DIY Tips for Making an Easy Christmas Scene for Photos

I don’t know about you, but the Holidays get pretty Pinterest-y around here. Because of that, I have learned a thing or two about DIY-ing some photo scenes.

Want to do a fun Christmas shoot for the Holidays but don’t have a big budget?

This scene is perfect for holiday images and family Christmas cards! Here are some easy ways to create this really classic look without breaking the bank! 

 
DIY Tips for Making an Easy Christmas Scene for Photos | Tana Metcalf Photo
 

4 STEPS TO CREATE AN EASY CHRISTMAS SCENE FOR PHOTOS: Tips from a Utah Photographer

 

ONE | LOOK FOR A WELL-LIT WHITE BACKDROP

This could be a wall in your home, using your garage, or even just buying some white material to hang as the backdrop. 

I personally use my Shipping Container studio designed by Alternative Living Spaces. It’s got large windows and white shiplap walls, making it a clean slate for any shoot! 

 

TWO | GET OUT THE WRAPPING PAPER

I collected boxes from shipments I had received a couple of months prior to this holiday shoot. These will be used to make the presents for your scene!

If you don’t have a hoarder’s box collection like me, you could buy some boxes from places like The Home Depot or the UPS store. 

The thing I did spend money on for this shoot was gift wrapping paper. I bought plain white wrapping paper, a tan wrapping paper, and another tan wrapping paper with little snowflakes on it for texture. I personally like the simple color palette because no matter what your families wear to the shoot the colors won’t clash.

 

THREE | RECRUIT THE ELVES

No matter how hard I try I can never wrap my boxes as neatly or as tidily as my mom. So, if you’ve got some help for this project, use it! 

 

FOUR | GET CREATIVE WITH IT

Here’s where you get creative and fill in any holes in your scene with the random collection of Holiday items you already own. I grabbed a couple of white chairs from my home, that way I could have the option of having families sit, stand, or plop on the floor with the presents.

 Then I grabbed ornaments from my Christmas tree and a couple of winter floral items I had collected over the years from Michael’s and Hobby Lobby.

Voila!

Just by using items I already had a home I was able to create a more full-looking Christmas Scene.

 
 

This Christmas Scene is great for a minimal, clean, hygge Christmas look and worked really well with lots of different holiday outfits and colors! 

Not to mention you can use it as a way to give back during the holiday season by donating $10 of every shoot to your local food bank. This year I tried this idea out with the Utah Food Bank and was so happy to see how many families donate canned items AS WELL AS the $10 from their mini-session. You would be surprised how much food from just $10 out of your session fee can produce!! 

This felt really special and I will definitely be making this a holiday tradition every year! 

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS?

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