2025 Christmas Setup Ideas: DIY Tutorial for Baby Hot Coco Photoshoot

Christmas is just around the corner! Have you thought about your holiday photo setup?

We know how hard it can be to make any photo set as stunning as the holiday setups uploaded online. But if you want to have a personal, whimsical, one of a kind bespoke design, or themed especially for baby photos, then this is perfect for you.

The most delightful trend of the season? The hot cocoa milk bath. Super easy to do yourself, it’s festive and cute. It will serve as a perfect reminder of the season’s delightful charm.

Why Choose a Hot Cocoa Setup for Baby Photography?

Few things seem more magical than a tiny child floating in a giant mug of "hot cocoa," surrounded by marshmallows, candy canes, and a festive atmosphere. That's why this cozy arrangement has taken social media by storm - it's festive, surprising, and almost too cute to touch.

What makes it even better? It's a hit with little ones. Little ones love the warm water, and parents delight in the end result: sweet, fairytale portraits that capture the essence of Christmas in a single frame.

Add a rustic Christmas tree backdrop with warm tones and wood textures, and suddenly you're not just taking photos, but telling a touching holiday story.

Ready to create your own version of this viral hit? Let's dive in.

👶 Bring this cocoa moment to life in your own setup ➜

What You Need for the DIY Hot Cocoa Bath Setup

To set up your hot cocoa scene, you do not need a fancy studio space or excessive props. Most of the materials should be easy to find at a local store or around the home:

Tip: Having a photo background with rustic wooden textures, and a cocoa stand holiday motif can make your setup feel dimensional. We have seen beautiful versions of this style with warm ambient tones and snow flake lighting in the background.

Christmas Hot Cocoa Setup Tutorial

And voila! We will now achieve your magical festive vision with an utterly adorable and an incredibly doable hot cocoa bath step by step. First gather everything you will need and set the scene. After that all that’s left is let the magic happen!

Step One: DIY A Big Mug

1. Start with a big plastic planting pot, about 16–20 inches in diameter. Most garden centers or supermarkets have them.
2. Opt for a hue that complements your festive palette or opt for plain white that you can fully customize. Just don’t poke a drainage hole at the bottom!
3. Clean the pot quickly and apply one of those rich reds--browns or soft holiday neutrals-whatever makes your cocoa dream come to life.
4. Add some faux handle DIY decals or lettering that reads “Hot Cocoa” for that added charm upgrade.

Step Two: Create Hot Cocoa Bath

Here’s where the magic happens: turning your pot of warm water into a mug of milk bath for a perfect little newborn photo shoot.

1. Fill the pot with warm water, as much as will create a suitable depth for the photo you have in mind.
2. Add in powdered milk to create the white, opaque look of the milk bath. Do this incrementally until you achieve the ideal dilution.
3. Add in drinking chocolate or brown food coloring for the yummy cocoa shade. Always make certain to check all ingredients for possible allergens and always verify with parents.
4. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes so the coloring and texture can be smoothed out.
5. Include marshmallows, mini candy canes, or holiday sprinkles for something a little extra and little holiday fun.

🍫 The coziest setup is just one click away ➜

Step Three: Fill Your Mug With “Hot Cocoa”

Your cocoa bath has to be ready, and your model has to be happy; that’s when you can start shooting!

All you need are a couple of thoughtful props and a well-themed background, and you’ll easily have scroll-stopping pictures that feel heartwarming to the touch.

☕ Create your own hot cocoa bath this season ➜

More Inspiration for Your Holiday Setups

Once you’ve wrapped shooting your hot cocoa, it presents a good idea to shoot other cozy setups to continue in the holiday spirit. With softly falling snow and sweet seasonal themes, there’s no end to the many creative scenes to be attempted when your background is helping narrate the story.

• Wanting to achieve that dream of capturing your first snow feeling, try out settings with subtle winter elements in cool tones and textures.

• If you’re planning a shoot around Valentine’s Day warm blush backdrops and soft, romantic tones are perfect for milestone sessions.

• Neutral styles with gentle textures will provide the perfect canvas to build on for year-round baby portraits.

Pro tip: Give your backdrop a quick steam before the shoot to smooth out wrinkles. Such a simple little thing will leave much finer final results. For more handy tips and imaginative suggestions, check out our guide to photography backdrop for really squeezing every setup.