what to wear for christmas pictures with toddlers

the christmas card is the one photo everyone keeps. it goes on the fridge, in grandma's wallet and in a frame on somebody's mantel for the whole year. and the outfit question always shows up at the worst time: two days before the session, when the good stuff is gone in their size.

here's how we'd dress toddlers and little siblings for christmas pictures, 12 months to 5t: three looks that photograph well, matching pairs for brothers and sisters, and what actually works on a toddler next to a tree full of lights.

decide how the card should feel first

classic red and white, all tartan, or soft and cream. pick the feel, then dress everyone to it.

build around the littlest one. dress them first, then pull everyone else's colors from their outfit.

one print per kid, at most. a gingerbread dress next to tartan pants next to a red check shirt is three prints, and the card gets loud fast.

when in doubt, add cream. it keeps faces bright in low december light.

look 1: candy cane red

the classic card. red and white on the kids, navy or cream on the grown ups, and the tree does the rest.

vintage candy cane dressvintage candy cane bubblered gingham button downkhaki stretch chino pantsrowan red check button down shirtchristmas trees embroidered pants

big sister: the vintage candy cane dress by smockingbird

the littlest: the vintage candy cane bubble, same print

big brother: the red gingham button down, also smockingbird, with khaki stretch chino pants by rufflebutts + ruggedbutts

or: the rowan red check button down by yo baby, red check in soft corduroy. for a little guy, smockingbird's christmas trees embroidered pants with a plain white shirt.

for the grown ups: navy, cream, camel, or one red sweater.

look 2: all tartan

the card that looks like you planned it in august. the same green tartan on two kids, in two shapes, and a soft pink wreath on the baby so it doesn't feel too serious.

green christmas tartan dressgreen christmas tartan pantsorganic half zip kanga sweaterwreath with bows heirloom bubble

big sister: the green christmas tartan dress by smockingbird

big brother: the green christmas tartan pants, same tartan, with hope and henry's organic half zip kanga sweater in navy and deep green

the littlest: the wreath with bows heirloom bubble in pale pink

for the grown ups: hunter green, navy, cream, or a camel coat.

look 3: gingerbread and cream

the softest of the three. warm browns, cream and a little pink, and nothing that fights the tree lights.

gingerbread smocked dressgingerbread smocked bubblehorseshoe jacquard cardiganorganic sweater henleyorganic brushed suit pant

big sister: the gingerbread smocked dress by smockingbird, with viverano's horseshoe jacquard cardigan in ecru if the room is cold

the littlest: the gingerbread smocked bubble

big brother: hope and henry's organic sweater henley in chocolate with their organic brushed suit pant in camel houndstooth

for the grown ups: oatmeal, camel, cream, soft brown.

matching siblings for the card

the simplest way is the same print in two shapes: big sister in the dress, the littlest in the bubble. for christmas, smockingbird makes three pairs.

gingerbread smocked dressgingerbread smocked bubblevintage candy cane dressvintage candy cane bubblewreath with bows heirloom dresswreath with bows heirloom bubble

gingerbread: smocked dress + smocked bubble

candy cane: dress + bubble

wreath with bows: heirloom dress + heirloom bubble

for a brother and sister, go tartan: the dress and the pants are the same fabric. every pair we carry lives in matching sibling outfits, and every holiday piece is in toddler christmas outfits.

what toddlers actually wear well on photo day

under 2, go bubble. no waistband, nothing to untuck, and snaps make a diaper change fast.

do a try on a week before. you want to find the sleeve that's too short on a tuesday, not on photo day.

december light is low. stand them near a window, not only in front of the tree.

bring a cardigan for the walk in, and take it off for the shot.

tights or bare legs with a dress. the photo shows the whole leg.

feed them first. a full toddler smiles longer.

quick answers

what colors are best for christmas pictures with toddlers? red, green and cream are the classics. red and cream looks traditional, green tartan looks polished, and brown, cream and soft pink look soft and modern. pick one feel and dress everyone to it.

should siblings match in christmas pictures? coordinate more than match. the easiest way is the same print in two shapes, like a dress and a bubble, or one tartan on a dress and on pants.

what should a 1 year old wear for christmas pictures? a smocked bubble. it photographs clean, it's easy to sit in, and there's no waistband to slide down.

when should we sort out christmas picture outfits? a lot of photographers shoot christmas sessions in november, so it helps to have outfits picked by early november.

every piece here is part of your stork membership

pick the pieces you can't wait to see them in, from independent labels in sizes 12 months to 5t. they wear them for the card, christmas morning and every day after, then you send them back and pick again. see how stork works.

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