This post was originally published in November 2019. It has been updated since to share the best tips for mastering your holiday photos.
Wondering how to make the most of your holiday photos this year?
Taking photos with your significant other can be tricky. Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones with someone who loves being in front of the camera. Maybe you are the one who doesn’t care for styled photography. Every couple’s dynamic is different, but it’s totally possible to have a quick and easy session. Don’t fret about what to wear or where to go. I’ve got you covered with some pro tips I’ve picked up over the years.
For our holiday photos, I knew I wanted to pick a location that I was comfortable with already instead of someplace unfamiliar. After doing some serious brainstorming, I decided on the same location where we took our first set of engagement photos (yes, we were that couple that did multiple engagement sessions). There were so many happy memories attached to the place that it just made sense to go back. We donned some casual-yet-festive outfits and kissed for the camera. It was great.
Outfit Details
similar red sweater | plaid scarf | blue skinny jeans | similar white booties | men’s green henley | men’s blue jeans | similar men’s dress shoes | similar men’s faux leather jacket
If you’re looking for some tried and true tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holiday photos, you’ve come to the right place.
After years of fashion blogging, I was pretty used to photoshoots. Even my husband adjusted to the routine of our photos together. However, when it came to professional photos like these that we sent to all our family and friends, I wanted things to go as smoothly as humanly possible, and the perfectionist in me wanted the photos to be fabulous. So, I made sure to stick with some simple tips.
Start by choosing a familiar location. This way you don’t run into any surprise issues like a spontaneous marathon taking place, an additional photography fee, the spot not looking like it did on Instagram, etc. It’ll make your life so much easier – and if you’ve already taken photos there, great! You’ll know the perfect spots to go back to.
Make sure you feel excellent about your photographer in advance. It’s no fun to hire someone, never meet them in person prior to the session, and then have a really awkward photoshoot. Know the person’s style of photography, whether your personality meshes well with theirs, and if you’re getting the most bang for your buck!
Choose clothing you’re both comfortable in. I went with my husband several days in advance to try and find a top he liked and that also coordinated with my outfit. This man is simple. He doesn’t enjoy getting too fancy, and I wanted to make sure he had an item he would wear again. We opted for a simple shirt that matched the green in my scarf, and he wore his favorite leather jacket over it. I knew ahead of time that I wanted these photos to be pretty casual, so I did a little bit of Pinterest-ing and nailed down my outfit with things I already owned plus the addition of a cute scarf I’ll wear time and again.
Pick your card format and style before you take your photos. If you know the theme of your cards, you’ll know the theme of your photos. Decide on a color scheme so that your location, outfits, photo editing, and cards all blend together seamlessly.
Side note in case you’re curious: I love using Basic Invite for our holiday cards. I also used this company for our wedding invites and I’ve always been pleased with the way they turn out!
Related Posts
How to Create a Holiday Village // Combatting Holiday Stress and Overwhelm // The Best of Christmas Movies
It’s not hard at all for your holiday photos to turn out beautifully! Just follow my simple tips and you’ll be good to go. What are some of your tips for Christmas photo sessions?
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Lucy says
Aww these are such lovely photos, they’re so cute! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Della says
I agree with all these points! Love taking photos in the festive season and yours are so cute xx
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/
Laila says
Very lovely photos! The festive season is always a great excuse to take out the camera and snap away.
Tanvi Rastogi says
These pictures are SO cute and bright and merry – just like you had intended. You look lovely.
❥ tanvii.com
Lizzie says
These are so cute! My husband and I have actually never taken holiday photos but I kind of want to now loL!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Candace Hampton says
The holiday poses here are definitely fun for couples. You have some important tips on getting the most out of your holiday photos. The tips can be applied to any photoshoot really and will improve any photoshoots done. Comfort is really one of the most important tips, so thank you for sharing. Great photos and color coordination here for sure!
Raji says
These are such lovely pictures! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Stephani says
These are great tips! I always forget to think about my card format! And these pics are so adorable!
Xo, Steph
Greta says
Awww y’all are so cute. Love how your holiday photos turned out!
Neely says
Love this! We did ours last month and having a photographer you work with a lot helps so much!
Amanda says
These are so adorable! Thanks for sharing these tips, now I need to talk my guy into taking holiday pics 😀
Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says
These are great tips and beautiful pictures! You always have such pretty pictures, I love them! Xx.
Nailil says
These photos are beautiful. I love you went back to the place where you did your engagement shoot, so meaningful. 🙂
Xx, Nailil
https://thirtyminusone.com
Cara Duncan says
Starting with the card format first is SO smart! I always end up spending hours trying to pick the right card to match our outfits, but it would be so much easier the other way around.
Becca @ The LDN Lifestyle says
Great tips – I can never get my boyfriend to take photos with me, but planning beforehand is a great idea. P.S. your photos are adorable!
Tyler says
These photos are so adorable! I love the little holiday props you brought with you, and I also think the tip to know the size and theme of your holiday card is so smart. That’s not something I would’ve considered, but it makes a lot of sense!
Kileen says
These are some really great tips for taking the best photos ever! All of the pics you guys took turned out so perfectly! I would love to take photos like these with the hubby.
Caitlin says
Your photos are adorable! I never considered choosing a card format BEFORE the photo shoot – this is such a great idea because I’m often struggling last minute picking a design that works well with our outfits/location. Great tips!
Coralle says
Great tips & your photos look awesome! I would love to have a proper, professional photoshoot one day, especially around Christmas time. 🙂
Fransic verso says
These are some lovely photos. It’s a lot of work to get the perfect shot for couples. I’m more of styled and picky.
Campo Jac says
Such cute photos. And love your jacket.
JOHN MULINDI says
Beautiful photos. As we head towards the holidays, photography takes an important role in every activity. Glad you shared an article on this topic.
Charity says
I love this holiday photos! So cute and so many great tips on how to nail them! Thanks so much for sharing!
Rosie says
I love love love this post! Now my baby is here I really want to do more Christmas photos to show him each year. Amazing tips thanks so much!
Rosie
Fadima Mooneira says
Omg! I love your photos. They are sooooooo beautiful. Thank you for sharing your tips.
GWT says
You both look comfortable and natural in these pics!
Katie says
These photos are so cute! And your tips make so much sense. Being familiar and comfortable with the photographer makes it so much easier.
Ali Duke says
These are great tips, and the photos look really good.