Christmas Pictures of Baby

If your loved one has a brand new baby this Christmas, it’ll probably be one of the most memorable—and tiring!—yuletide holidays he or she will ever remember. For a truly memorable gift for both baby and parents, you could give the family a set of baby Christmas photos this year.

You don’t have to pay for a sitting, but if you do, make sure that the baby is safe. Bring some sanitize wipes to wipe down anything used in the photo shoot—or, better yet, bring your own from home. Get the package you can afford; you don’t have to get enough for the entire family. Most parents would be thrilled with a single eight by ten and a few wallets to show off.

If you’re confident in your own photo-taking skills, set up a date to take Baby’s photo well before Christmas. Bring over some pretty Christmas decorations—such as a few safe, hookless ornaments, a teddy bear, some boxes wrapped as presents, or a Christmas quilt or tree skirt to sit on. See if Baby’s parents have a preferred Christmas outfit they’d like Baby to wear. If not, a picture in a diaper with a simple Santa hat is always adorable.

Prop the decorative quilt or other background against some couch cushions, a boppy cushion, or other secure area. If the baby is a little older and able to sit, you might want to let him or her sit in a wagon, on a sled, or another decorative seat. If the baby is a newborn, you might want the photos to be on the parent’s bed, or even the crib, while he lays asleep. Remember to take any of the decorations you use away immediately after you take the photo and to not leave Baby alone with them during your entire photo shoot.

Once you’ve taken the pictures, you can get them developed into anything you want—from a calendar to a mug to snow globe to a t-shirt. In my experience, parents normally don’t care much for the t-shirt; simple is better. I would print out a few different sizes, and maybe a couple in black and white.

Finally, you can deliver the pictures by placing them in a plain envelope—or decorate it with Christmas stickers, stencils, or whatever you like. If you’d like to go one step extra, frame the largest photo in a nice frame that would coordinate with the family’s décor and wrap that up, too. It’s sure to be a Christmas gift that they will love forever.