There’s something about the glow of a Christmas tree that makes me want to pick up my camera. Even when the rest of the room is a mess. Even when we haven’t finished decorating and there are boxes everywhere. That little change in the light makes a familiar space feel different, and suddenly I’m noticing things.
I love that about Christmas photography. There’s so much to work with, right in the middle of everyday life.
But I also know how quickly the calendar in December fills up. Between shopping, wrapping, gatherings and everything else, the creative things we want to do can become the things we never quite get around to.
This year, I want to make a little room for enjoying documenting the season while I’m actually living it.
Start With the Christmas That’s Already Happening
When you’re looking for Christmas photo ideas, it’s easy to come away with a longer shopping list and the feeling that you need to set something up. And sometimes planning a photo is part of the fun! I love having an idea and seeing where it takes me.
But there’s also plenty that’s worth photographing before you buy a single prop or bribe anyone to cooperate.
The decorations waiting to be unpacked. Someone concentrating on wrapping a gift. A favorite mug beside the tree. The dog who has decided the tree skirt is a new bed.
Those little things give your holiday photographs a sense of home. They’re familiar now, but that’s exactly why they’re worth noticing. You don’t have to wait for Christmas morning to begin telling the story.
What Makes It Feel Like Christmas to You?
We all have things that make the season feel familiar. It might be a recipe, a place you visit every year or an ornament you’ve had for as long as you can remember. Sometimes it’s something so ordinary you wouldn’t think to mention it if someone asked about your holiday traditions.
I find that interesting about photographs. They can make us realize how much meaning we’ve attached to something small. An ornament is just an ornament until you remember who gave it to you. A kitchen becomes more than a room when you think about all the December afternoons spent baking there.
That personal connection gives you somewhere to begin with your Christmas photography. Think about what you look forward to seeing again each year. What brings back a memory? What would you want a photograph of if it weren’t there next Christmas? You’ll probably find that some of your most meaningful subjects are already around you.
Give Yourself Something Creative to Look Forward To
Photography is such a big part of how I slow down and pay attention. During the holidays, I think I appreciate that even more. Picking up my camera gives me a reason to step away from the mental list for a few minutes. I start looking at what’s in front of me, and sometimes that’s enough to change how the rest of the day feels. It doesn’t have to turn into a whole project. You can spend a few minutes taking one photo because something caught your eye. And you’re allowed to take photos just because they’re fun.
Christmas is a wonderful excuse to play with sparkle, color and a little extra magic. Try an idea you’ve been saving. Photograph something you wouldn’t normally choose. Let yourself make a few images that don’t work while you figure out what you like.
There’s a lot of enjoyment in having something creative that belongs to you during a season when you’re often doing things for everyone else.
Leave Some Room for Real Life
When I look back at family photos, I often notice things I barely thought about when I took them. An expression. Something in the background. How little my girls were, even at an age when I thought they were getting so big. It makes me wonder what I’ll notice in this year’s Christmas photos ten years from now. Probably a few things I can’t predict. That’s a good reminder to leave some room for life to happen in front of the camera. Everyone doesn’t have to look up. The wrapping paper can stay on the floor. An image can hold a little movement, a little chaos and still be worth keeping.
I want photographs that bring me back to being there, with the people I love, in whatever version of Christmas we’re living this year.
And I want to remember to get into a few of them myself. If you’re usually the one behind the camera, consider this your reminder, too. Hand it over for a minute or set the timer. You’re part of these memories.
Come Photograph the Season With Us
If you’d enjoy having a little creative encouragement and people to share the season with, Abi Coop and I would love to have you join us for Christmas Through Your Lens: Four Weeks of Light, Storytelling & Creativity.
From Monday, November 23 through Sunday, December 20, 2026, we’ll be hosting a four-week shoot-along course in our private, instructor-led Facebook group.
We’ll be picking up our cameras alongside you, exploring weekly lessons and themes and sharing what we create. You’ll have a place to ask questions, share your photographs and connect with other students as we all shoot and learn together.
That shared experience is something we’re especially looking forward to. Seeing how someone else photographs their Christmas can spark an idea you wouldn’t have considered. Sharing an experiment can lead to a helpful conversation. And sometimes a little encouragement is all you need to pick up your camera again.
To support you along the way, the course includes:
Our 82 page Christmas Through Your Lens Course PDF guide.
Four video lessons, one for each week.
Four weekly exercises.
A Christmas Eve bonus exercise.
A bonus overlay pack for a little extra holiday magic.
We’ll explore noticing the season, light, storytelling and creativity, with plenty of room to follow your own interests and photograph what matters to you.
Join us for Christmas Through Your Lens. We’d love to spend these four weeks creating with you and seeing Christmas through your eyes.
