A Christmas studio session runs smoothly with one or two planned looks, outfits from one colour palette, a few props of your own and warm light. Book early if the photos go on cards.
Updated · 8 min read
Short answer
Good Christmas photoshoot ideas start from who is in the frame and what the photos are for: a card, the family album or a company greeting. Plan one or two looks and dress everyone from one palette of two or three colours. Bring your own props: a knitted throw, battery fairy lights, wrapped boxes and ornaments. Light the background in a warm colour, use LED candles, shoot children first in short sets, and book by early December for printed cards.
Looks per session
One or two, each with its own outfits, light colour and props
Outfits
A palette of two or three colours for the whole family works better than matching clothes
Candles
Battery LED candles and fairy lights give warm points of light without an open flame
Small children
Take the group frame first, while everyone is still fresh
Printed cards
Shoot by early December to leave time for choosing, editing and printing
Which Christmas photoshoot ideas work in a studio?
Start from who will be in the frame. A family with toddlers needs different ideas, and a different pace, from a couple or an office team. The table matches each group with ideas that work on a studio set and what to bring for them.
Christmas photoshoot ideas by who is in the frame
Who
Idea
What to bring
Family
A group frame on a blanket with everyone in one palette, then pairs; reading a story together under fairy lights; opening a wrapped box
A knitted throw, a picture book, two or three wrapped empty boxes
Children
Hanging an ornament, writing a letter to Santa, a scarf that is far too big, holiday pyjamas
Ornaments, paper and a pencil, a long scarf
Couple
Two mugs under one throw, foreheads touching with fairy lights out of focus in front, swapping a gift
Mugs, a throw, one wrapped gift
Parent and child
The same knit or the same colour, mirrored poses, a close-up of hands holding an ornament
Matching knitwear, one ornament
Pet
A ribbon on the collar, the pet in the family frame, a short solo frame
A ribbon, treats and a lead. Ask the studio first whether pets are welcome
Team
One accent colour for everyone, such as a red scarf or hat; individual portraits in one look, then the group, for the company's greeting card
One accent item per person
Solo
A cosy knit portrait with fairy lights out of focus in the foreground, or an evening look for New Year's Eve
A knit, an evening outfit, a string of lights
For ideas that work in any month, and for the basics of posing, see the guide to studio photoshoot ideas.
If the team portraits will also go on the company website or LinkedIn, shoot every person with the same light, background and framing. The guide to business headshots covers what to wear and how to pose for them.
What should you wear for Christmas family photos?
Choose a palette of two or three colours for the whole family, for example cream, burgundy and forest green, or navy and grey with one red accent. Everyone picks their clothes from it, so the family looks coordinated without everyone dressing alike. A few more points for a family Christmas photoshoot:
textures read well on camera, so reach for knit, wool, velvet and flannel;
leave out big logos and neon, as well as fine stripes and small checks, which shimmer on screens;
matching holiday pyjamas make a playful second look;
shoes show in full-length frames, so plan them too;
bring every outfit on a hanger, plus a lint roller, a steamer if you have one and a spare outfit for each child.
Which props should you bring to a Christmas photoshoot?
Keep the props few and personal. An ornament the family has had for years, a child's drawing or a handwritten card says more in a photo than a pile of decorations.
These work well on a studio set:
a knitted throw;
battery fairy lights;
LED candles;
a few baubles in your palette;
wrapped empty boxes, all in the same paper;
a few fir branches;
mugs.
Our photo studio's set has plants and shelves with props, but no Christmas decorations, so bring the seasonal pieces yourself.
How do you get warm, festive light?
Pick the background colour: warm amber for a cosy mood, deep red or green for a classic Christmas look.
Keep the faces in white light. The colour belongs on the background, so skin tones stay natural.
Hang fairy lights between the camera and the people, close to the lens, and shoot with a wide aperture (portrait mode on a phone). The lights then blur into soft circles, known as bokeh.
Set the white balance manually, or lock it on a phone, so the camera does not correct the warm background back to neutral.
Take a test frame, check the skin and the background on a large screen, then adjust.
In our photo studio in Riga the light is continuous, with no flash, so you see the result live while you adjust it. The grey curtain can be lit in any RGB colour, and you can change the colour between looks.
How do you photograph children and pets calmly?
Book the hour when the children are at their best, after a nap and a snack.
Take the group frame first, then work in short sets of 10-15 minutes with breaks in between.
Play games instead of asking for a smile: whisper a secret to Mum, find the hidden bauble, count the lights.
Have one adult stand behind the photographer, so the children look towards the camera.
Bring snacks that do not stain, and do not hand them out just before the main frame.
For a pet, bring one handler, treats and a lead that stays out of the frame, and give the animal a few minutes to sniff around the room first. Ask whether pets are welcome when you book.
Continuous light helps here too. With no flash going off, the session is calmer for small children and for animals.
When should you book a Christmas photoshoot?
Plan backwards from the day you need the photos:
printed cards, and cards sent abroad, need time for choosing, editing, printing and post, so shoot by late November or the first week of December;
digital greetings can wait until the second week of December;
company greetings go out before the holidays, so fix the team date early, while people's calendars still have gaps.
Under the studio's booking terms there is no deposit, and cancelling or moving a booking is free, so an early date costs nothing to hold. If you want hair and make-up by our partner stylist, book it at least 3 days ahead; both together cost from €108.
How do you use the photos for a Christmas card?
Shoot some frames with empty space on one side, so the greeting has room.
Take the main frame both horizontally, for email, a website header or print, and vertically, for stories and phone screens.
Export at full resolution for print, and ask the print shop which size it needs.
For a company greeting, take a team frame as well as the individual portraits.
Film a few seconds of video on the same set for a digital card. Continuous light works for video as well.
If your shop needs seasonal product photos for December, the guide to product photography covers the lighting and set-up.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Christmas photoshoot take?
Plan an hour for one look with group and pair frames, and two hours for two looks or for small children who need breaks. Our studio's minimum booking is 1 hour.
Do we need our own photographer?
Yes. Our studio rents out the space and the light, so bring a photographer, ask a friend to shoot on a good phone, or use a camera with a timer or a remote. Continuous light makes this easier, because you see the result before you press the shutter.
Can we use real candles or bring a real tree?
LED candles look the same on camera and need no open flame. Ask the studio before you bring real candles, a tree, glitter or artificial snow.
Where do we change outfits?
Our photo studio has a changing spot in the vestibule. Bring the outfits on hangers in the order of the looks, so each change is quick.
How is a New Year photoshoot different from a Christmas one?
Christmas frames are cosy and centred on the family, with knitwear, warm light and gifts. New Year's Eve looks are dressier: metallic or sequinned fabric, a cooler or brighter background colour, glasses for a toast and confetti.
