Shoot Film This Christmas: 10 Holiday Photo Ideas for 35mm and Disposable Cameras
If you’ve ever looked back at a box of old family Christmas photos—the slightly out-of-focus tree, the weird flash shadows, Uncle Dave blinking mid-blink—you know exactly why film is perfect for the holidays. Film photography captures not just the image, but the feeling of the season: warm lights, real smiles, and a bit of imperfect charm that digital just can’t touch.
Whether you’re dusting off your trusty 35mm camera or picking up a few disposable cameras for the family, shooting film this Christmas is one of the best ways to preserve the magic. To help you make the most of it, here are 10 holiday photo ideas to try with film this year—plus a few tips to make sure your rolls come out looking merry and bright.
1. The Christmas Tree Glow-Up
There’s something timeless about a Christmas tree on film. The warm glow of string lights, the shiny ornaments, and maybe a little chaos as the kids (or cats) get involved.
🎞 Tips:
Use a high-speed color film like Kodak Ultramax 400 or Fuji Superia 400 to handle the low light indoors.
Skip the flash and let the glow of the lights shine. Try bracing your camera on a steady surface or using a tripod.
Shoot a few frames wide to show the full tree, then move in close for ornament details.
💡 Pro move: Take a before-and-after shot—the tree as it’s being decorated, and again on Christmas Eve when it’s fully lit up and surrounded by gifts.
2. Candid Family Chaos
Forget the posed group photo—some of the best holiday shots happen in the middle of the action. Grandma laughing at a joke. Kids sneaking extra cookies. Someone struggling to tape the last piece of wrapping paper.
🎞 Tips:
Keep your disposable camera or 35mm loaded and nearby all day.
Don’t stress about perfect composition; these moments are all about real emotion.
Try shooting from the hip—you’ll capture authentic expressions and reactions.
📸 Film choice: Color negative film like Kodak Gold 200 or Lomography 400 gives a warm, nostalgic tone perfect for family moments.
3. Christmas Lights and Bokeh Nights
Holiday lights at night are basically film photography magic waiting to happen. Whether it’s your front yard, the neighborhood display, or a trip to a local light show, this is your chance to experiment.
🎞 Tips:
Use 800-speed film (Cinestill 800T or Lomography 800) if you can find it—it’s made for low-light conditions.
Try focusing manually to create big, soft light circles (bokeh).
If you’re using a disposable camera, shoot a mix—some close-up with flash, others farther away without it.
💡 Pro move: Hold a sparkler close to the lens (carefully!) or shoot through a frosty window for dreamy, glowy results.
4. The Gift Unwrapping Explosion
You know that moment—wrapping paper flying, ribbons on the dog, the pure joy on someone’s face when they get what they wanted (or the confusion when they don’t). Those are golden frames.
🎞 Tips:
Use the flash indoors if the light is dim, especially with disposable cameras.
Shoot fast! Once the paper starts flying, it’s over in seconds.
Capture reactions from multiple people—givers and receivers alike.
📸 Pro move: Give everyone a disposable camera before gift time and see the day from multiple perspectives. You’ll get hilarious and heartwarming shots you wouldn’t have caught otherwise.
5. A Roll of Memories: Christmas Morning on Film
The soft light creeping in, the smell of coffee, the excitement in the air—it’s cinematic perfection. Christmas morning is your chance to slow down, shoot intentionally, and tell the story of your family’s holiday.
🎞 Tips:
Start with the little details: stockings, breakfast, the view from the window.
Capture the atmosphere before everyone wakes up, then the joyful chaos that follows.
Don’t burn through the whole roll in 10 minutes—space it out to capture the full morning.
💡 Pro move: Choose one roll of film specifically for Christmas morning. Label it and store it with your negatives year after year. It’ll become a tradition worth keeping.
6. Holiday Portraits with Character
Forget stiff, over-posed Christmas cards. Film portraits have a softness and authenticity that’s unbeatable.
🎞 Tips:
Use natural window light whenever possible. Film loves it.
Ask your subject to hold a cup of cocoa, a pet, or a prop—it helps them relax and adds personality.
If you’re outside, try shooting around golden hour when the sun is low and warm.
📸 Film choice: Portra 400 or Kodak Gold 200 for warm tones and soft skin color. Disposable cameras also do surprisingly well here—especially for candid close-ups.
💡 Pro move: Set up a simple holiday backdrop (like twinkle lights or wrapping paper) and shoot an impromptu photo booth for friends and family.
7. The Ugly Sweater Party (Film Edition)
If there’s ever a time to shoot a roll of film just for fun, it’s an ugly sweater party. These nights are full of laughter, bad fashion, and unpredictable moments—perfect for disposable cameras.
🎞 Tips:
Bring a few disposables and pass them around. Let everyone take a turn.
The flash will make colors pop and capture that hilarious vintage energy.
Don’t worry about composition—this one’s all about fun.
💡 Pro move: After developing the film, make prints and mail them to your friends as “vintage party photos.” Everyone loves seeing their goofy selves through film grain.
8. Winter Walks and Cold Weather Film
Not every holiday shot needs tinsel and lights. Winter walks—bare trees, cloudy skies, cozy coats—make for moody, cinematic film photos.
🎞 Tips:
Overexpose by one stop to keep snow scenes from turning gray.
Be gentle with your camera in the cold—keep it inside your jacket between shots.
Black-and-white film (like Ilford HP5 or Kodak Tri-X) looks stunning in winter landscapes.
💡 Pro move: Shoot a few frames on both color and black-and-white film to compare the mood. The difference is striking.
9. The Holiday Film Swap
This is a fun one for the community-minded shooter. Grab a friend, each shoot a roll during the holidays, then swap and double-expose it. The results are unpredictable—and often beautiful.
🎞 Tips:
Use ISO 200 or 400 film to keep exposure balanced.
Shoot big shapes and colors; avoid overly detailed scenes.
Label your rolls clearly so you don’t forget which is which.
💡 Pro move: Post your results and tag #ShutterJunkiesFilmSwap. You might inspire others to try it next year.
10. Preserve the Past: Scanning and Sharing Your Holiday Film
Shooting film is half the magic—developing and sharing is the rest. When your rolls are ready, send them to a trusted lab (like, say, Shutter Junkies Photo Lab) for high-quality developing and scanning.
🎞 Tips:
Choose “high-resolution scans” for prints or digital sharing.
Save your negatives—it’s your physical backup.
Consider ordering doubles of your prints to share with family or to tuck inside Christmas cards next year.
💡 Pro move: Create a “Holiday Film Album” on your computer or a physical photo book. Add to it every year and watch your family history unfold in grain and color.
Why Film Feels Right at Christmas
There’s something poetic about using film to capture the holidays. It forces you to slow down, to think before you click, and to embrace imperfections. Every frame becomes intentional—every moment feels earned.
Digital can document, but film remembers.
You’ll see the warmth of tungsten bulbs, the texture of wrapping paper, the real color of candlelight. Even the occasional blur or lens flare feels like part of the story. Film photography turns ordinary holiday chaos into timeless memories.
And when your rolls come back from the lab weeks later, it’s like a second Christmas morning.
Final Tip: Make It a Tradition
This year, challenge yourself to shoot one full roll of film every Christmas. Label each with the year, the film type, and maybe a few notes on the back of the prints. Over time, you’ll build a visual timeline of your family’s holidays—captured in all their grainy, glowing glory.
So grab a few rolls of 35mm film, toss a disposable camera or two into the stockings, and get ready to shoot film this Christmas. The memories you make will last far longer than the batteries in your phone.
📬 Ready to Bring Your Holiday Film to Life?
Develop your rolls with Shutter Junkies Photo Lab — we process 35mm, disposable cameras, 120, 110, and Advantix film right here in Greenville, TX, and ship across the U.S.
Order film developing at:
👉 www.shutterjunkies.org