When it comes to Christmas, I always think of home.

As a kid, Christmas was of course the holiday on the calendar that seemed to tower over all of the others and it was made even more special for me by my mom’s love of the holiday.

There was never a shortage of decor. In fact, there are probably no fewer than 2,500 ornaments in my childhood home—and that’s a conservative guess.

In recent years while living in apartments in Brooklyn, Queens and Hoboken, I’ve put up my own tree, decorated and of course, hosted friends over to enjoy it all together.

In an attempt to hold on to some of the magical moments that have come from celebrating Christmas at home, I’ve done many self-timer photo shoots in our various spaces over the years and thought I’d compile them all together for anyone looking to capture Christmas memories at home.

With that, here are 13 at-home Christmas photo ideas that you should shoot this year, whether you’re looking for more atmospheric shots or if you want to be front and center.

1. Decorating the Christmas tree

To me, Christmas officially starts when we have the tree up and this usually happens on the day following Thanksgiving so we can maximize the time it stays up for us to enjoy.

Decorating the tree is one of my favorite pastimes so taking photos of doing this is a great content opportunity.

Whether you want to get a close up shot of your favorite ornament, or a full shot of you adding the all-important star on top, there are lots of fun ways to document this.

2. Stuffing stockings

After the tree is up, our mantle decor is next on the list to tackle. I love lining up all of the decorations on the mantle, especially the stockings.

Grab any small gift and take a photo of yourself putting it inside the stockings.

Pro tip: You can wrap the gift with a small piece of wrapping paper so the recipient isn’t tipped off to what you got them!

3. By the Christmas tree

We had a small six foot tree in our first apartment that stood up on a table in the corner of our place.

At first I was annoyed that our couch kind of blocked it, but then I realized it was the perfect place to sit and pose with the tree!

Whether you want to grab a prop (I love a beverage like a glass of wine or a big mug of hot chocolate) or just pile on the couch with your loved ones and snap a picture, you’ll have a winner regardless.

4. Getting ready for an event

Not every photo at home needs to involve your decor. In fact, one of my favorite things about the holidays is getting dressed up for parties and events.

You can photograph you doing your makeup, a mirror selfie of your outfit just before you walk out the door, or a close up of your accessories before heading out.

Pro tip: in general, I find playing with mirrors adds more interest to a photo, so think about incorporating mirrors into these images.

5. Cozy by the fire

I am the first to admit that living in an apartment with a fireplace has absolutely changed me. I genuinely love lighting it up and getting to watch it cackle and burn.

A cozy moment by the fire is a fun holiday photo to snap. No fireplace? No problem! Just cozy up with a blanket in front of your tree for a super cute photo.

6. PJ’s in bed

Last year this brand Printfresh reached out to me and offered to send me two pairs of their holiday PJ’s and can I just say having holiday-specific pajamas is a totally leveled up experience that I highly enjoy.

For my Black Friday sale roundups, I thought it would be fun to take a photo of me as though I were shopping the sales from my bed, but you could also pose on the couch, in your bathroom or anywhere else you’d like.

7. Wrapping gifts

If there’s one or two presents that you don’t mind being shown in photos, take photos of the wrapping process.

Pro tip: You can also wrap empty boxes or random items that you’ll unwrap after you take the photos. It may sound crazy, but I’ve done it before #forthecontent if it makes you feel better.

8. Ornaments galore

This photo was actually taken inside of the famous Rolf’s German Restaurant here in NYC (more about it and other Christmas-y things to do in New York in this post) but it got me thinking that this could be easy to replicate at home.

If you have a favorite section of the tree that you want to take a portrait in front of, posing in front of the decor is a great place to take a fun and festive headshot.

9. Putting out gifts

Arranging gifts under the tree once they’re wrapped is another way to photograph yourself in front of your tree without feeling overly posed.

Pro tip: wrap gifts in a few different wrapping papers for variety. To get even more options, you can even buy double-sided wrapping paper to switch things up!

10. Festive charcuterie

If you’ve been reading my blog or following me on Instagram for a while, you may know that I’m a big fan of charcuterie.

Arranging a cheese board is one of my favorite things to do if I’m hosting friends or even having a cozy night in. Add in a festive backdrop and you’ve got another winning shot.

11. Close up candle

One of my favorite things about the holiday (with no exaggeration) is holiday candles.

Whether you go for the affordable and beloved Bath & Body Works 3-wick options or you indulge in a luxury-level candle (my rec: Hotel Lobby Candle’s holiday scents) there’s just something about having a candle lit that makes everything seem more cheery.

I took this photo on my iPhone using portrait mode and I love how it blurred all of the Christmas lights on the tree!

12. Baking cookies

It’s rare to catch me baking throughout the year, but during the holidays? Count me in. I can whip something up.

Whether you pose in the kitchen with your loved ones or opt for a flat lay of your bakeware, you can showcase seasonal recipes to your audience through photos.

13. Mantle decor

And last but not least, I love setting the scene overall for a cozy feel, particularly when it comes to mantle decor.

One day when I have a place of my own, I’d love to have a giant mirror above my fireplace but in the meantime I can customize what is shown on the TV screen (in this case the Gossip Girl Christmas episode from season one) and adapt it to every setting.

I hope you loved this post of indoor Christmas picture ideas. Did one idea in particular inspire you? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Looking for more seasonal inspiration? Check out the holiday hub right here on my blog.

yours,

Austen

Christmas Photo Shoot Ideas To Try At Home