10 Christmas Traditions to Start This Year (That You’ll Actually Keep)
TL;DR
Start simple, repeat yearly, and make it visible with photos so your traditions stick. Try: cut your own tree, December book basket, 12 Days of Service, gingerbread night, annual reflection letter, pajama portrait, travel ornaments, indoor “ice skating,” read the Christmas story, and choose gifts for neighbors in need. Print one favorite photo each year for a growing holiday wall—because memories deserve to Live Long In Portraits.
The best traditions aren’t perfect; they’re repeatable. They fit real life, work with nap schedules, and invite joy (not stress). Here are ten Studio-Q-approved traditions—each with how-to steps, photo prompts, and print ideas—so your December feels cozy, connected, and easy to remember next year.
1) Cut Your Own Christmas Tree (or Choose Together at a Local Lot)
How to do it
Pick a nearby farm or tree lot; aim for golden hour if you want photos (roughly 3–4 pm in December around Vancouver, WA).
Dress in layers + boots; bring twine, a blanket, snacks, and a thermos.
Give kids a job: “Height checker,” “Tag holder,” or “Saw helper” (hands on the handle with an adult only).
Photo prompt
“Everyone’s hands on the trunk” carry pose; “measuring” shot with an arm up; twirl the blanket for a candid.
Print idea
Start a Tree Day series: one 8×10 each year in a hallway triptych that grows over time. Float frames look amazing with evergreen tones.
2) December Book Basket (One Story a Night)
How to do it
Gather 24 winter/Christmas books (thrifted or library). Wrap or tie with ribbon. Read one each night.
Mix classics with local-author finds; add a family storybook you make from your own photos (I can design a simple 8×8).
Photo prompt
Pajamas + twinkle lights + couch cuddle. Photograph hands turning pages and lash-down concentration for soft, storytelling images.
Print idea
Create a “Reading by the Tree” mini series—three 5×7 prints in one frame. The glow becomes part of your décor.
3) 12 Days of Christmas Service (Small and Local)
How to do it
Choose 12 tiny acts: hot cocoa for delivery drivers, notes for teachers, litter pickup at a park, snack basket for a community fridge, library book donation, pet shelter supplies.
Keep it kid-scale and calendar it (Dec 13–24 is easy to remember).
Photo prompt
Snap the hands giving the note or placing the cocoa; keep recipients’ privacy unless you’ve asked.
Print idea
One story panel each year with four squares: the list, two service moments, and a family selfie. Hang near the door as a reminder.
4) Gingerbread Night (Zero Stress Edition)
How to do it
Buy kits or make “houses” with graham crackers + canned frosting + cartons (milk/juice boxes) as frames.
Cover the table in kraft paper; pour candy into muffin tins.
Timer challenge: 20 minutes to build, 10 minutes to decorate, 2 minutes for photos before nibbling.
Photo prompt
Frosty fingers, tongue-out concentration, side-by-side houses. Get one overhead shot for the album.
Print idea
A metal print for the kitchen—wipeable when powdered sugar flies.
5) The Ornament Letter (Your Year in 200 Words)
How to do it
On card stock, write a short note: top 3 moments, one challenge, one hope for next year. Roll it; tuck into a clear ornament.
Label with the year and initials.
Photo prompt
Hands holding the letter; one close-up of the ornament on the tree with bokeh lights.
Print idea
Start a shadow box with the letter, a mini photo, and a tiny tag; line them in a bookshelf like time capsules.
6) Pajama Portrait Tradition (The Easiest “Picture Every Year”)
How to do it
New jammies or favorite cozies—no need to match.
Choose one spot you’ll use every year (sofa corner, kids’ bed, front porch).
Keep it quick: one silly face, one squeeze, one “look at Mom/Dad,” done in 5 minutes.
Photo prompt
Feet together under the blanket; top-down snuggle from a chair; “on the count of three, say cocoa!”
Print idea
An ornament frame for each child + a folio box that holds a matted 5×7 from each year. Watching kids grow never gets old.
7) Travel Memory Ornaments (Stories on the Tree)
How to do it
When you travel, grab one small ornament (or make one from a shell, ticket stub, or keychain).
Add a thin tag with the date and place.
Photo prompt
“Hanging the memory” each year; close-ups of the tag handwriting.
Print idea
A flat lay of this year’s ornaments, printed with deckled edges. It’s gorgeous in a narrow hallway frame.
8) Indoor “Ice Skating” (Wax Paper + Music)
How to do it
Slip wax paper under socks; play classical or holiday jazz; “skate” on carpet or rugs only.
Rules: no running, arms out for balance, take turns.
Photo prompt
Slow-shutter blur (if you’re comfy) or burst mode for mid-spin giggles. Capture hands in motion and hair swoops.
Print idea
A playful black-and-white print—movement reads beautifully in monochrome.
9) Read the Christmas Story (Quiet Together)
How to do it
Choose your family’s tradition—Scripture, a children’s version, or a cultural story that matters to you.
Dim the lights, light a candle, and read slowly.
Photo prompt
Side-lighted faces by candle or tree; a detail of fingers on the page. Keep this unposed and reverent.
Print idea
A small fine-art matte print with a white border; frame near your book basket.
10) Gifts for Neighbors in Need (Kids Lead)
How to do it
Let kids choose: a giving tree tag, sock drive, food bank list, or a specific neighbor who could use some cheer.
Give kids the budget and the list—they do the picking and packing.
Photo prompt
The packing line: hands, boxes, ribbon. If delivering, photograph your kids’ backs walking up to a door (privacy safe and tender).
Print idea
One yearly 8×10 of giving in action. Hang near your family command center to keep generosity front-of-mind.
Make It Stick: A 30-Minute Tradition Plan
1) Pick 3 traditions (not ten) for this year.
2) Calendar them with simple supplies lists.
**3) Create a “December basket”: tape, tags, markers, ornament blanks, cocoa packets, wax paper, ribbon.
4) Assign helpers: kids choose candy for gingerbread; partner scouts tree lots; you prep the book stack.
**5) Decide your photo spot for each tradition and set your phone to burst mode and Live Photos.
6) Print one photo from each tradition in the first week of January—right when the memories are warmest.
Studio Q tip: Snap wide, medium, close in each tradition. Wide = context; medium = action; close = details for your album collage.
Simple Photo Settings (Phone or Camera)
Window light = magic. Face toward a window or open door; avoid mixing overhead can lights if you want clean color.
Burst mode for giggles and action.
Lock exposure (tap-hold) when shooting by the tree so faces don’t go too dark.
Hand it off. Be in the photos. Trade with your partner or prop the phone.
Turn Traditions Into Heirlooms (Print Ideas You’ll Love)
Holiday Wall Grid: Start a 3×3 grid; each December gets one spot. When it fills, start a second grid.
Folio Box of Christmas: One matted 5×7 per year—kids love flipping through them.
Story Panels: Four images: tree, service, PJ portrait, gingerbread.
Deckled-Edge Float Frames: Organic paper edges + warm wood = cozy Christmas forever.
That’s the heart of Studio Q: your traditions out of the camera roll and onto your walls where they can make you smile all year.
FAQs
What are easy Christmas traditions to start with little kids?
Try gingerbread night, a December book basket, and a pajama portrait—fast, low-mess, and endlessly repeatable.
How do I keep traditions from feeling stressful?
Choose three, prep a tiny supply basket, and keep each to 30–60 minutes. Photos are bonus, not a test.
How can I photograph traditions in low light?
Use window light by day; at night, move closer to the tree, lock exposure, and use burst mode. Black-and-white can be forgiving and beautiful.
What do I do with the photos afterward?
Pick one favorite per tradition, print it, and add to a wall grid, folio box, or story panel. Repeat yearly—done.
Can Studio Q photograph our traditions?
Absolutely. I offer at-home holiday storytelling sessions in Vancouver/Portland and can design wall galleries that match your home.
Final Studio Q Pep Talk
Traditions don’t have to be elaborate to be magical. Pick a few, keep them playful, and print the proof—because the warmth of these tiny rituals belongs on your walls, not just in your phone. When you’re ready, I’ll help you curate and design holiday artwork that fits your home so your December memories Live Long In Portraits all year long.