider turning your photos into personalized calendars, framed gifts, custom ornaments, or family photo albums. These items become treasured keepsakes to enjoy for years to come.

Schedule your photo shoot around 3–4 weeks before you plan to send out your cards. This allows ample time for choosing favorite images, editing, printing, and mailing without rushing or unnecessary stress.