Article: How to Take a Holiday Pajama Photo Without Losing Your Mind
Someone will blink. Someone will ask if we're done yet. The dog will decide this is the perfect moment to leave the room.
And somehow, that might be the holiday photo you love most.
If you're trying to get a photo of everyone in coordinating pajamas this year, here's our very unofficial, extremely practical guide to making it happen without turning a sweet tradition into a scheduled family meeting.
The easiest holiday photo starts with one decision: choose a print. Black-and-white fair isle? A little festive color? Something that looks great with a tree but doesn't scream we planned this for six months?
Everyone can wear the same pattern without wearing the same style. One person might want a full jogger set; another might want lounge pants and a sweatshirt. That's the idea behind Mix & Match: coordinated, not compulsory.
Our tip: Settle on a shared color palette or print first. Let everyone choose the pieces they'll actually wear again.
Nothing slows down a holiday plan quite like the group chat that starts with, “What size does everyone need?”
Send one message asking each person for their usual size and whether they need regular, plus, tall, or big & tall. Then double-check measurements against our Size & Fit Guide. Available sizes vary by product, so check each product page too.
And if you've got tall people in the group, this isn't the moment to hope regular pajama pants magically grow two inches.
You don't need a photographer, a studio, or a living room that looks like a magazine spread.
Stand near a large window during daylight. Face the light rather than putting it behind everyone. Turn off harsh overhead lights if they're making strange shadows. If you're shooting at night, try one warm, even light source and take a few test shots.
Phones do the job beautifully. Wipe the lens first. Seriously.
The stiff, everybody-stand-perfectly-still pose is usually the least interesting photo of the bunch.
Try one of these instead:
The candid shot usually wins.
Should the dog participate? We believe you already know the answer.
Choose a coordinating pet tee where available. Check the pet size chart and keep their comfort first. Have a treat ready, take the pet's photos early, and don't expect them to hold a pose for 20 minutes. They have other things to do.
Don't wait for Christmas morning, when everyone is hungry and someone is hunting for the batteries.
A Sunday afternoon, the night you decorate the tree, or a low-key movie night can work just as well. You'll have time to choose a favorite, make a holiday card, or send it to the family group chat before it gets buried under 47 other messages.
Maybe someone's looking at the wrong camera. Maybe the dog is a blur. Maybe one person refused the matching top but agreed to the pants.
That still counts. The point was never to make everybody identical. It was to get everybody together, in something comfortable, for one tiny moment you can keep.
Same print. Your size. Your kind of holiday photo.
Shop matching pajamas · Find your fit
Stay cozy. Stay a little different.
Jami & Amy
No. Pick one print or palette, then let everyone choose a set, separates or a sleepshirt in their own size.
Before the holiday itself. A relaxed afternoon or tree-decorating night gives you time to print cards or share it.
Many of our holiday prints have a coordinating pet tee. Measure your dog and check the pet size chart first.
You've planned the pajamas. You've found the camera. There's just one very important family member left to dress.
Read more: The Dog Is in the Holiday Photo. Here's How to Dress Everyone.
