How To Do a Simple DIY Holiday Photo Shoot With Your Baby

While you want your baby to look cute, comfort is most important. No child is going to want to pose for photos in something overly frilly or super restrictive. For an added holiday feel, make sure to choose clothing that is seasonal by styling your little one in cozy layers with perhaps a touch of red or a winter hat thrown into the mix.

Props make a photo shoot feel more special than just a typical point and shoot kind of affair. I went with Christmas lights and pine cones to help capture a wintery/holiday feel, but feel free to get creative. As an added bonus, the props work as a much needed distraction for mobile children.

Choose your theme and lay out a back drop and a complete scene for your photos. It will make your little shoot look more professional and purposeful. I went with a Northewest/wintery/woodsy theme by incorporating antlers, a mini Christmas tree (i.e. a rosemary plant), a Pendleton blanket, pinecones, wool textures and cozy layers… But, you can feel free to set whatever scene reflects you and your personality.

I love a good theme and having things coordinate, but be careful not to take it too far or your photo shoot can easily turn cheesy. Use your props and clothing wisely.

If your baby is mobile it will be difficult to wrangle and shoot photos at the same time so try to ask a friend of family member for some help. Even littler babies can be so wriggly! Help is always appreciated.

Photos of your child sitting perfectly and smiling sweetly are adorable, but don’t forget to capture those action shots, because often those ones end up being even cuter! They also give your shoot a relaxed feel that seems more like real-life which I prefer.