The History of Christmas Photography

By Kathleen Messmer

With Christmas just around the corner, I did a little research on Christmas photography. I was surprised to discover that Christmas photography dates back to the Victorian era. During that time, photography had become more accessible to the general public, and families began documenting their holiday celebrations with photographs. They often visited a professional photographer's studio to have their portrait taken before a festive backdrop.

As photography technology progressed, families began taking photos of their own Christmas celebrations at home. This included capturing the excitement of opening presents, the joy of spending time with immediate and extended family, and the beauty of holiday decorations. With the rise of social media, Christmas photography has become even more prevalent, and for the most part, families share their holiday photos online for everyone to see.

But, in recent years, there has been a trend towards more creative and personalized Christmas photos. Families are incorporating props, dressing up in costumes, and staging elaborate holiday scenes for their photos. Some even hire professional photographers to capture their holiday memories more creatively and artistically.

No matter how Christmas photography has evolved since the Victorian era, one thing remains constant — the importance of capturing and preserving holiday memories for generations to cherish for years to come.

So come and join us for the Christmas Caravan on the evening of December 10th. We’ll begin our adventure at South Coast Winery and end in Old Town. Bundle up. It promises to be chilly.