Family Christmas Photo Shoot Ideas With Playful Holiday Charm

I have also come up with a few tricks and tips that you can make use of when it comes to editing with Luminar Neo, with one particular idea that will help your shots stand out and may even become your go-to technique for years to come. So let’s jump in and start with the most important part of the shoot: the prep.

Preparing for the Shoot

Preparation is the key to success with every kind of shoot, no matter the theme or location, and a family Christmas shoot is no exception. So let’s take a look at how you can make sure everything goes smoothly on the big day.

Location
The location is a great place to start your planning. I always begin here as it allows me to carefully consider everything else around it. Whether you are shooting in your living room or outdoors, get this part agreed upon with your family first.

Who is going to be there?

Speaking of family, how many people are going to be in your shoot? This will give you a good idea of the amount of space needed, as well as other elements of the shoot such as props. Get a date and time agreed on, ideally when no one has to rush off immediately afterwards in case there are any delays.

Lighting
When shooting indoors, lighting is fairly easy to plan. You have control over how you want the lighting to look to a degree. If you are using your own photography lighting setup, you can dictate the look exactly. If you are relying on natural light, whether indoors or outdoors, things become trickier and need more careful planning.

If you need natural light indoors, make sure you are situated near a large window. For outdoor lighting, think about the time of day. Early morning or sunset will give you a warm and cosy light that works perfectly for festive shots. Remember that the days are shorter in winter, so you may lose good light sooner than expected. Weather also plays a key role in the type of light you will get. Getting the lighting right is the foundation of a high-quality image, so keep this in mind.

Outfits
Where you shoot may influence the outfits you choose. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, the outfits need to be considered carefully so they help create a sense of unity across the family. Whether you are layering up for outdoor fun or wearing matching pyjamas by the fireplace, make sure everyone has the right clothing.

Props

To make your shot extra special, think about the props you can include. We will be exploring some ideas later that may inspire your choices. Make sure you gather everything ahead of time and check that your props match the overall cohesion of the image, including the theme and colour coordination.

Now that the preparation has been considered, it is time to jump into the fun part, and that is choosing a theme for your shoot. Let’s take a look.

Christmas Photo Shoot Ideas

Now that the preparation has been considered, it is time to jump into the fun part, and that is picking a theme for your shoot.

As for how to take these shots, a simple trick I like to use is setting up the camera on a tripod and concealing a remote to trigger the shutter. That way you do not have to worry about rushing into frame as the timer counts down or running back to the camera each time. Having the remote also allows the family to relax more which helps you get candid and comfortable shots.

Now on to the ideas, where I am going to split them between classic and creative so you can browse depending on your preferences.

Classic

Decorating the Christmas Tree
This timeless classic has been used by families for many years and it is the perfect way to capture that Christmas spirit. Set up your camera on a tripod and have the family gather around the tree, each with an ornament in hand as they decorate. It is usually best to have the tree half done or fully decorated, as a bare tree may look a little plain and not festive enough. Having the fairy lights switched on and twinkling away is a must

Matching Pyjama Morning
Another classic is to work with a range of poses featuring the family in matching pyjamas. These can be the same colour or pattern, paired with fluffy or novelty slippers to add that extra cosy touch. Poses can include the family around the tree, by the fireplace, or standing in front of the staircase adorned with stockings. As long as the backdrop looks festive, getting strong shots with this setup will be very easy.

Gift Exchange Reactions
A great option is recreating Christmas morning as you exchange gifts. Perhaps have the children sitting on the floor with the parents behind them on the sofa, the tree in the background, as the children excitedly tear open their gifts. Classic toys such as teddy bears, train sets or doll houses will add a lovely nostalgic feel to the image, so consider the presents carefully.

Reading Christmas Stories
Another classic idea is gathering the family around the tree, with the children on the floor as the parents sit on the sofa reading a Christmas story. It works especially well in the evening with Santa’s milk and Rudolph’s carrot visible somewhere in the frame. With twinkling lights and warm tones, this scene will look extra cosy. A hardback edition of a classic story such as The Night Before Christmas will enhance the nostalgic feel.

Creative Options

Fairy Light Portraits
You can create playful and magical portraits using fairy lights. This can involve family members holding the lights near their faces or placing lots of fairy lights in the background and using a bokeh effect. The idea here is to create a winter wonderland atmosphere, so include plenty of lights to illuminate faces and the scene. The cosy glow will look festive whether you shoot this indoors or outdoors.

Snow Day Fun
This is one that I might be able to try but it cannot be guaranteed. However, if you live somewhere that is certain to snow, some snow day fun can be a great and playful approach to your greeting cards this year. Snow fights, snow angels, and building snowmen all capture the festive spirit. If you have a drone, a top down shot of the family creating snow angels in a circle is something I wish I could try. Outdoor shoots are also great for including pets, especially dogs, as you all play together in the snow.

How Many Santa Hats Idea
This idea came after thinking about including pets in the shot. Set up a regular family portrait with everyone, pets included, wearing Santa hats. This can be especially fun if you have small pets such as a hamster or a turtle. You can then hide and add small Santa hats around the image, placed on ornaments or decorations, and ask family and friends to count how many hats they can find. It adds a playful interactive touch.

The Christmas Market Collage Shoot
For something completely different, head to your local Christmas market and create a collage of images showing your family enjoying all the festivities. Browsing stalls, drinking seasonal drinks, and admiring the Christmas decorations will give you a great collection of photos that truly capture the holiday spirit.

Now that you have a few ideas in mind, it is time to make sure you get the best out of your image using Luminar Neo to edit your shots, with a couple of little tricks to increase the Christmas spirit.

Editing Tricks With Luminar Neo

Once you have your base edit ready in Luminar Neo, including contrast and exposure, there are a few useful tips and tricks that can help you get your image looking perfect for your greeting cards.

Overlays
The trick I really want to try this Christmas is using overlays to dial up that holiday spirit. Overlays involve adding a layer on top of your image, and Luminar Neo offers a wide range to choose from. Fairy lights, light sparks and a snowy effect can all be added with realistic and impressive results that you will likely use for years to come.

Landscape Tool

This is a little trick I like to use to make my images look warmer and cosier, no matter where they were taken. Head to the Landscape section and open the Landscape tool where you will find the Golden Hour slider. This enhances the warmer tones in your image without making everything look overly warm. Give this technique a try. I use it across a wide range of photos and it works brilliantly for festive shots.

Glow
Add the Glow tool to make the lights in your image look extra warm and inviting. This works particularly well with fairy lights, giving you full control over how they appear, including the softness of the glow and the tone, where you will definitely want to lean toward warmer colours.

Colour Harmony
Get the best out of the colours in your image with the Colour Harmony tool. A neat little trick here is that you have full temperature control which helps you find the perfect level of cosiness. Inside Colour Harmony, head to Split Colour Warmth where you can make your warmer tones more golden or dial them back. Using this tool alongside the Landscape Golden Hour slider will help you achieve the cosy look you want.

Presets and LUTs
If editing is not your favourite part of the process, Luminar Neo has plenty of presets and LUTs available to give you the exact vibe you want. With presets included, and even more available in the marketplace, you will easily find a cosy or frosty aesthetic and apply it with a single click.

The Bottom Line

You should now be all set for your festive family shoot this holiday season, fully prepared and ready to enjoy the process. Whether you go for a classic approach or want to try something a little more creative, you’re sure to have a great time putting your greeting card photos together. Once the shoot is done, bring your image into Luminar Neo and make use of those helpful tools such as Golden Hour and overlays to get everything looking just right. There are also plenty of presets available if you prefer a quick edit with one click. So gather the family, pets included, and have fun creating something special. Merry Christmas!