Every November, the same thing happens.
Somebody realizes the Christmas cards need a photo. Somebody else finds a Christmas mini session with a fake tree, a velvet armchair and fifteen-minute slots booked back to back. Everyone gets dressed in coordinated plaid, drives across the city in the first snowstorm, circles for parking, and arrives just in time to watch the family before them finish up.
Then the clock starts. And your toddler, who was an angel in the car, decides this is the moment to lie face down on the fake snow.
Mama, I love you. You deserve better than that.
An in-home Christmas photoshoot is the opposite of a Christmas mini session. It happens in your own living room, with your own tree, your own cookies and your own slightly chaotic Christmas traditions. No timer. No line. No stranger's living room. Just about an hour of your family being your family, while I quietly photograph it.
Let me show you what that actually looks like.
A Cozy In-Home Christmas Session in Montreal: What It Looked Like
Last December I spent a morning with a family of four in their home. Two little girls, two parents, one Christmas tree, and a kitchen that smelled like sugar cookies by the end of it.
Here is how the hour unfolded. Nothing was posed. I just followed them.
The living room. We started where they spend most of their winter: on the couch, near the tree, playing. This is my warm-up time. The kids get used to me, the parents stop looking at the camera, and everyone settles in.
The gifts. The parents had a few small presents ready for the girls. I wish you could have heard the squealing. Those faces, the tearing paper, a dad leaning in to see what was inside. You cannot fake that on a set.
The cookies. Then we moved to the kitchen to decorate cookies. Sprinkles everywhere. Icing on fingers, then on faces, then (obviously) in mouths. More eating than decorating, honestly, which is exactly how it should be.
The bed. Every good in-home session has a moment where we go a little wild. For this family, it was jumping on the bed with mom and dad. Messy hair, flying pillows, the best belly laughs of the day.
The porch and the snow. We finished outside. Hot cocoa on the porch, then the girls ran into the backyard to play in the snow while their parents chased them. Pink cheeks, mittens, steam rising off the mugs. The perfect ending.
Here is the part I want you to hear. At the start of the session, mama was a little stressed. (Most of us are. I am too, when I am the one in front of the camera.) Was the house okay? Would the girls cooperate? Would the photos be good?
When she saw her gallery, she was completely wowed.
Now imagine how much more stressed she would have been trying to get all of that into a twenty-minute mini session.
Christmas Mini Session vs In-Home Christmas Session
I know you looove mini sessions. They are everywhere this time of year, they are cheaper, and they promise a Christmas card photo in no time. So let me tell you why I still don't offer them.
For a long time I told myself it was because twenty minutes is not enough to capture who you truly are as a family. Then a few months ago, I photographed a live workshop, and in five minutes I took beautiful photos full of connection between moms and their kids.
So that is not the problem. I can absolutely capture the love you share with your kids in a short amount of time.
The problem is what those twenty minutes feel like for you.
I want a photo session to be enjoyable, relaxing, and full of connection for you and your kids. Not a moment to stress. And in a twenty-minute session, I know exactly what mom is thinking about the whole time:
Are my kids nice in the photos? Did she smile? Did she get the photo I wanted? Did she get one for the grandparents? Did she get one for my profile picture? Can I print these? How many photos am I even getting?
I don't want you thinking about any of that.
I want you enjoying it. Laughing, cuddling and having fun with your kids, because you have a whole hour with no screens. Not thinking about traffic, or the doctor's appointment you need to book, or the grocery list you're trying to remember. Just you and your favourite people.
That is what an in-home Christmas session gives you.
Side by side
"But Jen, My House Isn't Pinterest Ready"
Mama, nobody's is. Mine certainly isn't.
Here is what you actually need for an in-home Christmas session:
Some natural light. Open every curtain. I'll find the best window, I promise.
One clear-ish corner. Move the laundry basket and the pile of mail out of the room we're in. That's it. Clutter in other rooms stays where it is.
Your tree, decorated or not. A half-decorated tree is a great session in itself. Decorating it together is one of my favourite things to photograph.
Your real stuff. The chipped mugs, the ornaments the kids made at daycare, the cookie cutters from your mom's kitchen. That is what you'll love looking at in twenty years.
Small apartment? Even better. Small spaces mean everyone is close, and close is cozy. If you want the full prep checklist, here's my guide on how to prepare for an in-home photoshoot in Montreal.
How to Plan Your In-Home Christmas Photoshoot
Choose three or four things you already love doing
Think of the session like a little Christmas story. Pick a few traditions your family actually does, or wants to do, and we'll move from one to the next. Some ideas:
Opening a small gift or two (wrap something simple, it doesn't need to be the big present)
Decorating cookies or a gingerbread house
Decorating the tree or hanging the stockings
Reading a Christmas book in pyjamas under a blanket
Hot cocoa by the window or on the porch
A pillow fight, a dance party, or jumping on the bed
Five minutes outside in the snow, if Montreal cooperates
Don't plan more than that. The magic is in the space between activities, when nobody is "doing" anything and your daughter climbs into your lap anyway. More on how I get those natural moments here.
Pick a morning or early afternoon
December light in Montreal is short and precious. The sun sets around 4:15 p.m., so I love early morning or early afternoon for in-home sessions, when the window light is bright and soft. It also tends to line up with happy kids: fed, rested, and before the late-day meltdowns.
Book early enough for your Christmas cards
I deliver your gallery within two weeks, in a private online gallery with a print shop attached. If you want your photos in time for cards or gifts, book as early as you can. I still have a few spots left for late November and December, and they always go fast.
Book your in-home Christmas session
What to Wear for an In-Home Christmas Session
Cozy wins. Knits, soft sweaters, flannel, a velvet dress. Pyjamas are completely welcome if that's your family's vibe.
Colours that feel warm next to the tree: cream, oatmeal, camel, deep green, burgundy, soft denim.
Skip big logos and loud Santa prints. They pull the eye away from faces and date a photo fast.
Think about socks. We're inside, so feet will show. Cute socks, or bare feet for babies.
Have outdoor layers ready if we're heading into the snow, so we don't lose the light hunting for mittens.
Dress mom first, then build everyone else around her. You are in these photos, mama. That's the whole point.
For more on outfits and getting everyone out the door (or, this time, just into the living room), see my complete family photoshoot guide.
A Christmas Gift That Isn't More Stuff
An in-home Christmas session also makes a beautiful gift for a sister, a best friend, or grandparents who keep hinting about family photos. You can gift any of my sessions with a gift certificate.
Ready for a Cozy Christmas at Home?
Your kids will not remember the perfect Christmas card. They'll remember the morning mom and dad got on the floor and played, the cookies that were more sprinkles than cookie, and the snowball that hit dad right in the face.
Let me photograph that.
I serve families across Montreal, the West Island, Laval and the South Shore, and I'd love to come to yours this December. Book your session here, or send me a message and tell me a little about your family's Christmas traditions.
And when your gallery arrives, please print them. These belong on your walls, not just on your phone.
Hasta pronto, Jen
Frequently Asked Questions About In-Home Christmas Photoshoots in Montreal
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It depends on what you want from the experience. A Christmas mini session is short, usually 10 to 20 minutes on a shared set, and focuses on getting a quick card photo. An in-home Christmas session lasts around an hour in your own home, so kids can relax and play, parents can actually enjoy it, and you get a full gallery of real moments from your family's traditions.
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Around an hour. I don’t watch the clock: kids set the pace, so some sessions run a little shorter and some a little longer.
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You receive more than 80 edited images in a private online gallery with a print shop attached, delivered within two weeks.
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As early as possible. Late November and December spots are limited, and galleries are delivered within two weeks, so earlier sessions leave time for holiday cards and printed gifts.
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Small spaces work beautifully because they keep everyone close. You only need to tidy the room we'll be in and open the curtains for natural light. Real, lived-in homes make the most meaningful photos.
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Pick three or four traditions your family enjoys, such as opening a small gift, decorating cookies, decorating the tree, reading in pyjamas, or drinking hot cocoa. If there's snow, a few minutes playing outside is a lovely ending.
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Early morning to early afternoon. December sunset in Montreal is around 4:15 p.m., but most importantly, when your kids are rested and and your house gets the best light. Regardless about the light, I always bring my flash to in-home sessions in case we need a little help.
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Cozy, textured clothing in warm, soft tones like cream, camel, deep green and burgundy. Pyjamas are welcome. Avoid large logos and busy holiday prints, and choose nice socks since you'll be indoors.
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Jen Blanco Photography offers in-home sessions across Montreal, the West Island, Laval and the South Shore.
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Yes. Gift certificates are available for every session type, including family sessions. You can buy one HERE
