Looking to save money this Christmas? Find out how to master DIY Christmas family portraits, even if you’re a total newbie. Scroll to get my top Christmas photo ideas for locations, outfits, and props!
This post about DIY Christmas family portraits was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Let’s be real. Professional family photos are expensive, and trying to wrangle everyone for a photoshoot during the busiest time of year? Exhausting.
But here’s the thing. You don’t need a fancy photographer or professional equipment to get gorgeous Christmas photos.
I’ve been doing DIY Christmas portraits with my family for years, and I’m going to share exactly what works.
Stop Overthinking Your Camera
I used to think I needed expensive camera equipment to get good photos. Turns out, that’s totally wrong.
Most of my holiday photos are taken with my iPhone. Seriously. If you’ve got an iPhone or Samsung phone from the last few years, you already have everything you need.
That said, my husband is super into photography and has a nice mirrorless camera that we sometimes use. But honestly? The iPhone photos often turn out just as good.
iPhone Photography Tips for 2025
Want to seriously level up your iPhone photos? Here are the tricks that actually work:
Turn on the grid. Go to Settings > Camera > Grid. This helps you use the rule of thirds, which basically means putting your subject where those lines intersect instead of dead center. Your photos will instantly look more professional.
Use Portrait Mode for everything. Not just people! Portrait mode works great on objects, pets, and even Christmas decorations. It creates that blurred background effect that makes photos look expensive.
Tap to focus AND adjust exposure. Tap your subject, then drag your finger up or down on that little sun icon to brighten or darken the photo. Game changer.
Use Live Photos for wiggly kids. Turn on Live Photos and it captures a mini-video. Then you can scroll through and pick the exact moment when everyone’s eyes are open. No more taking 500 photos hoping one works.
Use the volume button as your shutter. Seriously, this prevents so much camera shake. Or connect your AirPods and use the volume button on those. Your photos will be way less blurry.
Get close instead of zooming. Digital zoom makes photos look terrible. Just walk closer to your subject. If you absolutely can’t get closer, take the photo without zoom and crop it later.
Shoot in good light. Natural light is your best friend. Golden hour (right before sunset) is perfect, but honestly, any time your kids are in a good mood works better than fighting for perfect lighting.
Timing Your Photo Session (Keep Your Sanity)
Professional photographers love shooting at sunrise or golden hour. That’s great in theory, but have you tried waking up toddlers early during the holidays?
Here’s what actually works: shoot when your kids are happiest. For us, that’s before lunch. After that, all bets are off.
Think about nap times, meal times, and when your kids are typically pleasant humans. A slightly less perfect lighting situation with happy kids beats perfect lighting with cranky ones every single time.
Getting Natural Smiles (Not Those Weird Forced Ones)
We all know that forced smile face. It’s the worst.
The trick that works for our family? Tell everyone to fake laugh. They start doing these ridiculous laughs, which makes them actually laugh at each other, and boom. Natural smiles.
Other things that work:
- Tell jokes or funny stories
- Ask about their favorite TV show or movie
- Have them sing Christmas carols
- As a last resort, potty humor. “Who tooted?” works every single time with my kids.
The candid shots where everyone’s genuinely laughing are always the best ones anyway.
Best Locations for Christmas Photos
Christmas Tree Farms
This is my absolute favorite spot. The trick is going before they officially open to the public. We went in October this year and had the whole place to ourselves.
The trees are close together, so you get that perfect Christmas vibe without needing much else. Just check with the farm first to make sure they’re cool with photos. Some charge a fee.
Your Local Park
Dog parks are actually perfect if they’re in a scenic area. They’re usually less crowded than regular parks, so you won’t have random people in your shots.
f you’ve got little kids, pick a park with a playground and use it as bribery. “Five minutes of photos, then you can play!”
Lakes or Ocean
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we’re spoiled with waterfront spots. But any body of water works great as a backdrop, and it naturally keeps strangers out of your photos.
At Home
This year especially, tons of families are doing Christmas photos at home. Here are the best spots:
Ensuite Bedroom – Perfect for those matching Christmas pajama photos. Make the bed, find good lighting (a window works great), and let everyone pile on for cozy shots.
In Front of Your Christmas Tree – Classic for a reason. Have everyone sit around the tree surrounded by presents, or stand in front of it.
We love adding oversized teddy bears near our tree because it reminds us of the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle.
Living Room – Fireplace photos are always a hit, especially if you’ve decorated for Christmas.
Kitchen – Try something different and do a baking or cookie decorating session. Everyone in matching aprons is extra cute.
Front Porch – Decorate with a classic wreath and some outdoor Christmas decorations. The steps are great because kids can stand on higher steps or everyone can sit together.
What to Wear for Christmas Photos
First place to look? Your closet. This saves so much money.
The most popular colors are red, green, and blue. Neutrals like grey also look great. Just make sure nothing clashes with your background or each other.
Pro tip: If you’re shooting outside in cold weather, dress warmly or you’ll end up with photos you can’t use because everyone looks miserable. Trust me on this.
If you need to buy outfits:
- Christmas sweaters for the kids (we usually wear neutral sweaters and let the kids wear the festive ones)
- Buffalo plaid shirts for that lumber-chic vibe
- Ugly Christmas sweaters if that’s your style
- Matching family pajamas for cozy at-home shots
We’ve done sock monkey hats before and they were adorable plus kept us warm exploring Seattle in December.
Props That Actually Make a Difference
I’m a firm believer in the family motto: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” I always bring way more props than we use. Here’s what’s worth having:
Battery-Powered Christmas Lights
String lights add instant magic to photos. Drape them around kids, have them hold them, or put them on trees in the background. Just pack extra batteries.
Nothing adds a little razzle-dazzle better than twinkling Christmas lights.
I’ve grabbed a few sets from Target’s Dollar Spot over the years; they always work well for photos. Just be sure to pack extra batteries.
It’s cute to drape them around kids, have kids hold them, or put them on a tree in the background.
Large Ornaments
Go big so they actually show up in photos. Kids can hold them or hang them on trees. I love ornaments with messages like “Home for the Holidays” for Christmas card photos.
Christmas Garland
Garland is so versatile. Wrap it around trees, people, or poles. Have family members hold it. Put it on the ground for seated photos. Tons of possibilities.
Christmas Books
We always bring a Christmas book. Kids can sit on a blanket reading together, or older kids can read to themselves.
Some of our favorites include Christmas: a Count and Find Primer, 12 Days of Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Radio Flyer Wagon
Our Radio Flyer wagon comes to every photo shoot. Sometimes it’s a prop, sometimes it’s for hauling all our other props. Babies and toddlers look adorable sitting in it.
Santa Hats
Santa hats are cheap, easy, and instantly make any photo feel festive.
Christmas Signs
I can’t stop buying these. We picked up a Merry Christmas sign from Target right before our last shoot.
They’re great if you don’t know what to do with your hands, and they keep kids from touching everything else.
Plaid Blanket
An outdoor blanket is perfect for sitting photos. Plaid blankets look especially good if your family is wearing solid colors.
Ordering Your Christmas Cards
Once you’ve got your photos, you need to actually make the cards. We’ve used Shutterfly, Costco, Tiny Prints, and a bunch of others over the years.
Last year we ordered through Mpix and they turned out great. We’ve used them for our Disney gallery wall too and the quality is always solid.
Best Instagram Captions for Your Christmas Photos
Want to share your photos on social media? Here are some captions that actually work:
- Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Merry everything and happy always
- Totally sleighed it
- The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear
- Christmas magic is in the air
- Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
- May your days be merry and bright
- It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
Bottom Line
Taking your own Christmas photos is way easier than you think. You don’t need fancy equipment or perfect conditions. You just need good light, happy kids, and a few fun props.
The money you save can go toward better things (like the presents you’re actually giving). Plus, there’s something special about doing it yourself. These photos become a fun family tradition, not just another item checked off your holiday to-do list.
Loving these tips to take your own Christmas Family Portraits and looking for more Christmas content? Check out my Santa Letter Writing Tips, 41 Christmas Paper Crafts, Expensive-Looking Gifts Under $50, and What to Pack for a Holiday Road Trip!
