NON Traditional Ideas for Christmas Pictures

A friend of mine had her two kids in the tub with Santa hats on. They had the bubbles on their chins like a beard. It was sooo cute and unique.

I like action shots where you see your child doing something instead of just posing. Maybe he could be helping you cook holiday cookies and you can get a picture of him stiring or covered in flour. Or if your luck enough to get snow maybe you take a picture of him making a snow castle. Or riding his bike or climbing a tree. He will have a natural smile for a natural picture with stories attached to them.

Well.. last year for Xmas we went and had professional pics done on location (on St. Simons Island) to give as gifts. The photographer made suggestions about what to wear (not a uniform exactly, but ideas about natural colors, etc). They came out great... Giant Oak trees, ocean, setting sun, just beautiful.

Since you are doing Xmas out of season....maybe do a "Xmas in July" kinda concept..... Put him in his swim trunks, use a blue background (or whatever is appropriate that they have) and set him up on a surfboard to hang 10... He'd LOVE it. And hey... he's almost too old to show his bare chest in decent photographs, this could be your last opportunity.....

I would stay with the action shots and documenting his emerging personality pictures! I think your idea of a surprise Christmas is super cool and having cookies, trees and other decorations will be all you need to get the holiday atmosphere you are going for. How fun!!
A.

one of my favorites of my daughter was taken at the picture people.. she was hiding behind the tree and peeked around it. it was a funny shot. ooohh oohhh ohhh bring a big cloth bag with wraped boxes in it and take a picture of him pulling one out with a shocked look on his face!

We do our own photos.
Not in a studio.
We take them ourselves... in various places that we like to go to/hang out at/play at.
This way, the photos are about "our" life and our kids'. Therefore, it is unique and special and a slice of our, life.

A friend of mine had her boys' pics taken recently and they both wore light denim jeans, no shirt and no shoes and a plain black background. They were fabulous!! I know it's not Christmas-y at all, but they turned out great.
What about taking a bix, huge wrapped box and your son could be in it as the present? How old is he?

I personally don't get "christmas" pics done that have any kind of xmas background. Especially if I'm going to blow it up and hang it in the house. Who wants to see a xmas pic all year long? Not me. Although I just started to do one on our xmas letter that goes out. I never did one before but last year at a party we all happened to have on red so I used that pic. I guess I don't really have any suggestions but hope you get some great ideas!!!

What if he showed his muscles?

or take the picture doing jumping jacks or otherwise jumping in the air?

or bring one of his toys/games and have him pose playing one of his board games or throwing his ball.

or if he's such a ham, ask him "What do you think would be fun? This is what we did last year, and this is what you did the year before...."

What about just taking a picture of you guys baking up a storm for her surprise Christmas?

I love Perry!!! That's awesome you are including him in the picture. I like the idea of current passions in the picture to show who he is. that's awesome!

I have nothing else to add! just awesome you're doing it! :)

i hope that Candice sees this - she is a photographer and she might be able to help you!!!

I know she's here in VA - but I've seen her work - GREAT!!!and she might be able to give you ideas!!!

I have always done unique pics for Christmas cards.
Went to the Disney store and had kids sit in the big pile of Disney Stuffed animals, Pic from Universal Studios when we went on vacation there, I usedto go to the mall when they decorated for Christmas and find a pretty spot, one year they had they Scoobie Doo crowd there and took a pic with Scoobie Doo, and my favorite...we were in NY and Charmin has a building they lease with a ton of bathrooms - they had display there with a sled and a snow scene...we all sat on the sled. Nobody knew where we took this pic...too funny.

You could look online at "professional" photographer portfolios for holiday photo ideas, and use that at your studio...

Ideas:
~ I got a string of HUGE plastic covered Christmas lights... the bulbs were like 5-6 inches each, and the actual glass bulb inside was covered by a the plastic light shaped cover, so they didn't get hot, at least not quickly. We plugged them in, and had a black backdrop, with him in all black, playing with, wrapping himself in those lights... so cute. (If you can't find or use a light strand, maybe strands of garland, to play with/wrap up in?)
~All black clothes with just a Santa hat, maybe not a red one, maybe green? Or blue? My son has pale blue gray eyes, and he has a headshot like this with a light blue Santa hat on... nice photo.
~A white chef's hat and apron with a mixing bowl and spoon, with a dab of flour on his nose? Maybe with a Christmas decorated bowl, so it has the appearance of holiday baking? (Our photographer had some Christmas/winter decorated aprons, so these had the feel of Christmas baking...)
~Holding/licking a big candy cane, with red sweater with white turtleneck and jeans, maybe with a red and white Santa hat? Or standing backwards, back to the camera, holding candy canes behind his back, looking over his shoulder with a naughty grin on his face?
~Close up with a cute winter hat with matching gloves, chin on hands in some fashion?

Just some ideas...