Today, I’m sharing a 2 part series about How to Display Your Pittsburgh Family Portraits as Holiday Decorations —with easy, beautiful ideas to help your photos shine right alongside your greenery, lights, and ornaments. You know that moment when you’re unpacking holiday decorations and suddenly you’re surrounded by the same ceramic snowmen and random ornaments you’ve had since 2012? Meanwhile, your gorgeous family portraits are just hanging there, totally unaware there’s a whole holiday situation happening around them. What if those photos could actually become part of your holiday decor instead of just existing next to it?
Last December, a client sent me a photo of her living room all decked out for the holidays. Right there in the middle of everything was the gallery wall we’d designed together the year before—but she’d draped eucalyptus garland across the top and tucked tiny twinkle lights around the frames. It looked like something straight out of a magazine, and she said it took her maybe 20 minutes. That’s when it clicked: family portraits and holiday decorations are kind of a perfect match.
And if you’ve ever looked at your beautifully decorated tree, then glanced at your gallery wall and thought it didn’t quite go with the seasonal vibe… good news. You don’t have to choose between your everyday portraits and your holiday style. With a few simple touches, your photos can become the actual centerpiece of your holiday decorating.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is hanging up our past Christmas cards—from newborn snuggles to toddler giggles to the tween era we’re now firmly planted in. We string them from garland along our staircase, adding the newest card each year. Watching my kids grow up through those cards is a tradition I treasure, and it always reminds me how much joy family portraits bring to a holiday home.
Whether you’re a family who loves decking every corner of your home, or you’re simply looking for meaningful decor that goes deeper than another ceramic reindeer, these ideas will help your portraits feel special… and fully part of the magic.
Creative Portrait Displays Just for the Holiday Season
If you’ve ever wondered how to display your Pittsburgh family portraits as holiday decorations without committing to a full home redesign, this section is your new best friend. Seasonal displays don’t have to be complicated—they just need thoughtful placement and a few festive accents.
Tabletop Easel Displays
Think mantels, console tables, built-ins, or entryway tables. A framed portrait on a beautiful tabletop easel instantly feels intentional and seasonal when paired with garland, candles, or even a small ceramic house village.
Leaning Frames Within Holiday Vignettes
You know those curated little holiday scenes—bottle brush trees, candles, small wreaths? Lean a portrait frame into the setup. It warms everything up and makes it personal.
A Temporary “Holiday Gallery”
Gather a few smaller framed prints and group them with greenery, taper candles, and twinkle lights on a sideboard or buffet table. This is essentially a pop-up gallery wall just for December.
Print Boxes or Loose Prints for Guests to Flip Through
Keep a matted print box or stack of loose prints in a decorative basket or tray. Guests love flipping through them during gatherings.
Holiday Cards as Decor
Did you know your holiday cards are one of the easiest ways to display family photos during the season? Whether you string them on garland along your banister or clip them to a ribbon with mini clothespins, they instantly become meaningful decor.
Dedicated “Holiday Frames”
Some families have frames that only come out in December—perfect for Santa photos or holiday mini session portraits. Swap out the image each year and build a beautiful tradition.
A Seasonal Photo Book
Create a holiday photo book that comes out with your decor each year. Leave it on the coffee table so guests (and kids!) can flip through your memories from past seasons.
Personal Highlight
One of the most creative displays I’ve ever seen was a client who tucked her framed portraits inside a garland swag on her staircase. She used sturdy Command hooks to nestle the frames into place and then styled greenery around them. It looked like a Hallmark movie set—effortlessly magical.
Why Your Pittsburgh Family Portraits Make the Best Holiday Decor (Seriously!)
Store-bought decor is beautiful… but it doesn’t tell your story. When you weave in family portraits, everything instantly feels warmer, more intentional, and more you.
Meaning Over More Stuff
Holiday decorations can easily become cluttered. Portraits bring focus and heart to your space.
Instant Conversation Starters
When friends and family visit, they always gravitate toward your photos. Holiday gatherings are the perfect time to spark those meaningful conversations.
A Shift to Family-Centered Decorating
More families are choosing decor that honors their story rather than decor that just looks “Pinterest-ready.”
A More Intentional Home
When your holiday decor includes portraits, everything feels cohesive rather than chaotic.
Personal Story
My most meaningful holiday decoration isn’t an ornament or garland—it’s a framed photo of my kids from a particularly sweet December morning years ago. For a long time, I didn’t realize I could weave that feeling into the way I decorated my home. Once I did, it completely changed how I viewed holiday wall art and seasonal displays.
Now that you have plenty of beautiful ideas for displaying your portraits, Part 2 will take you deeper into how to make your Pittsburgh Family Portraits the best holiday decor, and how to style them seamlessly into your home using garland, lights, ribbons, mantel displays, and easy seasonal swaps.
Want to create something beautiful like this in your on home next year? Let’s chat and start planning your session now!
Interested in making memories & creating new family traditions around Pittsburgh? Check out this holiday guide!
Brooke is the owner and lead photographer at Petite Magnolia Photography, just outside of Pittsburgh in McMurray, PA. A former pediatric ICU nurse and nurse anesthetist, she brings a level of calm, safety awareness, and genuine care to every session that goes well beyond photography. She specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography with a focus on documenting the quiet connections, the genuine emotions, and those little moments that make each season of family life worth remembering. Her approach is simple: create timeless images that feel like you. She serves families throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities — including the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Sewickley, Peters Township, and Morgantown, WV. She believes photographs should document the love and connection your family shares right now, and that those images deserve to live somewhere more meaningful than a phone camera roll. That’s why she guides her clients through creating heirloom albums, fine art prints, and keepsake pieces they’ll return to for generations.
