I think Christmas is one of those times of the year that somehow feels incredibly long when you're waiting for it and then disappears in about five minutes once it actually arrives.

You decorate.

You buy gifts.

You make plans.

You somehow eat 45 Christmas cookies.

And then suddenly it's January.

I think that's part of the reason I've always loved Christmas photos.

Of course they're beautiful for Christmas cards, Instagram, gifts for grandparents or something cute to put on your fridge.

But I think they become more important later.

A photo of your family this Christmas is also a photograph of what your family looked like this year.

How little your kids were.

The dog that refused to look at the camera.

Your first Christmas married.

Your first Christmas together.

Your first Christmas with a baby.

Or maybe just you.

Because you don't actually need a husband, three children and a golden retriever to deserve Christmas photos.

Although the golden retriever is absolutely welcome.

This year, Kate and I wanted to create Christmas sessions that feel a little more like an experience rather than simply walking in, taking ten photographs and leaving.

So we're doing Christmas a little differently.

Christmas mini sessions in Niagara-on-the-Lake with couples and families surrounded by festive holiday decorations and a horse-drawn carriage.

Three Christmas Experiences

For Christmas 2026, Lara Grace Creative Studio will be offering sessions in Toronto, St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

And each one will feel a little different.

Kate and I will be photographing the sessions together, which means you'll have two photographers there with you.

I actually love this for minis because everything happens pretty quickly.

While one of us is getting the main photograph, the other can notice the little things.

Your daughter laughing.

Your dog doing something ridiculous.

Someone fixing someone's bow.

A little moment between you and your partner when you don't realize we're photographing you.

Those are usually some of my favourite photographs anyway.

Family Christmas mini session in Niagara-on-the-Lake with parents playing with their baby surrounded by festive holiday decorations.

A Vintage Christmas in Toronto

Our Toronto Christmas Minis will take place on:

November 28 & 29
December 5 & 6

And we're building two completely different Christmas sets.

The first is the one I'm probably most excited about.

Think deep red draping, Christmas trees, warm lights, a beautiful vintage red rug and those slightly dramatic, nostalgic Christmas colours.

Basically, I want it to feel like you stepped into an old Christmas photograph.

Our second setup will be much softer and simpler.

Cream tones, little green bows, a Christmas tree wrapped in tulle and some pretty vintage details.

Still Christmas.

Just cleaner, softer and a little more minimal.

Each Toronto session will be 30 minutes and include:

2 Christmas setups
15 edited photographs
Christmas cookies and snacks
Eggnog or hot chocolate
One complimentary Polaroid Christmas photograph

The session is $270 + HST.

And yes, you get to take your Polaroid home with you.

I wanted there to be something physical you could leave with instead of every memory living inside our phones.

Christmas mini session in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a little girl posing beside the festive Letters for Santa mailbox.

A Cozy Christmas in St. Catharines

We're bringing the same idea to Niagara.

Our St. Catharines Christmas Minis will take place:

December 12 & 13

We'll be creating two Christmas setups here as well, with the same mix of vintage Christmas and something softer and more minimal.

These sessions will also be 30 minutes and include:

2 Christmas setups
10 edited photographs
Christmas cookies and snacks
Eggnog or hot chocolate
One complimentary Polaroid Christmas photograph

$270 + HST

I really want both the Toronto and St. Catharines sessions to feel cozy.

Come in.

Take your photos.

Have some hot chocolate.

Eat a Christmas cookie.

Leave with a little Polaroid.

Nothing overly complicated.

Just Christmas.

Christmas couple photography in Niagara-on-the-Lake, walking hand in hand past historic homes decorated with festive greenery and red bows.

And Then There’s Niagara-on-the-Lake

This one is completely different.

And honestly, Niagara-on-the-Lake does most of the set design for us.

If you've ever been there around Christmas, you know exactly what I mean.

The historic buildings, little shops, wreaths, garlands, Christmas trees, lights, decorated doorways...

The entire town starts looking like somebody accidentally walked onto the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

So we're not building anything there.

We're using the town.

I'll be sharing photographs from previous Christmas sessions in Niagara-on-the-Lake throughout this blog because I think they explain it better than I ever could.

Some photographs might be in front of a decorated storefront.

Some on one of the historic streets.

Some beside a Christmas tree.

We can walk around together and use whatever little Christmas corners we find.

These sessions will be available on select weekdays and weekends from:

November 28 through December 14

Each Niagara-on-the-Lake session includes:

30-minute outdoor session
15 edited photographs

$200 + HST

Unlike Toronto and St. Catharines, this option doesn't include the indoor Christmas setups, drinks or treats.

It's simply you, us, our cameras and Christmas in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Christmas couple photography in Niagara-on-the-Lake, standing together outside a festive storefront decorated with Christmas greenery, red accents and holiday decor.

Who Are Christmas Minis For?

Everyone.

Seriously.

Bring your entire family.

Bring your partner.

Your wife.

Your boyfriend.

Your girlfriend.

Your best friend.

Your daughter.

Your son.

Your parents.

Your siblings.

Come alone.

Bring your dog.

Bring your little family of two.

Bring your chaotic family of eight.

Christmas photographs don't have to look like one specific version of a family.

I actually think that's part of what makes them special.

They're simply a record of who your people are right now.

And sometimes your person has four legs and absolutely no interest in cooperating with the photographer.

We understand.

Christmas family photography in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a mother and child beside a festive pink nutcracker during a snowy holiday photo session.

Why I Think You Should Actually Take the Photos

I photograph people all the time, and there's something I've noticed.

You might look exactly the same next Christmas.

Your family might look completely different.

Kids grow.

People change.

Pets get older.

Relationships grow.

Families get bigger.

Life moves whether we're documenting it or not.

And I don't think the photograph becomes valuable the moment we take it.

I think sometimes it becomes valuable five years later.

Or ten.

When you find it again and realize how much has changed.

That's why I want you in the photograph too.

Not always behind your phone taking pictures of everybody else.

Get in.

Even if you don't love having your photograph taken.

Even if you don't know what to do with your hands.

That's literally our job.

Christmas mini session in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a child mailing a letter to Santa in a festive red Christmas mailbox during the holiday season.

A Little Christmas Experience

I don't want these sessions to feel stressful.

You don't need to know how to pose.

You don't need perfectly coordinated matching outfits.

And your children absolutely do not have to behave like tiny professional models for 30 minutes.

Kate and I will help you.

We'll direct you when you need direction and let things happen naturally when that's better.

There will probably be laughing.

There may be chaos.

Someone might spill something.

A dog will almost certainly ignore us.

That's okay.

That's kind of the point.

I want you to leave with beautiful Christmas photographs, but I also want the actual memory of taking them to be a good one.

Have your hot chocolate.

Take your cookie.

Go do something Christmas-y afterward.

Make a little day out of it.

Christmas couple photography in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a playful candid moment in the snow surrounded by festive holiday greenery and Christmas decorations.

Christmas 2026 Bookings Are Now Open

Bookings are officially open for all three Christmas Mini options.

Toronto Vintage Christmas Minis
November 28 & 29
December 5 & 6
30 minutes
2 setups
15 edited photos
Christmas treats + drink
Complimentary Polaroid
$270 + HST

St. Catharines Vintage Christmas Minis
December 12 & 13
30 minutes
2 setups
15 edited photos
Christmas treats + drink
Complimentary Polaroid
$270 + HST

Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Minis
November 28 – December 14
Select weekdays + weekends
30 minutes
15 edited photos
$200 + HST

If you'd like to book, email us at info@laragracecreativestudio.ca with the location and date you're interested in.

And if you're wondering whether you need a reason to book Christmas photos this year...

You really don't.

Bring the people you love.

We'll take care of the photographs.

And hopefully, years from now, you'll be really glad you have them. 🎄

Christmas couple photography in Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a couple with their dog surrounded by festive holiday decorations and a snowy Christmas setting.