23 Must-Have Photo Props for Your Christmas Cards and Family Photoshoot

There’s something special about taking holiday photos, the kids in matching pajamas, family sitting around the tree, or cozy moments by the fireplace.

Even the most loving and heartwarming scenes can feel incomplete without the right Christmas photo props to start creating your story.

Props can help your family feel more connected to the moment and add a burst of personality to each photo. They also guide natural poses, spark emotion, and help elevate your holiday pictures to look more professional, even if you’re shooting in a small corner of your home.

So whether you are shooting at home or in a studio,  Kate’s Christmas-themed backdrops and props bundles will make it a snap to create your holiday setup.

Here is a list of must-have holiday photo props, as well as holiday photo shoot ideas, that’ll give your Christmas photography effortless inspiration.  From simple accents to statement pieces, each prop helps you capture moments your clients or family will treasure.

1. Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree is an iconic photo prop for Christmas photos, as it immediately adds warmth, color, and a well-known holiday narrative to your photographs. It can elevate everything throughout the holidays, from Christmas family portraits to cozy indoor posed scenes.

🎄 Add instant holiday warmth with this cozy Christmas backdrop ➜

To add some candid fun, consider putting the tree a bit to one side and let the kids, or the family, add ornaments, creating some true expressions. If you need a little sparkle, the Sequined Christmas Tree Prop Set will quickly add depth to your pictures, and is very compact.

A tree would be the perfect fit for rustic scenes, like the Christmas Barn Backdrop, or with a homier feel, with the White Brick Fireplace Backdrop, creating an entire Christmas photography scene.

🎁 Bring a cozy Christmas cabin vibe to your family portraits ➜

2. Christmas Fake Snow

Fake snow is a simple way to add some added magic and motion to your holiday photo props, whether you are shooting indoors (or perhaps indoors with an outdoor feel). It adds brightness to the scene and works beautifully with many Christmas photos, achieving a natural or whimsical feel. Scatter it around your boots or gift boxes or anchor it underneath the tree.

Try the Decorative Christmas Cotton for a fluffy snow-like look that photographs very nicely, and hang it against the Christmas Night Red Barn Door Backdrop for the illusion of a snowy farm setting, a great background for indoor family Christmas photoshoots with a wintery feel.

🎄 Instantly elevate your setup with cozy winter vibes ➜

3. Glitter Ball

Glitter ball add instant shine and instantly make your photos feel polished and festive without being overwhelming. The ornaments are designed to catch light just the right way so that they add dimension to your background and sparkle to your professional Christmas pictures.

Hold in hands, hang them behind your subject, or scatter on the floor for a dreamy bokeh effect. Try the Silver Glitter Christmas Ornament Set. We love pairing it with the Christmas Fireplace Santa House Backdrop to create a glowing warm holiday scene that feels inviting and ready to photograph!

✨ Add instant sparkle to your Christmas setup ➜

4. Christmas Gift Box

Gift boxes are versatile props that help guide posing and instantly create a cheerful story in your Christmas photos. Kids can hold, sit beside, or stack for fun layered looks. Mix and match sizes, try warm lights for added coziness in your props for photoshoot.

Try the Illuminated Iron Gift Box Set is perfect for your next indoor or outdoor Christmas family photoshoot. Pair with the Christmas Gift Boxes Backdrop for a sensational colorful scene to capture holiday fun!

🎁 Brighten your holiday setup with a bold, gift-themed backdrop ➜

5. Oversized Christmas Ornaments

Oversized Christmas ornaments are fun, festive Christmas photography props sure to bring big character to your session. We love these for families with little ones!

They’ll encourage smiles and playfulness naturally, as your subjects can sit around their feet or lean against a giant ornament, or they can be used individually, in a bold statement way for your Christmas photo prop ideas.

Pair them with the Christmas Tree Retro Disco Silver Ball Backdrop for a fun and intuitive feel (without losing that festive nostalgic ‘Christmas’ vibe!)

❤️ Create a bright, festive scene that pops on camera ➜

6. Santa Sleigh Photo Prop

A sleigh is one of those Christmas props for photoshoot that instantly takes your shoot from pretty to story-telling. A prop that families can sit, lean, or gather around helps poses flow naturally.

The Kate Decorative Sled Prop is lightweight and beautiful in a humble, rustic way. Pair it for shoots outdoors with the Christmas Night Pine Trees Farm Backdrop for a beautiful, snow-covered Christmas family photoshoot scene (even if you have to shoot in the studio, or at home!)

✨ Bring that warm, festive holiday mood to every shot ➜

7. Snowman Prop

Who doesn’t love a little snowman (even if snow isn’t a thing where you live)? A snowman prop adds charm, playfulness and a dash of childhood wonder to your holiday photo booth props or full family sessions.

It’s great for kids, who will love having something interactive. Place beside your subject or let children build or hug it to capture genuine expressions.

Perfectly styled beside the Christmas Pines Tree Farm Path Backdrop, this combination makes for a wintery outdoor Christmas family photo shoot look that is joyful, bright and a cinch to style with our other Christmas props for photography.

⛄ Add playful winter charm to your Christmas setup ➜

8. Christmas Gift Bag

One of the easiest Christmas photo props to work with, a Christmas gift bag brings an instant element of curiosity and childlike joy into a frame. Kids will have something to hold, peek into or pretend that they’re delivering, which leads to natural expressions in your Christmas family portrait.

You can leave it beside the tree or let toddlers sit next to it for the cutest candid shots. Pair your setup with the cozy Santa’s Workshop Christmas Backdrop which complements its mood perfectly and makes your props for Christmas photos look all the more magical in.

🎅 Add instant Christmas wonder to your photos ➜

9. Santa Costume

A Santa costume adds instant personality to your Christmas props for photoshoot, especially if you’re photographing little ones or dads who love dressing up. Sleds + holiday reindeer and it’s hard for sessions not to turn into storytime.

You can have them stand, kneel, or have subject hold a sack of gifts for easy posing. Give clients a full, workshop-style scene by pairing Santa costumes with the fun Santa’s Workshop Light Christmas Backdrop for a polished, festive feel for professional Christmas pictures. Totally compatible with Santa-inspired holiday photo props.

📸 Create warm, story-book style portraits with this backdrop ➜

10. Hot Cocoa Cups

Hot cocoa cups are super sweet props for your indoor family Christmas photoshoot and help create that “holiday-at-home” vibe clients love. They work perfectly for candids moments,  kids pretending to sip, couple holding matching mugs, families toasting together, y’all get the picture.

Try pairing red matching mugs + soft neutral blankets, the color combo beautifully balance each other. Finish the look with our Christmas Hot Cocoa Candle Backdrop to elevate your Christmas photography props into something intentional, comforting and heaped with hygge energy!

☕ Turn your setup into the coziest holiday moment ➜

11. Santa's Mailbox

A Santa mailbox is one of the sweetest props for Christmas photoshoots. Little kids especially love “sending letters to Santa”, so using the mailbox for posing is a natural fit—they can drop in letters and you can capture them standing next to or kneeling down for a picture.

The Kate Wooden Red Christmas Mailbox adds a rustic pop of pretty color that will fit wonderfully with almost any holiday theme. Pair it with the Christmas Gift Trees Backdrop for cheerful merry-making filled with parcels, storybook sets that make indoor and outdoor family Christmas photoshoots bright and festive.

📮 Add a sweet "letters to Santa" moment to your setup ➜

12. Red Sled (Snow Sled / Toddler Sled)

An adorable red sled adds instant movement, nostalgia and charming winter mood to your Christmas props for photography. Red sleds are perfect for toddlers because they literally give the little ones a seat, allowing your natural smiles to shine through with little direction.

Layer a blanket on top and you’re golden. The Christmas Tree Wreath Snow Winter Backdrop is lovely paired with this snow sled, resulting in an idyllic snow-dusted atmosphere that makes your holiday photo booth props look as beautiful as a real snowy day (even when you’re shooting in the corner of your tiny home!).

✨ Pair with a winter backdrop to turn any corner into a festive wonderland ➜

13. Gingerbread Man

A gingerbread man prop immediately adds sweetness and a sense of fun to your Christmas photo prop ideas, especially for children who enjoy holding something fun and whimsical! Plus, its warm brown tones help to balance the brighter reds and greens in your scene.

You can set it on the ground beside your subject, use it as a hand-held prop or combined with candy props. In combination with the Christmas Candy Cane Arch Backdrop, the photo prop really helps to pull your entire scene into a fun candy inspired landscape to help capture those expressive fun loving Christmas family pictures.

🍪 Bring a sweet, storybook touch to your Christmas setup ➜

14. North Pole Sign

Everyone will know your photoshoot is a merry tale in the making when you include a North Pole sign, instantly transforming your photoshoot into a storytelling adventure and making this one of the most versatile Christmas photobooth props.

Set the scene for a whimsical approach or classic holiday, use for standing poses or family group shots. Make the kids sign aware of the sign off of center, “let’s follow” leads to whimsical susceptibilities. Combines with our Winter Christmas Trees North Pole Backdrop or the Christmas Gift & Snow Tree Backdrop for a fully coordinated look sure to bring the best out in all your props for photoshoot ideas.

🎅 Add instant “North Pole magic” to your holiday photos ➜

15. Newborn Sled

A newborn sled is one of those must-have baby session props for photographers because it gives you a safe, structured pose while still feeling cute and festive. You can layer it with soft blankets, mini wreaths, or tiny ornaments to keep the focus right where it belongs.

This precious little prop works beautiful paired up with soft, snowy Christmas photography props and would work with any winter scene backdrops.

❄️ Create the sweetest winter moment for photo sessions ➜

16. Joy Christmas Sign

A Joy sign is one of those great, simple Christmas props for pictures that gives your setup a boost and brings a warm, happy message into the frame. It gives focus and helps anchor your scene, and it’s especially nice for Christmas family portraits when you want a visual holiday theme in the shot without crowding.

You can tuck it on the floor beside your subjects, or set it a little behind their feet for depth. This one pairs perfectly with the Christmas Joy Sign Brown Brick Fireplace Backdrop so you can create a cozy fireplace scene that works perfectly with all your props for Christmas photos.

🎄 Brings focus to your scene without overwhelming the frame ➜

17. Christmas Deer Lights

Antler lights give your Christmas props for photography a soft shine with contemporary charm, meaning they’re wonderful for both lifestyle and professional Christmas pictures alike. The warm light gives these props dimension and depth, especially in darker settings when you want to create a moody look.

Drop the Kate Deer Neon Light Prop beside the tree or behind the kids, or put the prop beside the seated families for a soft magical light halo effect behind them. Used with the Christmas Fireplace and Tree Backdrop, the lights will blend into the scene naturally and will instantly create a cozy indoor vibe for an indoor family Christmas Photoshoot.

🦌 Creates dreamy depth and warmth in portraits ➜

18. Christmas Candy Cane

A fun eye-popping addition to your holiday photo props, candy canes are irresistibly sweet and fun for nose to have in your hands and brighten your outfit of Christmas photoshoot props. Try candy canes as hand-held props for kids, or place them a little off the ground near a boot, a sled, or a gift box for a sweet Christmas photo prop that’s whimsical.

Try placing candy canes with neutral outfits so that the bright candy stripes pop from your Christmas photoshoot props, and with a Christmas Red and White Glitter Backdrop the look is sweet as candy.

✨ Makes colors pop and adds playful holiday charm ➜

19. Reindeer Antlers Headband

What could be cuter and more delightful than your family wearing antlers for your Christmas photos? Reindeer antlers instantly add some personality and humor to your Christmas photo prop ideas, especially for little ones or those families who want a cheeky look. Antlers lighten the mood and make posing easy since everyone will smile even more broadly with them on.

Mix and match the antlers with sweaters, pajamas, or simple neutrals to let expression shine, and they also pair perfectly with our Christmas Fireplace Tree Backdrop, which gives your scene that timeless holiday feel you want to complement all your props for some special moments for a photoshoot.

🦌 Adds personality and fun to any Christmas portrait ➜

20. Elf Costume

Looking for a lively, story-driven theme that works for holiday photos of kids and adults? An elf costume turns your subject into a character in the holiday narrative and plays nicely with all other Christmas props for photoshoots including gift bags, tools, Santa’s workshop elements and more.

Think of having your subject helping Santa, shooting from the floor, sitting down, wrapping pretend presents, or peeking from behind a tree. This all goes together nicely with the boldly playful tones of our Dear Santa Word Black Abstract Backdrop, giving some studio-ready cheer to Christmas Family portraits or some fun holiday cards.

✨ Instantly transforms your shoot into a fun holiday story ➜

21. Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings instantly bring a cozy touch of tradition to your Christmas photography props, so they work beautifully as accents for some simple portraits or full-on themed setups. Hang them behind your subjects, or place them near toddlers, or hold them in hand for a darling family pose!

They are also super cute mixed with matching pajamas for an adorable homey touch. Paired with the Christmas Tree Fireplace Decor Backdrop, you have a beautifully coordinated indoor family Christmas photoshoot that feels warm and nostalgic.

🧦 Adds instant cozy, classic Christmas charm ➜

22. Santa Hat

Of course a Santa hat is a classic! An easy way to add some instant color and character, a joyful holiday vibe, and brighten the whole session, it’s one of the easiest holiday photo booth props to use for all ages, lightening the mood with just a tilt or perched on shoulder, or letting kids wear one that’s way too big for a cute casual look to show off. Pair them with the Brick Wall Door Xmas Trees Backdrop for a simple, cheerful background for your Christmas props for photography.

📸 Brightens the whole scene and keeps the mood fun and relaxed ➜

23. Christmas Dress

A Christmas dress will give your Christmas photo props that extra dose of elegance and color, especially for kids’ portraits or mom and daughter photoshoots. Kate Basic Red Satin Children’s Dress photographs like a dream and brings out natural movement in twirls, walking, or holding hands.

Pair it with neutral accessories or soft hues of greenery to complement the reds. Styled with the Christmas Garland Snow Backdrop, together they bring a magical appeal and an air of polish, perfect for indoor or outdoor Christmas family photoshoot themes!

🎄 Pairs beautifully with classic holiday backdrops for a storybook feel ➜

Best Christmas-Themed Photo Bundles for Ready Styled Holiday Scenes

With so many fun Christmas photo props to consider, you might want to add a healthy dose of personality to your holiday sessions with each piece. But if you want a holiday setup that is cohesive in seconds and saves you time, Kate's Christmas-themed bundles are the absolute perfect ready-to-shoot solution!

Each one pairs a beautiful backdrop with matching special props, giving you an entire styled scene that works for home studios and pro setups.

These curated photo bundles make it so easy to skip the guesswork, so you can spend less time planning and more time capturing warm genuine moments.

Kate Christmas Outdoor Snow Scene Photo Kit

Transform your kids (or even you!) into a Christmas card-ready family against the joyfully snowy outdoor backdrop within, without having to step outside. (Or risk snow, or cold, or weather in general!)

Coupled with coordinating rustic props, you’ll create a charming scene out of a storybook to make those you love leave with twinkly eyes. Perfect for holiday card sessions of kids and families when you want a sweet and dreamy, frost-kissed aesthetic.

Recreate the look in minutes, no waiting for snow removal!  Shop this Bundle.

💛 Make holiday photos feel magical with this all-in-one kit. ➜

Kate Christmas Eve Train Station Photo Kit

Charming storytelling vibes await you in this beautifully illustrated train station backdrop and complimentary props you get with this set. Bring a touch of holiday travel nostalgia to your session to inspire easy (and natural) poses and expressions.

Perfect for kids, siblings, or holiday movie themes for when you shoot lifestyle portraits and fun character-style photos! Elegant and cinematic, it’ll take you nowhere near the tracks to make it happen. Shop this Bundle.

Perfect if you want a timeless Christmas setup with no extra styling needed.

💼 Think vintage travel vibes, cozy lights, and instant holiday charm ➜

Kate Winter Christmas Tree Gifts Fireplace Photo Kit

If you want something that feels like the intimacy of gathering together with family, this bundle will create the look and feel of classic Christmas morning. You’ll get a fully decorated tree, gift wrap, and a glowing fireplace backdrop, all perfectly matched to each other.

You’ll use them for everything from Christmas family portraits to couples, kids, and even seasonal product photography. The colors are rich and traditional, so it’s one of the most versatile Christmas kits in our collection.

Shop this bundle to create a cozy classic holiday setup in minutes.

🎁 Build a classic Christmas-morning scene in just minutes ➜

Kate Christmas Fireplace Room Set Photo Kit

If you’re looking for something a little more glam, this bundle serves up Christmas dinner living room style in a cozy rich setting. The backdrop features a beautifully styled fireplace, and pack of matching props fills the frame with warmth and texture. Use for families in complementary outfits, newborn sessions, or indoor family Christmas where you want that polished magazine look. Scene photographs beautifully with natural and studio lighting both.

Perfect if you want an instant photo-ready indoor Christmas set!

🎄 Elevate your indoor Christmas setup with a rich, cozy fireplace scene ➜

Kate Christmas Hot Cocoa Photo Kit

This adorable bundle showcases that sweet spot of nostalgic and relaxed holiday traditions, capturing the feeling of “hot cocoa nights.”

With a warm cocoa stand or kitchen backdrop paired with playful, kid-friendly props, it makes it easy for little ones in PJs to interact naturally. This setup creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere that lifestyle creators and mom photographers love, especially with its soft textures and cheerful pops of red.

This kit is perfect for holiday photobooth props or for capturing casually sweet storytelling moments that bring out the warm, festive spirit of Christmas.

Shop this bundle now to create that comfy happy holiday feel fast!

🍬 Create a sweet, nostalgic Christmas setup in minutes. ➜

Bring Your Christmas Photos to Life

The right Christmas prop bundle makes your setup look pretty and adds personality! Fun accents add warmth and storytelling high notes that elevate a holiday photoshoot to finished and memorable keepsakes.

Textures and sweet touches plus bright pops of festivity help you get extra special holiday photos that your clients or family will treasure for many years to come! Let’s grab your special holiday charm today - take a browse through Kate’s Christmas backdrops and photo prop bundles for something you adore!

Perfect for anyone who’s searching for Christmas photography setup ideas and holiday photo prop inspiration.