How to plan a Christmas family photo session at home
Christmas at home is always magical: soft lights, familiar decorations, children’s excitement, and all those little rituals that make the season feel warm and meaningful. If you’re dreaming of a christmas family photo session at home, you’re choosing the perfect way to keep memories of what truly matters: your traditions, your connection, and your home as it really feels during the holidays.
A Christmas session doesn’t need to be staged or stressful. It can be cosy, slow, fun, or chaotic in the sweetest way… Exactly what family life looks like at this time of year. With a few simple steps, you can create the perfect atmosphere for photos that feel natural, intimate, and genuinely “you.”
Choose the right moment for your family
Timing is everything, not to make the session perfect, but to make everyone comfortable.
For toddlers or young children, mornings or early afternoons work beautifully. This is usually when they’re rested, fed, and full of curiosity, which means relaxed interactions and plenty of little moments to photograph.
Think about when your home feels most alive during December:
- while decorating the tree,
- while baking together,
- after nap time with pyjamas still on,
- or during a slow Sunday afternoon with a movie and hot chocolate.
You don’t need a “big moment.” Everyday holiday routines are perfect for capturing meaningful connections.
Keep your home ready, not perfect
Your house doesn’t need to look like a Christmas magazine photoshoot. Actually, it’s better if it doesn’t.
Instead of a spotless home, think “lived-in and welcoming.” The goal isn’t perfection, it’s authenticity.
A few tips:
- Choose one or two spaces to tidy lightly (the living room, near the tree, a reading corner).
- Remove visual distractions on surfaces: a quick “clear, don’t clean.”
- Keep decorations simple and familiar.
- Let your home tell your family’s story: the handmade ornaments, the favourite blankets, the pile of books near the sofa.
This is what makes at-home Christmas sessions so warm: they feel like your world, not a set-up. Read more about how to prepare your home for a photo session.
Choose an activity to anchor the session
Activities help everyone relax and forget the camera is there. They also give the session a natural flow and create beautiful interactions.
Some favourites:
- Decorating the Christmas tree (a classic, and perfect with a toddler!)
- Reading a Christmas book snuggled on the sofa
- Making Christmas cookies or stirring hot chocolate together
- Dancing to holiday music
- Unpacking a box of ornaments from the attic
- Playing with wooden trains or toys near the tree
For your little one, an activity is simply a reason to be absorbed, curious, joyful, and these are the moments that make the most tender photos.
“Aurélie genuinely feels like part of the family. She slips into every situation as if she’s always been there, which makes everyone feel completely at ease. You forget about posing altogether, everything just unfolds naturally. I love it.”
– Claire
Outfits: simple, cosy, and coordinated (not matching)
Outfits don’t need to be planned weeks ahead. Keep them cosy and coordinated so they blend beautifully with Christmas colours and textures.
Some gentle guidelines:
- Choose a soft palette if you have them handy: cream, gold, forest green, deep red, brown, warm white.
- Avoid big logos, characters, or neon colours if possible.
- Opt for comfortable clothes: jumpers, knitwear, simple dresses, pyjamas if it fits your family vibe.
- You can add subtle textures like wool, cotton, or velvet for visual warmth.
- Bare feet or holiday socks look sweet and natural for indoor sessions.
The goal: outfits that make you feel at home, not dressed up for an occasion. Read more about what to wear for a family photo shoot.
Prepare your kids for the session
Kids don’t need a big “talk” before a session; in fact, keeping things light often works best.
You can simply tell them:
“Someone is coming to spend time with us while we decorate the tree. You can show them your favourite ornaments and play like you usually do.” It’s helpful if they understand that this is a relaxed, no-pressure experience: a moment to have fun. Letting them know they’ll be able to make a few decisions during the session is a great way to reassure them.
For exemple, let them:
- choose some ornaments to hang,
- show their favourite teddy,
- decide which book to read…
Giving them little roles helps them feel involved, and reduces pressure.
Their job is not to smile or pose. Just be themselves. Read those 5 tips to get your child ready for a photo session.
Create a warm christmas atmosphere
A peaceful, festive atmosphere helps everyone slow down and enjoy the moment. You don’t need much: just some warmth and softness.
Try:
- turning on the fairy lights
- lighting LED candles
- playing a quiet Christmas playlist
- keeping a cosy blanket nearby
- preparing a small festive snack for little ones if needed
Small sensory cues, warm light, familiar smells, soft textures, help children feel grounded. Adults too.
Trust the documentary approach
A documentary Christmas session is very simple: you live your life, and I gently follow the rhythm of your family. No stiff poses, no pressure. No “perfect moment” to create.
What this means for you:
- You don’t have to perform or direct anything.
- If the baby needs a cuddle, we pause.
- When your toddler starts a spontaneous game, we follow.
- If your home feels chaotic for five minutes, that’s real life, and it’s beautiful!
My role is to guide gently when needed and watch all the authentic moments unfold naturally. This approach is what creates timeless photographs full of emotion and connection. Read why I chose to become a documentary photographer.
Tips for parents to feel comfortable
Parents often think about the kids first — which is lovely — but your comfort matters just as much.
A few little tricks:
- Keep your favourite drink nearby (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, mulled wine, why not!).
- Sit or move however feels natural; there is no “wrong shape.”
- Let your kids take the lead during parts of the session.
- Allow yourself to laugh, cuddle, swing your child, or look at your partner.
- If something silly happens, embrace it, those moments usually become favourites.
The more present you are, the more the photos will feel intimate and meaningful. Read how to feel comfortable during a family session.
What you’ll keep from a Christmas family photo session at home
A Christmas session at home is much more than pretty photos.
It’s a piece of your family’s story, the traditions you’re building, the atmosphere your children will remember… And the way your home feels during the holidays.
You’ll keep:
- the sparkles in your child’s eyes
- the tenderness between siblings
- the way you hold your baby
- the joy of decorating together
- the quiet, cosy moments
- the chaos that makes your family unique
These photos age beautifully because they reflect real memories, not a staged version of Christmas.
You’ll also have the option to choose your favourite images as prints! Every session includes a print credit, so you can order the photos that truly speak to you. Read more about why printing your family photos matter.
Ready to book your christmas session in Dublin?
Planning a Christmas family photo session at home is simpler than it looks. Choose a cosy moment, keep things easy, involve your kids lightly, and trust the natural flow of your family life.
If you’re dreaming of an intimate Christmas session this year, something warm, relaxed, and true to your family, I’d love to create these memories with you.
