How To Take Family Christmas Photos WITHOUT A Photographer!

The countdown to Christmas has begun! I’ve seen many people on social media starting to decorate their homes, and lots of gift guides coming out already!

While I love Christmas season, especially since becoming a mom, I can’t help but think of all the things I need to get done.

As I was thinking about my to-do list for this holiday season, I was thinking about how we need to take our annual Christmas pajama photos soon (probably this weekend or next)!

And I thought it would be fun to share with you how we take family Christmas photos WITHOUT a photographer.

I Love Professional Photography

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good photoshoot with a professional photographer. And we book annual photo shoots with a photographer every year. However, we also have been doing a family Christmas pajama photoshoot every year on our own as well.

We’ve been doing this for the past 3 years, and while neither of us are professional photographers, I think our photos come out pretty decently!

Since we take them in our home and in our pajamas, I feel like we all look more relaxed and they have a more candid look to them. We usually end up using at least one of these photos on our Christmas cards!

Examples Of Our Christmas Photos

Here are some photos that we’ve taken over the years!

Tips & Tricks For Taking Family Christmas Photos With Young Children

Taking photos with little kids is no easy task. However, it can definitely be done and without too much stress. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years.

**This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information.

Take Photos Early

Take photos early. And by early, I mean beginning to mid-November at the latest. By taking them early, you’re not too stressed already from all the busyness of the holiday season. And if your photos don’t turn out the way you want them to, you have time to retake them.

Order Pajamas Early

Most of the cute and affordable Christmas pajamas get sold out, so if you’re planning on taking photos with Christmas pajamas, I would suggest shopping earlier than later.

We got ours from Target this year. Here are some of the other Family Christmas Pajamas we have bought over the years.

Set Up The Scene

Put up the decorations and whatever background you want in the photos in advance. It’ll probably be easier to do this without the kids around. Like the night before you do the photoshoot, if you can.

I love using twinkle lights in the background. I think it looks festive, yet isn’t too distracting.

Work Around Nap Times and Make Sure They’re Fed

If you have little children, it’s definitely helpful to choose a time when the kids are most “happy”. Work around nap times and make sure your kids aren’t hungry. I think mornings work pretty well with young children.

Choose A Comfortable Spot

We’ve taken most of our photos on our bed, because it’s a big enough space for all of us to sit comfortably. Last year, we took our family photo on our couch, which is also a nice comfortable spot.

Have Good Natural Lighting

Lighting makes a world of a difference, so try to find a spot in your house that has a lot of natural lighting. And choose a time of day where the sun isn’t directly shining through the window, since that can mess with the lighting as well.

Use A Tripod

Using a tripod has been a game changer. Before we had a tripod, we would arrange multiple books and tissue boxes and what not, in order to position the camera at the right place. Having a tripod gives us much more flexibility and I feel secure in knowing that my camera won’t just fall off.

We have a tripod from Slik (similar one), and I love ours. It’s super sturdy and easy to use. It’s also pretty tall, so it’s great for standing photos as well.

This one is a more affordable option that has great reviews as well.

Use A Remote Clicker For The Camera

Another game changing product for taking family Christmas photos is a remote clicker. It’s affordable and easy to connect with the camera.

Before we used a remote clicker, we would set a timer and then run to get in the photo. Using a remote clicker is so convenient and easy to use.

The trick though, is to keep it in an inconspicuous position so it doesn’t show up in the pictures.

Take Lots of Photos

I’m sure you all know this, but it’s almost an impossible task to get a family photo with everyone looking at the camera at the same time. The key to this is to take loads of pictures! Sometimes, it takes 20 pictures to get 1 good one. So snap away!

Edit Your Photos

Lastly, edit your photos! I think editing photos give it that extra touch that makes it look a bit more professional. I love using Lightroom to edit our photos.

There You Have it!

Those were some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years, and will definitely be using these strategies as we take our family Christmas photos soon! I hope you found them helpful!

Recommended For You:

Please Share With Your Friends!