Here are 27 of the best Holiday Card photography poses you can keep in your back pocket to use all year long. Why? Whether it’s the middle of July or 12 days before Christmas, there’s nothing wrong with always being prepared for a phone call from your photography clients looking to book a Holiday Card session. Every photographer needs this great addition to their marketing plan.
And if you haven’t started your Holiday Card marketing, it’s never too late! Here’s how you can crush it at marketing Holiday Cards to all of your clients.
1. Classic Matching Pajamas
Your clients can easily get their kiddos excited about a holiday card photoshoot by bribing them with new Christmas pajamas. It’s a tried and true holiday card photo idea that your clients will love (because it takes out the hardest decision of what to wear)!
2. “Silent Night”
This fun Christmas card pose for children is easier than it looks! Have the two kiddos sit back to back and wrap string lights around them (not too tight) a few times near an outlet. Then, have your printed “Silent” and “Night” labels ready to stick to their mouths (double-sided tape works great) and snap the shot!
3. Merry & Bright Holiday Card Pose
Does your client have an awesome vintage car, or do you have access to one? Christmas photos are a great time for clients to show it off in a festive way. Or, schedule a few clients who want to use this as their set and schedule them all in one day! You could even have Santa stop by and surprise them for a moment they will never forget!
4. The Wishlist
For the clients that want a more humorous Christmas card, this is a great pose for any group size. Have each family member make a contemplative face, thinking about what they want from Santa Claus for Christmas.
5. Runaway Holiday Card Pose
If you can find a Little Tikes Coupe, it’s worth the investment for one of the best photography props for children. Decorate the mini car with holiday wreaths for Christmas cards, or tie balloons to the sides for a children’s birthday photo session-- the possibilities are endless.
6. Let It Snow!
Depending on where you live, you may be able to pull off the perfect outdoor holiday card pose for a family photo session. You can find falling snow digital image overlays online on places like Etsy to add to the image to give the effect they were caught in the storm! Fingers crossed for a white Christmas!
7. The Great Christmas Tree Hunt
Help your clients kill two birds with one stone and meet them for their holiday session at the local Christmas tree farm! Not only will they leave with the perfect holiday card photos, but they’ll also have a fresh-cut tree. You can even book a holiday card session with them a couple of months before Holiday Season because Christmas trees are green year-round!
8. The “Not-So-Cookie-Cutter” Christmas Card Idea
Do you shoot in a documentary style? A holiday baking day photoshoot and Christmas card theme is the perfect way to catch those sweet authentic moments between family members. Encourage them to put their favorite Christmas cookie recipe on the back of the card for a personal touch.
9. Cheers!
And….wrap up the baking with a hot chocolate snap shot! Cheers to the new year!
10. Bundle of Joy
Perfect for newborns, wrap their little bundle of joy in a blanket surrounded with colorful ornaments. What says Christmas more than a swaddled newborn baby?
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11. Fun Christmas Card Idea For A Snow Day
Fresh snow on the ground? Have a list ready to go of clients who are interested in an outdoor holiday session, and meet them at a local park, or even in their backyard for this fun holiday card photo idea.
12. Is This Christmas Card Idea “Too Cool”?
Have any clients that lean towards the spunky side? Suggest matching holiday suits paired with stealthy shades for a holiday photography session with Santa’s Secret Service. Adding this shot to any session year round makes it easy for your client to order Christmas cards well in advance and be the first one to mail out when the season begins.
13. The Snow Blower
One way to make sure you’ll always have a white Christmas is to keep a stash of fake snow year-round! This pose is fun for every age-- with your client’s hands cupped together, pile about ¼ cup of fake snow in their hands. Once you’re behind the camera and ready to shoot, instruct them to blow on the snow softly as it flows holiday cheer through the air!
14. Recreate a Christmas Classic
Need a light-hearted Christmas card idea? Have your clients pick their favorite holiday movie, and recreate the cover. If you want to go all out, use your photo editing skills to even get the colors and fonts exactly right.
15. Peanuts Fans?
This Christmas card idea is perfect for your clients that just can't get enough of Charlie Brown's Christmas. Grab a tiny Christmas tree, add some lights, and now you’ve got the perfect Charlie Brown Christmas prop for the background of their holiday card. Have fun with the kiddos and encourage them to make their best silly face while their parents react.
16. Catch You Under The Mistletoe
Break out an "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" reference! Buy a nice sprig of artificial mistletoe and keep it in your camera bag for sessions around the holidays.
17. String Lights and Ring Lights
Pop a couple of kiddos in front of a vibrant backdrop, pull out a ring light, and grab some string lights!
18. I Want Candy!
Perfect for a couple’s Christmas card photo idea, grab some candy canes and get shooting! With the candy-canes in the focus, have the love birds in the background hold their props in a heart shape and give each other a kiss.
19. Twinkle Toes
Simple yet fun, this Christmas card pose is great to put on the backside of a card. Make sure your clients know ahead of time to coordinate their socks and shoes! You can shoot this indoor or outdoor, depending on if you want to plug the lights in. Have each parent standing on either side of their toddler, each grabbing one hand to hold them up.
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20. Never Leave The House!
The best way to convince your clients to book a Christmas card session? Tell them they won’t even have to get out of bed-- just wear your best holiday pajamas and get ready to have a tickle fight!
21. Momma’s Boy
Have your momma standing up and leaning back slightly as she holds her little one, with their cheeks lightly pressed together. For the perfect touch, suggest that the little one wears a top to match her lipstick.
22. Santa’s Helper
If you’re looking for simple props for holiday card sessions, I always keep a few Santa hats around. They come in handy for all photography sessions throughout the year. Whether you’re doing a senior session or children’s portraits, you can always finish the session by bringing out the Santa hats and doing a few snaps for a holiday card.
23. The Favorite Child
When your clients can’t stop gushing over their dog, you know this Christmas card pose is the one for them (and the best part is, you can shoot this anywhere!) With their pet in the center, have your clients crouched down, looking at each other. Use a squeaker behind the camera to get the dog’s attention and capture the image right as the pet looks at the lens.
24. Formal - Normal!
Everyone loves to look their best but also to portray their fun side! Formal Normal is perfect for a Christmas card. Have your clients dress to impress. The photo on the front looks pristine and fancy and says “Formal”. Open up the card to see what they are really like, and have it say “Normal!”
FORMAL
NORMAL
25. Little Presents Under The Tree
If your clients have little ones, snap a photo of them from up above while they’re under the lights of the Christmas tree, where the presents would normally be.
26. The Stack of Santa Christmas Card Pose
Whether your clients want to use the Christmas tree in their home or if you have a tree set up in your studio for sessions, this pose is perfect for a family of four. From youngest to oldest, have everyone stack themselves on one another, each wearing a Santa hat.
27. Very Merry Christmas Tree
This pose is perfect for clients want to do their Christmas card photoshoot at a Christmas tree grove with their toddler. Have the trio centered in front of a tall Christmas tree, with the parents holding their toddler up high in between them. Fron behind the camera, tell the toddler to look at you and smile, while each parent gives a little kiss on their cheek.
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