Most of us commemorate the holiday season with family photos and frequently include them on custom cards. If you have a new addition to your family this year, you may want to remember this phase in life of their first Christmas season even more. In this post, get ready to find inspiration for the best first Christmas baby photo ideas with just them, with siblings, or with the whole family.
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Baby’s First Christmas Photo Shoot Ideas
Whether you have just added a new bundle of joy this past month and are hoping for some heartwarming newborn photos with a Christmas theme or if your little one is close to wrapping up their first year and already attacking the presents under the tree, I have the perfect Christmas photo ideas for you!
Christmas and the holiday season is the one time that even those of us who wouldn’t normally organize a photoshoot, hire a photographer, or dress the family in matching outfits for that one special photo of the year and we will do it anyway.
More often, people are hedging away from ‘Santa’s lap photos’ and instead setting up something more like a family photo with matching pajamas in front of the fireplace or bringing a professional photographer with them to a Christmas tree farm to capture some gorgeous seasonal shots.
There are so many different ideas that I’ve found so that you can capture the perfect baby’s first Christmas photo including:
newborn Christmas photo ideas
outdoor baby’s first Christmas photo ideas
studio or at home setup photo ideas
baby and toddler sibling photo ideas
baby and older siblings photo ideas
entire family Christmas photo ideas
non holiday winter photo ideas
and even more!
You are sure to find inspiration for the perfect first Christmas baby photo ideas here.
Set up some simple Christmas decor items around your baby, grab the best lighting you have, and capture that gummy smile!
Dress your baby in their first Christmas outfit complete with a Christmas hat and lay them down for some tummy time in front of the Christmas tree.
Tinsel is sparkly but not messy like glitter. Additionally, it’s lightweight and not even scratchy. It’s the perfect fabulous holiday item to snuggle your sleeping newborn in as you pose them. Newborn photos are quite tough to capture, you might want to bring this idea to a professional photographer instead of attempting it yourself.
Dress baby up with bright red bows because they are the true gift this year.
It is really easy to make a baby’s photoshoot Christmas-themed. A simple holiday hat and candy cane clearly get the Christmas message across.
For various shots and angles, try having someone else in the room to shake a toy to make your little one look in different directions and maybe even evoke a smile.
If your little one can sit up then prop them up with holiday pillows in front of the tree and capture a sweet moment to remember. The best idea is to cover a baby seat like a bouncer with a Christmas blanket and then set baby on top of that.
Lay down a fluffy rug or blanket and place a holiday hat onto your baby for the perfect newborn photo.
Swaddling your baby in a basket is another popular newborn photo that works really well with a Christmas theme.
If your baby is still small enough you can even find other holiday decor items to place them in for a cute photo like a sleigh.
If your baby is strong enough to hold up their head on their own, help them cross their arms or clasp their hands, and don’t worry about propping them up. This is a perfect pose for a 4-6 month old.
If they can’t hold up their head you have to be a bit more creative of where you place your baby. On a fluffy rug, in a basket, or on a soft cushion works great.
Newborns sleep almost constantly and photos even with them asleep are heartwarming mementos.
If you have a smaller basket to place your baby in you can even place holiday items either around them or around the basket as well for a Christmas flat-lay photo.
Sibling or Toddler and Baby First Christmas Photo Ideas
Sibling photos can be easier to take at times and more difficult at times. If you only have one older sibling they can be a big help at getting your baby alert or looking where you want for the photos. Use this to your advantage!
If your other child is still a toddler you can have them lay down or sit down with the baby playing with toys, looking at each other, or exploring Christmas decor.
Give each sibling a Christmas hat and matching pajamas for a fun memory.
Or take the traditional pj’s by the Christmas tree or fireplace photo. Warning, if you have 3 or more kids, there is a VERY good chance not everyone will be looking at the camera at any given moment! But sometimes sibling watching each other is even sweeter.
If your baby’s sibling is a bit older they can hug or hold them in the photo. This is helpful for curious older baby’s that are always exploring.
Family and Baby First Christmas Photoshoot Ideas
Your family Christmas photo doesn’t have to be perfectly posed, by a professional photographer, or “Instagram worthy.” What matters is that you capture a holiday moment in time that you never want to forget. Try your best to coordinate outfits and find the best lighting, but beyond that everything else is ok.
If you live in a forested town you can take seasonal outdoor photos near pine trees. If you don’t, a Christmas tree farm will provide a similar effect.
When trying to take a whole family photo, it’s best to think of how everyone’s outfits will look together. For a more traditional photo pick two or three colors and to have everyone wear different shades of for a cohesive look.
An even more popular look for modern family photos is less “matchy-matchy” and more of a cohesive vibe. Everyone should coordinate outfits, but using a broader color palette in family photos is becoming the norm.
Incorporate silly Christmas hats and props for a fun Christmas photo with your new baby.
Try different angles and focuses to create unique Christmas photos.
Have your spouse or friend snap a timeless photo of you and your baby admiring the tree.
Don’t forget to add in the Santa hats!
Set up a tripods at a dinner with the Christmas tree in the background. Make this a tradition and do it year after year.
Winter/Holiday Baby Photo Ideas
If you don’t celebrate Christmas, or your family doesn’t, you can still take some sweet seasonal or holiday family photos without the Christmas tree or Santa hats. Let a photographer capture precious moments of your family outside.
Bundle up in winter clothes and take a photo outside to show the beauty of this chilly season.
If it’s not raining, outdoor photos always turn out the best due to the better lighting. Either set up a tripod or hire someone to take your family’s first holiday photos with you all together.
You don’t need to be sitting in front of a Christmas tree to take a memorable winter photo. Find something your family loves to to do together and commemorate that moment with a beautiful photo.
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