Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, there is no denying there are festive traditions which are always fun to take part in, and regardless of your age, culture or religion, you can guarantee everyone would enjoy and have a good time. It’s an occasion to bring the family together and a wonderful time to cherish, especially when you have photos that preserve these cherished memories so they can be enjoyed again many years later.

Alternative Christmas family portraits in Cambridge

As a documentary family photographer, I understand the integral part of capturing fond memories for the whole family to create a beautiful legacy for generations to come. Over the years, I’ve photographed some wonderful festive family traditions for families who want more than the traditional posed family portraits to having meaningful memories to remember the holiday season.

Day-in-the-life photo sessions capturing candid photos of everyone enjoying the festivities are an alternative to the holiday mini photo sessions. There are no props and nothing is staged. Day-in-the-life photos capturing families going to get the Christmas tree, putting up decorations at home, making gingerbread cookies, doing puzzles and playing traditional board games, visiting winter wonderland or cooking a xmas meal together. You get beautifully meaningful photos preserving moments from your favourite family traditions to tell the intricate story of your family life during this time of year.

Here is a collection of holiday family photos from previous day-in-the-life photo sessions:

You can see more on these family photo stories on the blog at Christmas Day family photos in Cambridge, Tree Hunt and Decorating Storytelling session, Winter Wonderland Vacation Photo session in London and Day-in-the-life family reunion photoshoot for Christmas.

Holiday traditions in family photography

The beauty of traditions lies in their continuity and significance to the family, although it’s never too late to start a new tradition and capture the reasons behind it and how it came about. Day-in-the-life photo sessions are bespoke to each family, so we can capture traditions that are more personal and significant to your family, giving tangible memories you want to look back on.

I’ve created a list of some holiday family photo ideas you might like to consider:

1. Decorating the Tree: Document the process of decorating the Christmas tree. Whether it’s going to a tree farm to pick your perfect Christmas tree or making homemade ornaments, capturing these moments can be heartwarming.

2. Baking and Cooking: Photos of everyone cooking together and even doing the dishes after. Compile recipes of special Christmas dishes or treats that have been passed down through generations.

3. Gingerbread Houses: Build it and watch it collapse! At least, that’s what happens in our house! Capturing the smiles and laughs that inevitably ensues is the best part of attempting to build a gingerbread house. Or if that’s too much effort. Decorating Christmas biscuits are always good fun especially when someone licks the icing during the decoration.

4. Holiday Movie Nights: Get the family watching a Christmas movie or show that you all enjoy and get everyone snuggling on the sofa for a favourite tradition even teenagers would love!

5. Advent Calendar Activities: If your family uses an advent calendar with daily activities or small gifts leading up to Christmas, document these special moments and reactions to the surprises.

6. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Rituals: Whether it’s opening one present on Christmas Eve, attending a Christmas choral concert, or having a special breakfast, follow and capture the rituals or routines on this day.

7. Letters to Santa: It’s fun capturing young children writing letters to Santa. It’s a wonderful way to record their handwriting and the things they like right now, but also you can keep these letters to read through in the future.

Documentary family photographer Cambridge

This Christmas immerse in your favourite family traditions and gift you and your family a photo session to remember your holiday memories. You can book me to come along for a few hours where I will create tangible records of these special moments capturing your family together enjoying the festivities with you included in the photos too. Get in touch to book a session or buy a gift voucher at hello@dianahaguesphotography.co.uk.