These adorable Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas will ensure that baby’s first Christmas season is as memorable as can be! Also makes for super cute Christmas cards!

Christmas is coming up, and if this is your baby’s first Christmas season, it should be celebrated for the special occasion that it is!

It can be stressful wondering how to go about it, but contrary to popular belief, it can definitely be done at home, with your own family for support. You don’t need to shell out a bomb for a professional photographer, although if that’s what you want, you can totally go for it.

If you’re planning to DIY the shoot and are looking for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, you’ve come to the right place! We’re sharing over 70 cute ideas today, which aren’t just adorable, but practical too.

While you don’t need too many props, it helps to have some of these on hand:

• Wicker baskets
• Cardboard boxes
• Christmas theme gift wrap
• Fairy lights
• Christmas ornaments
• Outfits in Christmas themes or colors

Now that we know what to get, let’s go ahead and check out some cute Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas!

70+ Cute Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas

Sleeping Baby Photo Ideas

1. We start our list of Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas with the easiest one – a sleeping baby! This is the easiest in terms of props as well as pose, since you don’t have to put in too much effort with a sleeping child! All you need is a plain white sheet or surface, and maybe a stuffed animal to keep baby company!

2. The sleeping baby pose is perfect for newborns, since they spend most of their time sleeping anyway. They’re easier to dress up too, and you’ll be spared the trouble of your 10 month old flinging off his Santa hat every time! Add in some small festive details, like a candy cane, or some mistletoe in the background.

3. Even if you don’t have any props, you can make your photo more interesting by adding different textures. In the photo below, we can see knits, fur and a wooden surface. By keeping the color theme consistent, you’re sure to get an adorable photo.

4. If you’ve gotten enough photos of your baby on her back, you can change things up with turning her on her tummy. This adorable photo in front of the Christmas tree looks like someone fell asleep waiting for Santa!

5. It’s amazing what a simple Santa hat can do when it comes to Babys First Christmas Photo Ideas! Once your baby is old enough to be propped up, you can try this pose with the hat falling over his eyes. Keep everything else simple, and blur out the background for an ethereal effect.

6. This is one of those photos you can click without much planning. If your little one dozes off on the couch, make the most of it by clicking a cute picture! Add a furry friend on the side for support, or perhaps some festive cushions to create the right mood.

7. This picture can be recreated with kids of any age, including babies and is great if you have some Christmas themed books. Arrange them so that they don’t clutter up the frame, and the focus remains on your sleeping baby.

8. If your baby wakes up in the course of getting ready for the shoot, no problem! We’ll just take some lying photos of your little one! If your baby tends to squirm too much, it’s a good idea to contain him in a swaddle, or a huge stocking like this one here!

9. If you want to stop baby from reaching out for the camera or phone, keep him interested in the objects near him. This arrangement of brightly wrapped presents is really easy to create, and looks good too!

10. If you’d like to make things a little more interesting, you can create a more elaborate backdrop, like this sheet scattered with red and pink hearts. However, this works best if your baby has not yet learnt to roll over, and you are ensuring that the small pieces don’t enter his mouth. Notice that there’s just one Christmas element here – the candy cane – but it’s enough to conve the festive spirit!

Basket Baby Photo Ideas

11. Baskets are an excellent prop for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, especially if your baby is under 3 months of age. Simply fill the basket with soft quilts, and place a white fleece blanket on top. Place your sleeping baby in it and you’ll have a gorgeous little Christmas photo!

12. Another reason photos of babies in baskets work is that they feel more contained and secure in a basket. You can ensure baby sleeps sound for longer by swaddling her before placing in the basket. Surround your basket with Christmas ornaments and greenery so your photo will look festive even if your baby’s outfit is plain.

13. If you prefer to leave your baby un-swaddled for the photo, you can do that too, but now you have to pay attention to the outfit. You can of course, leave baby in just a diaper and Santa hat if the weather is warm, bu tif it’s cold, go with a cute little Christmas outfit.

14. Don’t forget to click pictures of those adorable little feet popping out of the basket! You can take off baby’s socks for a couple of minutes just to click the picture, and put them back on when you’re done.

15. Sleeping babies in baskets are cute, but so are the awake ones! This little guy looks all set to do mischief, and the setting of the basket under the Christmas tree gives it a festive feel, even without any red in the frame.

16. Once your baby can sit up on his own, you can get a bigger basket and try this pose. You may have to place some blankets at the bottom so your baby is at the right height. Fairy lights, acorns and other Christmas decorations add to the overall spirit and make the photo frame-worthy!

17. Don’t forget to get some candid shots of your little munchkin trying to jump out of the basket or throwing out whatever’s in it! You’re sure to get some adorable little clicks that you’ll enjoy looking at later!

Photo Ideas with Christmas Ornaments

18. There are several Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas with ornaments, and you can use them in multiple ways. A very basic one involves placing baby in just a diaper on a white blanket, and spreading some ornaments around him.

19. This is a similar shot, but taken from the back so that we can see that adorable little diaper!

20. Here is a photo you can click with just a Christmas hat and a couple of Christmas baubles. Works great for babies who can sit supported or unsupported. All you need to do is to keep the background and surfaces natural, while also ensuring the ornaments are not small enough to get swallowed.

21. If your baby’s birthday is coming up, that means you’ve got an almost-toddler who can probably stand up on their own. If so, this should be an easy click, with a pile of presents and a basket of ornaments.

22. Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas with ornaments don’t have to be all about playing with them; they can also be of baby helping to decorate the tree! You’ll need an extra set of hands here to hold baby up, so he can reach the ornaments on the tree. Be sure to get close enough to catch that serious expression!

Photo Ideas with Christmas Lights

23. Christmas lights have a wonderful effect in photos, as long as you use them right. The best way is to decorate a wall with fairy lights, and use that wall as a background for your baby’s photos. By blurring out the background, you’ll get a soft effect in the picture.

24. You can keep the focus only on your baby by getting rid of all the other elements in the frame, and leaving only the lights in the background. Dress your baby in something bright, and keep the surface plain.

25. Now, you may be wondering if you can try out some Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas with lights in the foreground, and the answer is that you can, under certain conditions. Be sure to choose lights made of plastic, which don’t get hot. There has to be someone to watch the baby continuously, so they don’t put anything in their mouth or get tangled in the wires.

26. Christmas lights look best when you’ve dimmed all the other lights in the room, but they also work if it’s daytime or there are other lights on. As long as you’re careful, you can get some truly beautiful photos with your baby and lights.

Gift Baby Photo Ideas

27. Your baby has probably been your best gift this past year, so why not capture that feeling in a photograph? This photo may look like it requires some Anne Geddes-level effort, but don’t worry, it’s not that hard! If you don’t have an adorable little bed like the one shown here, you can use a basket or even a cardboard box that’s wrapped and padded. Arrange your ornaments and other props around the box and when everything is ready, place your sleeping baby and put a little gift under her arm. Needless to say, this will work much better with a newborn than with a kicking and rolling 6 month old!

28. Another way to use gifts in Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas is to pile them up in the distance so that they become the backdrop for your baby. This way, you get a festive look, can hide any ugly bits and keep the focus on your baby in the foreground.

29. Everyone likes receiving presents, even 8 month olds! Sit your baby under the tree, and hand him a wrapped present – and click the immediate expression on his face!

30. Well, in case you missed that first expression, you can go ahead and get a photo of your little one unwrapping the gift. It can get messy, but don’t worry – that’s the beauty of a candid shot!

31. In case your baby isn’t really interested in the gifts you’re giving her and is getting cranky, here’s a workaround. Leave the gifts where they are, and add in a little toy or ornament for baby to focus on, so you get your photo and she gets her toy!

32. If you’ve got large cardboard boxes lying around, consider using them for your Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas! Use a nice, Christmas-theme wrapping paper and ribbon to giftwrap the box, leaving the top end open. Now pile in some blankets and place baby on top of them. There, you have your favorite gift, now in a box!

33. This is a similar photo to the one above, but it blurs the background, so the focus is on your baby. Make sure that the box is stable and that baby isn’t too enthusiastic and ends up toppling the box!

Christmas Outfit Baby Photo Ideas

34. Why do babies smile in their sleep? Well, some say it’s because they see angels, since their hearts are so pure and innocent. In that case, why not capture that innocence and sweetness in a photo? All you need are some angel wings, which you can either buy or DIY. This pose of a baby sleeping on his tummy is a great way to capture the beauty of the wings of your angel.

35. Angel wings also work for older babies, who may not sleep as much as you like! You can still get photos from the back, and you can also add these photos from the front. Make sure to keep the background and surface as plain as you can to maintain the ‘angelic’ mood of the picture.

36. One thing you’re sure to find when searching for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, is a baby in a Santa suit! These suits are easily available online and in stores, and you’ll get them for both boys and girls.

37. Of course, you can take a photo of your little one wearing the Santa suit and smiling ,but you can make it more interesting by creating a Christmas themed backdrop. Balloons are an easy and economical way to achieve this, and if you stick to the Christmas colors of red, white and green, you’re all set!

38. You can make your own modifications to the Santa suit, like replacing the hat with a festive hairband as shown here. Some babies may hate wearing hats, so it’s good to have alternatives on standby!

39. Speaking of babies who hate hats, how cute does this little guy look? If your baby is nearly a toddler and can stand with support, try documenting this milestone in your Christmas photoshoot, by placing his chair or a stool in front of your backdrop.

40. Santa isn’t the only Christmas costume available – you’ll find plenty of elves too! Elf costumes are particularly adorable for younger babies, like newborns, although they may be harder to find.

41. If you can’t find an elf costume in the stores, you can always DIY one yourself. You can buy separates like a green t-shirt, green hat and red pants. You can easily cut out the collar from colored felt, and you’re done!

42. We love this idea of taking a photo of a baby who can’t yet sit unsupported. Mom and Dad can hold the baby from either side, but this means that you’ll need a third person to take the photo!

43. This is a list of Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, so let that feature prominently on your baby’s outfit! Etsy often has custom designed baby outfits like these, and they do away with needing any extra props for your baby’s Christmas photo!

44. Can’t find a Christmas costume or don’t want to bother with one? No problem, your baby’s pretty Christmas dress will be perfect for her first Christmas photo! A pose like this is great if your baby’s dress has some special detailing on the back, like a huge bow.

45. When planning to take your baby’s Christmas photo in her special dress, don’t forget to get matching accessories too! Since the dress is going to grab most of the attention, keep the surroundings relatively clutter free, and try blurring the background.

46. Even if your baby is too tiny to sit or stand to show off her pretty dress, she can still pose while she’s sleeping! Place your dressed up princess on a plain blanket with a tree as the backdrop, add some lights and you’re ready!

Christmas Tree Baby Photo Ideas

47. If you celebrate Christmas, you’re more than likely to have a decked up tree at home, so make the most of it by including it in your baby’s photos! It also does away with the need to create an extra backdrop. The photo can be as simple as placing baby in the bouncer in front of the tree.

48. If your baby has started crawling, you’ll notice how she’s curious about everything around her – including this magnificent, big tree! Use this to your advantage, and click candid picks of the baby checking out this new addition to her home.

49. If the tree is too distracting for your baby and you can’t seem to get a good shot, place the baby with his back facing the tree, and hand him something to play with. You’ll still get the tree in the photo, this time as a backdrop.

50. Most of us also decorate the area under the tree, and if you’ve done the same, that’s a good spot to consider for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas. Let baby play with those decorations while you click her happy face!

51. Obviously, you’re going to have moments when your little one looks like he wants to pull everything off the tree. You don’t want him to pull the tree down, but do be ready to click pictures of his attempts – they’ll make for some fun memories!

52. If your baby has got a new rocking horse, chair or ride-on for Christmas, let him flaunt it in his Christmas photos! Put baby and his new gear at a safe distance in front of the tree, clear out any clutter from the frame and click!

53. The tree needn’t always be viewed straight up front – you can also look at it from underneath! This is a cute pose for older babies, but be warned that they’ll only look at the tree for a few seconds before they move on to attack mode, so you only have a small window to click your picture!

54. If your baby is still young and you’s like some unique pictures of him, try this pose with an iPad at his feet. The benefit of this pose is that you can display any message on the tablet, like something festive, or the date and year so the photo becomes a keepsake.

55. Even if you don’t display anything on the iPad, it can still be used as a photo prop! Simply place it in front of your baby, and he’ll be patting on it – and you can capture the look on his face!

56. We don’t advocate screen time for babies, but we’ll make an exception for a couple of minutes – only because we’re talking about Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas! Put up an festive wallpaper or something custom, like baby’s name, on the laptop screen and place it in front of baby. Put away the laptop as soon as your shot is done. You can add some friends on either side of the baby for company!

Christmas Baby Photo Ideas with Siblings

57. Yes, we know – taking a photo with just a baby is hard enough; now you want to include more kids? But trust us, these photos are going to be among the cutest ones you take – not to mention the most hilarious! Simply let baby and big brother lie on a bed. Make sure you have a tray of festive treats ready before hand, so you can click your picture while both are still in a good mood!

58. Sometimes, the best moments don’t need to be created – they just appear. Let your kids play by themselves under the tree or in a place where the backdrop is suitable, and watch for any moment when you can capture a memory.

59. The proud big brother or big sister photo is always adorable, and it’s easy to take when younger siblings are still newborns. You can use any of the tips in this list of Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, and once baby’s solo photo is taken, let big bro come and hug the baby for the cutest picture ever!

60. Siblings opening their gifts together is another lovely moment to photograph, although it usually ends in the older sibling opening everyone’s gifts for them!

61. You have to remember that when it comes to sibling photos, you are likely to have more instances where things don’t go the way you want, than otherwise. Yet, don’t let that stop you from clicking – these are memories too!

62. If you have twins, don’t feel pressured into dressing them up in identical outfits. Shake things up a bit with outfits that have a common theme, but are still different. We love the addition of the green fabric Christmas tree in this picture – completely unique!

63. If you have a pet, include them in the photos too! Chances are that your pet is now accustomed to having a new baby in the house, and doesn’t mind taking a picture with them.

Christmas Baby Photo Ideas with Mom

64. We often forget that the best way to capture baby is when she looks the happiest – when she’s with Mommy! Moms often stay away from being in pictures themselves, because they’re self conscious about the baby weight, or messy hair, or something else. Please remember that we’re talking about your Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas, and these are moments that will never come back. Go ahead and put yourself in your child’s most precious memories – never mind the messy hair!

65. The good thing about Mommy-Baby photos is that there really isn’t much posing required. The two of you just being with each other brings out the best in both of you, and that magic gets captured on camera.

 

66. If you are wondering about how to pose and are feeling awkward, here’s a simple one – just swing your baby in front of the Christmas tree and give her a big fat kiss! Do it again and again, till you get the click just right!

67. If you’ve been able to dress up and put on some makeup, you can figure out a nice backdrop in your home, probably where it’s the most decorated, and simply pose with your baby. Stick to neutrals for both of your outfits, so your bond is the only thing that stands out.

68. The best Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas are the unplanned ones! You can also ask your partner or a family member to just stay close by with the camera ready, and to click candid pictures of you and your baby, without asking you to pose. You’ll find that these make for some of the best pictures you ever take!

69. A cute photo idea is of baby helping Mommy decorate the tree – although the real story may be that baby is trying to pull something off the tree!

70. While everyone recommends taking baby pictures in the mornings, when everyone is fresh, sometimes you might find that the end of the day also gives great pictures. The lighting is beautiful, and everyone just wants to cuddle with each other – perfect!

71. If you have older kids, don’t let him or her feel left out. Have individual photos with all your children separately, and have one with everyone included. And yes, it helps if Mom has a quirky Christmas outfit!

Tips to consider for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas

1. Make sure she’s comfortable

Babies are notoriously fussy, so you have to time your photoshoot right. Choose a time when baby is fed, rested and changed. If you want a sleeping photo, try taking one right after a warm bath and feed, so baby will sleep soundly for longer. Newborns can be swaddled if they seem uncomfortable. For older babies, have water in a sippy cup on hand, along with teething biscuits or other snacks. If baby doesn’t seem willing at all, take a break and try later.

2. Get the lighting right

You want your baby photos to reflect how soft your baby’s skin is, and how bright her eyes are. Natural light is the best for baby photography, when it is facing the baby. If using artificial light, make sure it’s not harsh enough to strain your baby’s eyes. If photographing outside, find a spot in the shade, rather than in bright sunlight. Mornings and early evenings have the most magical lighting conditions.

3. Setup a clean backdrop

You’ll most probably be doing the shoot at home, so there’s bound to be random things that may come into the frame. Considering the lighting, choose a nice backdrop for your photos. A blank wall is always good, or you can hang a large sheet or blanket to create a fresh backdrop. The tree is also great, since it’s size is perfect to be a complete backdrop for a baby.

4. Choose a good angle

Avoid taking very wide angle shots – for babies, closer photos work better. You can blur the background and use the portrait setting to get a good photo of your baby. If baby is moving, click continuous photos – you can delete the ones you don’t want later. You can also have an older sibling or another family member on the side to entertain baby, making faces, singing songs and distracting her when required.

5. Go easy on the props

It can be tempting to buy all the Christmas props you see – they are, after all, so pretty! But don’t go overboard with them – instead, the less the better. Your photos should feature your baby as the star, and the props should be chosen accordingly. Rather than an assortment of random objects, maintain some sort of continuity in the props your choose, either of the same color, the same material etc.

6. Make use of technology

If you plan to make your baby photoshoots a regular thing, you may like to get a ring light to get better pictures. Most phones these days have a mode for bokeh photography, which creates that blurred background effect. If your phone doesn’t have the feature, you can download an app for it. You can also edit the photo after it has been taken, and there are numerous apps for it, like Adobe Lightroom.

At the end of the day, remember that these are just suggestions for Baby’s First Christmas Photo Ideas – you can just take a simple photo with baby in a Santa hat and be done with it. Yes, it’s a special occasion, but it should be a joyful one – not one where you’re stressing about every frame and prop! Consider your expectations accordingly – your baby is more likely to go against your plans than with them, so be prepared for multiple retakes!

Always keep safety as the first priority when choosing your backdrop, props and poses, since that is the most important aspect here. Once you have the perfect photo, you can consider turning it into a personalized Christmas card, or get it framed. You can also frame multiple photos create a custom photo wall. This way, you’ll always look back on your baby’s first Christmas with fond memories!