15 Christmas Card Photos and the Outtakes Families Almost Sent, Like a Family of Five Mid-Scramble

Family & kids
10/25/2026
15 Christmas Card Photos and the Outtakes Families Almost Sent, Like a Family of Five Mid-Scramble

The only Christmas card photo in my parents’ hallway where all four of us have our eyes open was frame 23 on a disposable camera. My mom had all 27 developed anyway and keeps the other 26 in a box she brings out at weddings. These 15 families shared their Christmas card photos and the outtakes that tell the real story.

The Christmas Card Photo With Santa That Was Announced as Perfect

“Wife called to let me know that she took the perfect Christmas card photo...”

A Cat Who Made It Clear He Was Done With the Christmas Photo, Right Before He Escaped

“Can you tell he wasn’t happy about the Christmas photo?”

He’s not excited about being a big brother.

This was the last photo in a series of rapid fire shots before he escaped. We just really wanted a Christmas photo with him lol.

A First Christmas Family Photo That Took a Whole Task Just to Get the Cat Into a Sweater

“It was a TASK getting her in this sweater but I think our first Christmas family photo together went well!”

From the author:

Mom took all 27 of those frames from the bottom of the stairs, counting to three out loud before every one. In most of them somebody is blinking. In frame 9, my oldest sister is fixing my collar. In frame 17, I am crying because she fixed it. Frame 23 is the only one where the four girls look like they like each other, and you can tell we were all holding our breath.

A Family of Five Asked Which Shot Should Make the Christmas Card: Photo 1 or Photo 2

I’d like to interrupt our regular programming for an IG vs Reality moment.
Which one makes the Christmas Card?
Photo 1 or 2
Big shout out to Tammy who graciously agreed to edit some of the outtakes from our family session. They always end up being my favorite photos.

Two Cats, 40 Attempts and the Trick That Finally Worked: Picture Time at Nap Time

“After 40 attempts I finally made this picture of my cats for christmas cards, and I thought I’d share it with you guys!”

Snacks were too tempting and they wouldn’t sit still.

Choose the right moment. My cats always have a similar schedule during the day. When they wake up and get food they are super active so I played a lot with them to make them tired again. And when they both went for nap time I took them for picture time instead!

The ‘Perfect’ Christmas Photo of a Cat on a Cat Tree, and the Bonus Picture

“I took the perfect Christmas photo of my cat”

Triplets in a Window: a Christmas Card Built From Separate Shots

“Our Christmas card with our triplets this year!”

I actually sought out a roughed up window (only on the outside because of lead paint) specifically for this pic!

Hopefully they will recreate it some day.

A Borrowed Dog Was Supposed to Make a Warm, Sentimental Holiday Card

I’ve never been one for a holiday card, but figured maybe this year I’d try it out; borrow my brother’s dog to create a warm and sentimental vibe. Obviously it didn’t quite work out, but I kind of prefer these photos anyhow. Oliver’s facial expression in the first one is priceless. (I’m kneeling down for perspective.)

From the author:
The box of 26 comes out at every wedding in our family, somewhere between the toasts and the cake. At my oldest sister’s, Mom passed around frame 17, the crying one, and her new husband laughed so hard he had to sit down. A card stays on the fridge until January. An outtake gets passed around for twenty years.

A Parent With a Tripod Edited Every Outtake of a Toddler Into One Picture

“I took the best outtakes of my daughter from our holiday card and edited them together”

We used a tripod so everything stayed in place, then I combined all the images in photoshop using layer masks.

I went through all those emotions just trying to keep her still.

Two Terriers, One Kitchen and a Christmas Card Shoot That Went Its Own Way

Outtakes from our 2021 Christmas card photo shoot in the kitchen.

An Extremely Late Attempt at a Christmas Card in the Park, With a Baby in the Middle

The Amorys outtakes from our extremely late attempt at a Christmas card!

A Black Cat’s Favorite Outtakes From This Year’s Holiday Card

We hope you enjoy our favorite outtakes from this year’s holiday card!

From the author:
If you’re taking your own card photo this year, here’s my mom’s rule from the bottom of the stairs: keep shooting until somebody laughs, then take ten more. The laughing ones go in the box. One of the ten after is usually the card, because by then everybody has forgotten to pose. It works on kids, dogs and sisters.

A French Bulldog Who Nailed Her Christmas Card Photo, Just Not the Way Anyone Planned

“Tried taking a photo of my dog for a Christmas card. She nailed it.”

Tempted to get this on the card now with that caption.

Two Golden Retrievers and Santa Hats That Would Not Stay Put

Christmas Card Outtakes...

A Cat Who Finally Stopped Hating Her Christmas Card Photo, After Years of Trying

“This is the first year she doesn’t hate her Christmas card photo!”

Compared to the last couple of years... y’oh yeah!

I basically stalk her around the house until she sits, a few pets and she’s good to go!

The cat in the last story spent years refusing to cooperate before her owner finally got a card photo she didn’t hate. A card gets looked at once. The outtakes come back every December.

Did your family ever send the outtake instead of the good photo? Tell us in the comments.

Preview photo credit bethanyciotola / Instagram

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