Your gallery of family pictures just arrived in your inbox, and you’ve been planning on using them for your Christmas card photos this year. You open your gallery, start scrolling, and realize that you love all the photos; how on earth are you ever going to pick just one?
There’s the photo where everyone is smiling at the camera, and the great one where your kids are laughing at each other. Plus that sweet candid shot you can’t stop looking at, even though nobody is actually looking at the camera.
Sound familiar?
Choosing your Christmas card photos can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you have a gallery full of images you love. The good news is that you don’t need to find the one photo where everyone looks absolutely perfect, you just need to choose photos that feel like your family.
Hi! I’m Christine, a San Diego family photographer and a mom myself, so I know how much these little moments mean. I love helping families capture their personalities, their connections, and all the fun that comes with being together. And when those photos end up on a Christmas card? Even better!
If you’re planning ahead for your next family photo session, I’d love to help you create images you’ll be excited to share.
What Makes Great Christmas Card Photos?
There is not one set answer to what makes a great Christmas card photo, because every family is beautifully different. You might think everyone needs to be looking directly at the camera with perfectly coordinated outfits and their biggest smiles.
Those photos are wonderful, but they’re not your only option.
Some of my favorite family photos are the ones where everyone is interacting naturally. Maybe your toddler is giggling because Dad said something silly. Your kids might be holding hands, or maybe everyone is snuggled together, completely unaware of the camera.
The best Christmas card photos are the ones that make you smile when you look at them.
When you’re scrolling through your gallery, look for a few things:
- Connection: Are you holding hands, hugging, laughing, or interacting with each other?
- Personality: Does the photo capture something you love about your family?
- Expressions: Do the smiles and reactions feel natural?
- Composition: Is there enough room around your family for the card design you have in mind?
- Overall feeling: Does the photo make you happy every time you see it?
Keep in mind that you don’t need every single one of these things in the same image. Sometimes a photo checks every technical box, but another one just makes you feel something. Don’t ignore that second photo!
Choose Christmas Card Photos That Feel Like Your Family
Your Christmas card should feel completely unique to your family, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Some families love getting dressed up, while others are more comfortable barefoot at the beach. When you’ve got little kids who can barely sit still for three seconds, those playful, in-between moments can make for some of the sweetest photos!
When you’re choosing Christmas card photos, think about the images that capture this particular season of your life. Your little one’s big, goofy grin, the way your kids make each other laugh, or those sweet moments when everyone’s snuggled up together.
Whatever your family looks like right now, that’s worth remembering. And those are the moments you’ll love sharing with friends and family!
There might be a beautiful photo where everyone is looking at each other instead of the camera, so don’t automatically skip it. I love personality-first family photography because it gives you images that feel natural and familiar. The little interactions are often what make a photo special. I share family photo inspiration, candid moments, and a peek at the kinds of memories I love capturing over on Instagram as well!
Your Christmas card should feel like you.
Classic family portraits also make a good option, and I love those photos as well. I just strongly believe that you should always land on a photo that you genuinely love, even if it’s different from what you originally pictured.
Consider Your Christmas Card Design Before Choosing a Photo
There’s so many different Christmas card designs available, so take a look and settle on one of those before you pick your favorite images.
It might seem like common sense to pick the photo first, but sometimes looking at the design and layout of the Christmas card can help you narrow down your choices. Different holiday card templates work better with different types of photos.
For example, a card with a large holiday greeting across the top might need a photo with some extra space above your family’s heads. A full-bleed design, where the image extends to the edges of the card, might look better with a photo that fills the frame.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Text placement: Will the holiday greeting cover anyone’s face?
- Background: Is the background simple enough for the design you’ve chosen?
- Colors: Do the colors in your photo work with the card’s text and other design elements?
- Layout: Does your photo fit naturally into the available space?
Remember, your Christmas card photos don’t have to include Christmas trees, Santa hats, or holiday decorations. A beautiful San Diego beach photo can make a wonderful Christmas card! I love the idea of sending a little California sunshine to friends and family who might be spending December bundled up in winter coats.
Planning a family photo session and wondering what everyone should wear? I’ve got you covered! Choosing outfits that look great together doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out my Family Photo Style Guide for tips on coordinating colors, choosing outfits that feel like YOU, and getting everyone ready for photos you’ll love!
One Photo or Multiple Photos: Which Should You Choose?
With so many different card templates available online, you might have a hard time narrowing down your favorites. You might want one big family photo, or a collage with several images!
There’s no wrong answer, it really just depends on what you want to share.
Choose a single-photo Christmas card if:
- There’s one family portrait you absolutely love.
- A clean, simple design is more your style.
- You’d rather let the photo be the main focus.
- The image captures everyone together and shows off your family’s personality.
A single-photo card can be a great choice when you’ve got that one image you keep coming back to.
Choose a multi-photo Christmas card if:
- Narrowing down your favorite images feels almost impossible.
- A mix of posed portraits and candid moments sounds perfect.
- There are individual photos of your kids you’d love to share.
- Showing off different expressions and interactions gives everyone a little moment to shine.
I especially love the idea of combining a family portrait with smaller candid photos. You could use one image where everyone is smiling at the camera, then add a few photos of your kids laughing, playing, or snuggling with you.
That way, your card gives friends and family a little glimpse of everyone’s personality. And if you’re struggling to choose between five different Christmas card photos, a collage might solve your problem!
Pay Attention to Cropping, Orientation, and Image Quality
Okay, let’s talk about something a little less exciting, but actually quite important when you’re ordering Christmas cards: cropping.
Have you ever uploaded a photo into a card template and suddenly realized someone’s head was getting cut off? Not exactly the look you were going for!
Before ordering, make sure your Christmas card photos fit the card layout you’ve selected.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Photos
A horizontal photo is often a natural fit for a landscape Christmas card, while a vertical image can work beautifully with a portrait-oriented design. Even if your photo has a different orientation than the template, you may still be able to make it work!
Some designs offer flexible layouts, and you may be able to choose another card format that works better.
Leave Room Around the Edges
When a card is printed, a small amount of the design may be trimmed. That’s why I recommend checking that faces, hands, and other important details aren’t too close to the edges.
Pay special attention to the printer’s preview and any trim or safe-area guides.
Use High-Resolution Images
For the best printed results, use the high-resolution image files from your gallery rather than screenshots or images saved from social media. Always review the final card preview before placing your order!
A few extra minutes checking the layout can help you avoid an unpleasant surprise when your cards arrive.
Don’t Stress About Finding the “Perfect” Family Photo
I often find that social media has warped our vision of what a “perfect” family photo looks like. Your family doesn’t need matching outfits, Santa hats, and perfect smiles. Everyone doesn’t need to stand in exactly the right spot, and you definitely don’t need to spend hours comparing every tiny difference between two almost-identical photos.
I know it’s tempting. You’ve got all these beautiful images, and you want to choose the best one. But think about why you’re sending Christmas cards in the first place.
You’re sharing a little piece of your family’s life with the people you love.
Maybe grandparents will put your card on their refrigerator, or a friend will hang it alongside all the other cards that arrive in December. They’re just going to be excited to see your family!
So when you’re choosing Christmas card photos, try this:
- Go through your gallery and mark the images that immediately make you smile.
- Narrow your favorites down to three or four.
- Try those images in your favorite card designs.
- Choose the combination that feels right.
- Order your cards and cross one more thing off your holiday to-do list!
You picked those photos for a reason; trust yourself! You don’t need to spend the next two weeks second-guessing yourself.
Turn Your Favorite Christmas Card Photos Into Something You’ll Keep
Once you’ve chosen your photos, it’s time for the fun part, turning them into actual Christmas cards!
If you’ve booked a photography session with me, you can order holiday cards directly through your client gallery store. It’s a convenient way to use the images from your session without having to start from scratch somewhere else.
I also have a partnership with Basic Invite, where you can explore Christmas card designs and create cards using your favorite family photos. Plus, you can use my code ChristineDammann at checkout for a discount on your order!
Before you send everything off, make sure to save an extra card for yourself. Add it to a holiday memory box, tuck it into a family album, or keep one from each year.
Imagine looking back ten years from now and seeing how much your kids have grown. The missing teeth, the changing hairstyles, the way your youngest used to insist on being held in every single photo.
Those are the things you’ll love remembering.
There are so many ways to use your Christmas card images, and I love the idea of having family photos around the house where you can see them every day! If you’re looking for a little inspiration, check out my favorite creative ways to display family photos and give those memories a spot in your home.
Ready for Christmas Card Photos You’ll Love?
The holidays can be a crazy busy time, and choosing your Christmas card photos should be one of the fun tasks. Pick the images that make you smile, choose a design that works with your favorites, and don’t worry about making everything look perfect.
Whether you love a classic family portrait, a candid photo full of laughter, or a Christmas card collage with several favorite moments, choose something that feels like your family.
If you’re thinking about updating your family photos before the next holiday season, I’d love to help! As a San Diego family photographer, I want your session to feel relaxed and enjoyable, with plenty of opportunities for your family’s real personalities to come through.
Helpful Resources for Your Christmas Cards
- Basic Invite: Explore holiday card designs and check whether code ChristineDammann is available at checkout.
- My Family Photo Style Guide: Get ideas for coordinating outfits before your family session.
- My Family Photography Gallery: Browse examples of natural, personality-filled family photos.
- Looking at updating your family photos before ordering Christmas cards? Read here for my favorite beaches to capture family photos at.
