Holiday lifestyle photoshoots are in full swing for 2020! The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for many e-commerce brands, and it’s become my favorite time of year to shoot. Over the last few seasons, I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of photographing images for Austin-based lifestyle May Designs, a lifestyle brand specialized in custom notebooks, stationery, and more. This season, we shot photos in Mica May’s beautiful, new studio in Austin, Texas. Take a look at some of the Christmas holiday lifestyle photos captured for Holiday 2020.
Holiday Lifestyle Photos: Whimsical Christmas
May Designs requested we photograph two separate holiday themes this year: a “whimsical Christmas” with colorful tones of blush and aqua and a “traditional” Christmas with festive reds and greens. Here are a few favorite lifestyle photos with the whimsical Christmas theme.
Getting kids involved in shoots is always a fun challenge. Typically, they freeze in front of the camera unless you give them a reason to show their joy. Prompts like “Reach for the tallest ornament you see!” or “Pick your favorite ornament off the tree!” make for great, candid, in-the-moment photos.
I love the way May Designs use their customizable notebooks to decorate presents year after year for lifestyle shots. It reminds me that there are so many ways to wrap gifts—great for me as a photographer and the variety of pictures we can take together. My favorite one is at the end, so keep scrolling to check it out.
Traditional Christmas Holiday Lifestyle Photo Ideas
Here are a few lifestyle product shots for the traditional red and green Christmas. I’m curious to hear which theme you’d prefer in your home: whimsical or traditional?
No winter holiday is complete without a great bar cart. We used a variety of props like presents, garlands, string lights, glassware, and other decorations to complement different product styles. Take a look below!
No additional lighting was used for this shoot besides natural afternoon light from big, sliding doors. My recommendation for colorful, airy photos is to make sure there are plenty of natural reflectors (white tree and white rug) and the props in the background are a similar color palette; in this case, nothing too dark and heavy.
Thanks for taking a read and joining me on my holiday lifestyle shoot! Click on my contact page if you’re interested in beautiful branded photography for your business.
