72 Family Christmas Photoshoot Ideas for your Holiday Cards

The holidays are a time to come together and spend quality time with our loved ones. Starting with Thanksgiving and spanning all the way through New Year’s Day, this is a season when you can anticipate logging some great family memories. But, from shopping to traveling, cooking and organizing all the details in between, the lead up to the holidays can pass you by in an instant! (Which is why we keep a printout of our Christmas checklist timeline nearby at all times during the holiday season.)

All of this can make gathering the family to take a holiday-card-worthy photo one a major challenge. Detailed family photo planning, which includes deciding what to wear and selecting a setting, is a lot to manage. Especially when brainstorming family Christmas photo shoot ideas. But what can you do instead of pictures with Santa?

We’ve put together some of our favorite family Christmas picture ideas all in one spot for you to review. Whether you are looking for fun photo ideas, need help coordinating poses, or would like some suggestions for props, we have you covered. Continue reading to discover 72 ideas to make your 2022 Christmas family photos unforgettable.

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Holiday Photo Card

Beth Murphy

by Beth Murphy

Lehigh Valley, PA

Round

Holiday Photo Card

Brianne Larsen

by Brianne Larsen

Lincoln, NEY

Holly + Laurel

Holiday Photo Card

Wildfield Paper Co

by Wildfield Paper Co

Salt Lake City, UT

Swooped Pen

Holiday Photo Card

Everett Paper Goods

by Everett Paper Goods

London, GB

AT HOME CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO IDEAS

BAKE THOSE HOLIDAY COOKIES

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 photoshoot.

cocoa

cocoa by Lori Wemple

BAKE THOSE HOLIDAY COOKIES

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).

Get creative with these Christmas picture ideas by leaving a messy floor or table in the background, standing in front of a recognizable building or including a planned “photobomb” of a local celebrity. 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.

DECORATING THE TREE

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 2022.

LET YOUR HOME SHINE

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 (even better, Christmas flowers)? Put those three items together into a scene and you have a great setup for a family photo. This works perfectly especially if you just moved to a new home. Make sure to check out Holiday Moving Announcements to send out to your family and friends.

Standing in front of your favorite large scale art piece can also be a stylish option for your photo. Or, you could try posing in front of old family photos. It may be fun for the recipients of your holiday card to peek in the background and see photos of the kids when they were babies or that 10-year-old wedding photo.

Classically Christmas by Melanie Kosuge

Classically Christmas by Melanie Kosuge

COZY FAMILY MATCHING PAJAMAS

Turn any location into your home into a winter wonderland by having your family pose in cozy matching pajamas. This is a really fun option if you want to keep your card feeling casual and intimate — we love the look of the whole family snuggled up in the crisp white sheets of your bed or in front of the fireplace in their matching flannel PJs.

Family Holiday by Chris Griffith

CHRISTMAS CHAOS

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!

List Party

List Party by Jackie Crawford

HEAD TO THE FRONT PORCH

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.

IN FRONT OF YOUR NEW HOME

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.

Santa Stop

Santa Stop by Carrie ONeal

WAITING FOR SANTA

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!

Gilded Branches

Gilded Branches by GeekInk Design

GATHERED AROUND THE FIREPLACE

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!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Sometimes the perfect photo-op is right in your bedroom. Gather the family for a cozy photoshoot 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.

Very Merry Christmas by Kristen Magee

Topline

Holiday Photo Cards

Alethea and Ruth

by Alethea and Ruth

Seattle,WA

Prismatic

Holiday Photo Cards

Snow and Ivy

by Snow and Ivy

Detroit,MI

Holiday Hues

Holiday Photo Cards

Erica Krystek

by Erica Krystek

San Diego, CA

Special Christmas

Holiday Photo Cards

Raymond Campugan

by Raymond Campugan

Cebu City,PH

OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO IDEAS

EMBRACE SEASONAL FOLIAGE

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!

Checkered Arch

Checkered Arch designed by Baumbirdy

FIND A PLAYGROUND

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.

FIND AN OUTDOOR WALL OF ART

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 photoshoot idea.

Every Other

Every Other by Robin Ott

PLAN A NATURE WALK

Does your family love nature? Bring the outdoors into your holiday card! This woodland setting is perfect for a holiday family photoshoot. 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.

TAKE A FAMILY RIDE

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.

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Brushwork by Annie Clark

FIND A WINTER WONDERLAND

Let the professionals handle creating a magical holiday atmosphere by taking your Christmas family photo at a theme park or fair ground 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 it’s holiday decorations in early November every year. If you can’t make it to Disneyland or Disneyworld, look up when your local theme park transforms into a winter wonderland and plan to take your photos then!

TAKE IN A SUNSET

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.

FEATURE A FAMOUS LANDMARK

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.

Edge Dip

Edge Dip by Julie Murray

FROM HAWAII WITH LOVE

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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.

chaconne

Palmdeco designed by Tamara Hilje

GO SLEDDING

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.

SNOWBALL FIGHT!

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.

Simplistic Four

Simplistic Four designed by Emily Betts

BEACH IT UP

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.

Family Signature

Wonderfully Merry by Wildfield Paper Co

FIND A SCENIC ROOFTOP

Head to a rooftop with a view for a creative photoshoot 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.

HEAD TO A GARDEN, ORCHARD, OR NURSERY

Take the family to a plant nursery for a Christmas photoshoot 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!

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Modern Sky

Holiday Photo Cards

Nicole Walsh

by Nicole Walsh

Saskatoon,CA

Quiet Color

Holiday Photo Cards

Up Up Creative

by Up Up Creative

Rochester,NY

Big Merry Frame

Holiday Photo Cards

Brandy Folse

by Brandy Folse

Norfolk,VA

Flourished

Holiday Photo Cards

Mansi Verma

by Mansi Verma

Wayne,NJ

CREATIVE CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO IDEAS

HOLIDAY PROPS

Rather than trying to get everyone into matching holiday outfits or worrying about the perfect locale, 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.

DUST OFF THE WAGON

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.

INCLUDE THE WREATH

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.

PLAN A PICNIC

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.

HITCH A RIDE

What better Christmas photo location than the bed of a classic pickup truck, filled with all the holiday must-haves? Simply stock up on all your favorite Holiday decorations and take the perfect holiday photo. Posing will also be a breeze since you can sit on the truck bed. One of your local Christmas tree farms or holiday fairs may already have a photo station set up with all the holiday essentials, which will make getting this look that much easier.

WRAP UP IN A CHRISTMAS THROW

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!

S’MORE SEASON

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.

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

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.

PRETEND IT IS CHRISTMAS MORNING

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.

Jammies by Jackie Crawford

MONOGRAMMED MUGS

No matter your holiday drink of choice, everyone loves a sweet holiday-themed mug! Use them as fun props in your photoshoot 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.

LETTER TO SANTA

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 features festive touches like wreaths, twinkling lights, or garlands.

Gilt Frame by 2birdstone

CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT

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.

FOCUS ON YOUR FUR BABIES

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!

Howlidays designed by Lisa Cersovsky

WRAPPED IN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

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.

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Format

Holiday Photo Cards

Bethan

by Bethan

Edinburgh,SC

Modern Minimal

Holiday Photo Cards

JoAnn Jinks

by JoAnn Jinks

Sacramento,CA

We Three

Holiday Photo Cards

Lea Delaveris

by Lea Delaveris

Columbus,OH

Christmas tree

Holiday Photo Cards

Morgan Ramberg

by Morgan Ramberg

Chicago,IL

CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO POSE IDEAS

CLASSIC FORMAL

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.

WALKING

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.

GO AERIAL

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.

PUCKER UP!

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 photoshoot ideas for the holiday card.

USE YOUR SHOULDERS

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 location!

CANDID

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 is to tell jokes, build a snowman together, or to play a game like chase during your photoshoot.

INCLUDE THE PETS

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 photoshoot. Choosing this option also makes it easy if you are photographing younger children that might need snacks or breaks during the shoot. You can easily run inside and grab whatever it is they need.

CAPTURE CONVERSATIONS

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.

THE ALMOST-PERFECT POSE

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.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BABY

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 photoshoot 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 less crying baby meltdowns.

GROWING LIKE WEEDS

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.

POSE WITH YOUR BABY BUMP

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 with the family at a Christmas tree farm.

KIDS FIGHTING OVER PRESENTS

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.

THE (LITERAL) FAMILY TREE

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!

Two Torn

Holiday Photo Cards

Brianne Larsen

by Brianne Larsen

Lincoln,NE

candy cane crop

Holiday Photo Cards

Susan Zinader

by Susan Zinader

Cincinnati,OH

Super Border

Holiday Photo Cards

Pixel and Hank

by Pixel and Hank

Plainwell,MI

Pressed Pine

Holiday Photo Cards

Jennifer Wick

by Jennifer Wick

Harrisburg,PA

ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTOS

FORGET THE POSE. BE ACTIVE!

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.

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SHOW OFF YOUR ROUTINE

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 photoshoot idea for the holiday card.

PICKING OUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE

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

FAMILY CAROLING

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.

SITTING WITH SANTA

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.

BUILDING A SNOWMAN

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.

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Ski Season

Holiday Photo Cards

Ellen Schlegelmilch

by Ellen Schlegelmilch

Munich,GE

Double Exposure

Holiday Photo Cards

Olivia Kanaley Inman

by Olivia Kanaley Inman

Napa,CA

In the Snow

Holiday Photo Cards

Jennifer Holbrook

by Jennifer Holbrook

Berkeley,CA

Casual Scripted

Holiday Photo Cards

Everett Paper Goods

by Everett Paper Goods

Philadelphia,PA

CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO OUTFIT IDEAS

ALL ABOUT THE OUTFITS

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 photoshoot? 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!

Berry Kiss

Berry Kiss designed by Susan Moyal

FAMILY FLANNELS

Dressing everyone in flannel shirts 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.

MATCHING CHRISTMAS SUITS

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.

Gloria!

Gloria! designed by Morgan Ramberg

DARK AND LIGHT

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!

MATCHING PAJAMAS

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 smores, or cuddled up on a comfortable couch reading a book together, you really can’t go wrong with matching family pajamas.

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Winter Dove by Michelle Taylor

Adorn

Holiday Photo Cards

MC Designs

by MC Designs

Quezon City,PH

Brightest Joy

Holiday Photo Cards

Julie Murray

by Julie Murray

Tulsa,OK

Joy Confetti

Holiday Photo Cards

Erica Krystek

by Erica Krystek

San Diego,CA

Wide Frame

Holiday Photo Cards

Carrie Moradi

by Carrie Moradi

Fort Collins,CO

ADDITIONAL CHRISTMAS FAMILY PHOTO TIPS

PLAY EDITOR

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.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

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!

personal

sopapilla by chocomocacino

THE CLASSIC BLACK & WHITE

Looking for a more classic vibe? You may want to consider a black and white theme as one of your family Christmas photoshoot 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! We even have some black and white holiday card designs you can pair the photo with.

Fleur

Fleur designed by Mansi Verma

ZOOM OUT

One of our favorite artistic family Christmas photoshoot 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.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE KIDS

Loving multi-photo Christmas card designs? Get some cute closeups 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!

Hope for the holidays by Lea Delaveris

GO FULL FRAME

Make your family the center of attention on your holiday card by taking up the whole frame. Focus in 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!

INCLUDE MANY FAITHS

Whether your family follows one religion, several or none at all, including a nod to the many faiths practiced in America can spark truly unique family Christmas photo shoot ideas. A menorah symbolizes the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, and a Kinara is a similar candle holder symbol from African American cultures. You might also include a Buddha statue, a crescent and star to represent Islam, some sweet grass in a smudge bowl as a Native American symbol or any other religious honors you choose.

Silly Joy

Holiday Photo Cards

Ashley DeMeyere

by Ashley DeMeyere

San Rafael,CA

Delight

Holiday Photo Cards

Erin L. Wilson

by Erin L. Wilson

Lutherville Timonium,MD

Clean Frame

Holiday Photo Cards

Melanie Kosuge

by Melanie Kosuge

Chicago,IL

Scripty Holiday

Holiday Photo Cards

Benita Crandall

by Benita Crandall

Saint Helena,CA