Creative and Clever Holiday Card Photo Ideas

It's almost time to send out holiday cards - and if you're like many people, you've already booked a mini-session with your favorite photographer for traditional photos. If you're feeling a bit creative, though, you don't have to stick to traditional family-style portraits. There are plenty of great ways you can showcase your family (whether there are two of you or 22 of you) when you think outside the wrapped gift box.

Creative and Clever Holiday Card Photo Ideas

Ugly sweaters are one way to add character to your holiday card photos, but check out these ideas for couples, families, pets and babies.

Holiday Card Photo Ideas for Couples

When you're heading into the holidays as a pair, think about:

• Wrapping yourselves in holiday lights for a few romantic shots
• Sharing a scarf and holding hands
• Holding a chalkboard with a holiday sentiment scrawled across it
• Having a snowball fight
• Holding mistletoe over each other's heads

Holiday Card Photo Ideas for Families of Three

Your trio can have the most talked-about cards of the season if you:

• Pose your little one between you so you can squish those adorable cheeks with kisses
• Make your child the star by putting your little one in an open, wrapped holiday box
• Catching a shot of your child eating all Santa's cookies
• Having your child ride a tricycle (or in a kids' car toy) with a small tree attached
• Add humor by staging a hold-up where your child is wrapping both of you in holiday lights

Related: How to make your own Christmas decorations

Holiday Card Photo Ideas for Families With More Than One Child

Whether you're rocking a family of four or your house is filled with the pitter-patter of lots of little feet, consider:

• Catching kids in the act of decorating the tree, baking cookies or otherwise prepping for the big day
• Including a photo where older children are reading holiday stories to younger children
• Show off holiday socks on the whole family
• Dress your little ones in holiday-themed outfits and play in the snow (even if it's fake snow)
• Capture candid moments and create a collage

Related: DIY Christmas gifts for everyone

Holiday Card Photo Ideas for Families With Pets

Staging a disaster in which everyone has a role (like the tree is tipping over and Dad's catching it, Mom is looking on in horror as one child is wrapping another in lights, the dog is eating out of an open gift box - you get the idea)

• Put pets and kids on the floor together and see what unfolds
• Get matching holiday sweaters for yourself and your pets
• Dress a child as Santa and get a reindeer-antler headband for your four-legged family member

Have You Come Up With Your Own Creative Holiday Card Ideas?

We'd love to see what kinds of holiday cards you've created in the past, whether they're traditional or out of the ordinary. Share a link in the comments below or tag us on Instagram (we're @Mixbook) so you can inspire others!