Classic, Creative, & Casual Pose Ideas for This Year’s Holiday Family Photo Shoot

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.

“Everyone feels a little camera shy when we first start a session, so I like to start with movement to help everyone relax. Walking with your family and smiling at each other instead of the camera is a great way to feel more comfortable!” — Laura Michele, Photographer

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Consider arranging family members by height or having older relatives seated with family members standing around them. Walking poses are also popular, where family members hold hands and move towards the camera for a natural and relaxed vibe.

Pose on your porch or front steps, where everyone can comfortably sit together, or maybe in the house in front of the Christmas tree or holiday setup. Taking your photo in a familiar setting means that both pets and young children have a stable platform and access to any needed breaks or snacks during the shoot.

Highlighting a baby’s smile in your holiday card is a surefire way to add charm and sweetness. Plan for the photo shoot when the baby is well-rested and fed to capture their best moments. Personal interactions, like playing or gently holding your baby, often yield endearing photos.

For families with high-energy children, consider dynamic poses such as jumping together or swinging kids toward the camera. Activities that showcase movement—like building snowmen or playing games—can bring out fun expressions and candid moments. These action shots are perfect for families looking to capture the essence of energetic family life.

To get candid shots, create a scenario where your family engages in natural interactions. Tell jokes, share a warm drink, or capture them building a snowman to elicit genuine smiles and reactions. These moments, where the family isn't focused on posing, can highlight the personalities and connections within your family.

Absolutely! If your family is up for something playful, try arranging in a human pyramid or coordinating a family jump. These unconventional poses can add a touch of humor and showcase your family's personality in a unique way, particularly for recipients of your holiday card.

To make your photos memorable, think about including subtle elements that reflect your family’s personality. For example, consider matching accessories, favorite props, or coordinating with the backdrop for a cohesive look. Encourage one family member to break the mold with a playful action, adding humor and making your photo stand out.

Remember, the key to a successful holiday photo shoot is not just in the pose but in the moments you create together. Whatever theme you choose, have fun with it and let your family’s personality shine through!