The holidays go by fast, but some of the sweetest moments happen right at home…twinkle lights on, kids in cozy pajamas, and little bits of magic in the middle of the chaos. If you’re looking for Christmas photo ideas for kids that don’t require special equipment, these three setups (that I’ve done over the years with my own kids!) are fun, simple, and a perfect Christmas tradition to start this year.

Christmas Photo Idea #1 — Reading by the Tree (With the Glow Trick)

This one feels nostalgic and warm.

How to set it up:

• Have your kids sit next to the lit tree with a Christmas book
• Turn off overhead lights
• Open a blank white screen on your phone and increase up your brightness
• Tuck the phone inside the book to create a soft glow on their face

The combination of tree lights plus the “book glow” adds warmth and depth, making this one of the easiest Christmas photo ideas for kids that looks professional with almost no effort.

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Christmas Photo Idea #2 — Under-the-Tree Magic (Shot From Above)

If you want something playful and whimsical, this one’s always a hit.

How to set it up:

• Have your kids lie down under the tree, heads toward the trunk
• Stand above them (I stood on our coffee table!) and shoot straight down
• Let the tree branches, lights, and wrapped gifts frame the photo
• Tap to brighten your exposure

You get that dreamy twinkle-light blur in the foreground, and kids think its funny to get underneath the tree – which means real smiles instead of forced ones.

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Christmas Photo Idea #3 — Twinkle-Light Portrait (No Tree Needed!)

If your tree area is chaotic or you want something a little more polished, this one’s perfect.

How to set it up:

• Lay down a solid sheet – white for bright and clean, or dark for a nighttime feel. My kids were actually on a cowhide rug, so play around with what they are sitting on for different looks!
• Grab a strand or two of fairy lights. (You can find these here or here.) You’re going to hold the strand from above to give it depth and encourage them to look upwards. You can even wrap a strand around them or lay it around the sheet.
• Shoot from above (use a tall step stool for the best angle)
• Tap to brighten the exposure

The lights frame their face and create the prettiest glow. It feels cozy and festive without being over the top.

Bonus Christmas Photo Idea — Wrapping Paper Pop Out

This was a fun one that we tried last year! I had initially seen people trying this on Instagram with their dogs, but I wanted to test it on my kids first and it ended up being really cute.

How to set it up:

• Tape some wrapping paper across a door frame or open hallway
• Carefully use scissors to cut an opening in the middle of the paper, so your child can stick their head through. Its okay if its messy, its like they are popping out of a present!
• Tap to brighten the exposure

Have fun with it!

If you try any of these, tag me on Instagram @nikkicavinessphotography. I’d love to see what you create at home! Want some ideas on how to display your cute holiday photos this season? Check out this blog post where I give you 12 ideas on how to display your photos this holiday season!