Christmas Photoshoot in Rome
Ninety minutes under the lights with me, your private photographer in Rome, for couples, families, friends, proposals and anyone who wants to remember what Rome felt like at Christmas.
The most romantic month to be photographed in Rome
Rome in December smells like roasted chestnuts and espresso, and the whole city glows. Garlands hang over the shopping streets, a tall tree goes up at the foot of the Spanish Steps, the Christmas market fills Piazza Navona, and the light stays low and golden all afternoon, which is the most flattering light you could ask for.
I made this session for people who want all of that in their photos without spending their holiday trip figuring out logistics. You book me, we plan it together on a quick call, and then you show up in your coziest coat and let me take care of the rest. A week later your gallery lands in your inbox, just in time for the Christmas card, the frame on the mantel, or the album you keep promising yourself you'll print.
Heather
Every reason to take Christmas photos in Rome
Bring your partner, your kids, your best friends or just yourself. The package stays the same and I shape the plan around you.
Couples
Cozy, romantic holiday portraits of the two of you under the lights, wrapped up in scarves with a coffee in hand. Perfect for a winter getaway, a babymoon or a "just because" trip.
Christmas proposals
A ring under the Spanish Steps tree or on a quiet, lit-up lane in Trastevere. I stay hidden until the moment happens, then we keep shooting together. See my proposal planning guide.
Families
Holiday family photos in Rome with kids, grandparents and everyone in matching-but-not-too-matching knits. Short, playful, and paced for little ones.
Friends and girls' trips
Your holiday trip with the people you love most, photographed properly for once, with nobody stuck behind the phone. Think market strolls, aperitivo clinks and a lot of laughing.
Honeymoons and anniversaries
Celebrating a wedding, an anniversary or a vow renewal over the holidays. We can add a quiet moment at a church square or a toast at your hotel.
LGBTQ+ couples
Love is for everyone, and so is this session. I photograph queer couples all year and you'll feel at ease with me from the first frame. More on my LGBTQ+ couples page.
Christmas cards
Fresh, print-ready images within a week, so a session in late November or early December leaves plenty of time to send cards home.
Holiday elopements
Two people, a winter coat over the dress, and Rome dressed for Christmas. I can photograph the vows and the walk through the city after. See eloping in Rome.
Solo portraits
Traveling alone for the holidays? You deserve beautiful photos of yourself in Rome too. Personal branding, birthday or simply a gift to yourself.
Real sessions from my Rome portfolio · See the full gallery
The Rome Christmas Session
From€650
One session, one price, everything planned for you. The final quote depends on group size and location, and we settle it on our call.
- Up to 90 minutes of photography with me, across one or two nearby holiday locations
- A video call before your trip to plan the look, the locations and the timing
- A personalized shot plan built around sunrise, golden hour or the evening lights
- My Rome style guide with what to wear for a winter shoot, plus color palettes for groups
- Trip planning help, including my favorite cafés, restaurants and aperitivo spots near your session
- A fully edited gallery of at least 150 high-resolution images, often many more
- Your private online gallery delivered within one week, ready to download, share and print
- Gentle direction the whole time, so you never have to wonder what to do with your hands
The best places for Christmas photos in Rome
We'll pick one or two of these that sit close together, so you spend your 90 minutes in front of the camera and very little of it walking.
Spanish Steps and Via dei Condotti
The classic. A tall Christmas tree usually stands in Piazza di Spagna for the season, and garlands glow down Via dei Condotti. At sunrise the steps are almost empty. At dusk the whole street sparkles.
Piazza Navona Christmas Market
Rome's best known holiday market fills the piazza with stalls, sweets and carousel lights, traditionally running from early December until Epiphany on January 6. Festive and lively, and wonderful for families and friend groups.
Via del Corso and the shopping streets
The long canopy of lights between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia, plus the side streets around it, give you that walking-through-the-lights shot everyone pins on Pinterest.
Trevi Fountain
Trevi is only worth it early, before the crowds arrive. If Trevi is on your list we start at sunrise, then warm up with a cappuccino and keep going through the waking city.
Trastevere
Ivy, string lights, trattoria windows and cobblestones. The coziest neighborhood in Rome after dark, made for couples and for friends who want an aperitivo in the frame.
St. Peter's Square
The Vatican puts up its Christmas tree and a large nativity scene in December. Grand, meaningful and beautiful for families and faith-centered sessions.
Gianicolo Hill
The sweeping view over the domes and rooftops of Rome as the sun goes down in pink and gold. One of my favorite spots in the city all year.
Pincio Terrace and Piazza del Popolo
Soft winter sun over the rooftops from the Pincio, then down the steps into Piazza del Popolo as the lights come on along Via del Corso.
The best time of day for holiday photos in Rome
December days in Rome are short and the sun sits low, which means beautiful light from morning to evening. In late December the sun rises around 7:35 am and sets around 4:45 pm.
Sunrise
Empty piazzas, soft pink light and the city all to yourselves. The only way to get Trevi or the Spanish Steps without a crowd. Best for proposals and couples.
Golden hour into the lights
We start in warm daylight for your portraits and finish just as the Christmas lights switch on. You get both looks in one session, which is why most of my holiday clients choose it.
Blue hour lights
Deep blue sky, sparkle everywhere, the markets in full swing. The most festive and the busiest, so ideal for families and friends who love energy around them.
Expect days around the mid 50s °F and mornings in the low 40s °F. If it rains, we can move your session to another day of your trip at no cost, and wet cobblestones under the lights make some of my favorite pictures.
What to wear for a Christmas photoshoot in Rome
You'll get my full style guide after booking. Here's the short version I give everyone.
- Start with a great coatCamel, cream, black, chocolate or burgundy. Your coat is in most of the photos, so let it do the work.
- Choose texture over printCashmere, velvet, wool, leather and chunky knits read cozy on camera. Skip logos, neon and busy patterns.
- Coordinate, don't matchFor couples and families, pick two or three tones and spread them across everyone.
- Dress for cobblestonesBlock heels, boots or clean sneakers. Rome's streets are uneven and we'll walk a little.
- Add one festive detailA red lip, a velvet bow, a scarf in deep green or a pair of gloves you can take off for ring shots.
- Want it done for you?Book hair and makeup with Simone at Bartorelli, or ask me about styling help for your session.
Christmas in Rome, the dates that matter
My advice: book your session in the first two or three days of your trip. You'll have a weather backup, you'll know the city a little better, and you can relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday. Here's the calendar I help my clients plan around.
The lights start going up along the main streets. Quieter, softer, and a lovely time for Thanksgiving travelers.
The Piazza Navona market usually opens and the big trees appear at the Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia and St. Peter's Square.
A public holiday in Italy and the unofficial start of Christmas in Rome. The Pope traditionally visits the column near the Spanish Steps, so that area gets very crowded. We'll shoot somewhere else that day.
La Befana, the good witch, brings sweets to children and the Navona market has its final day. The decorations come down soon after.
Booking your holiday session
Say hello
Send me your dates, who's coming and the kind of photos you dream about through the contact form.
Quick video call
We talk through the plan, the locations and the timing, and I send your custom quote.
Hold your date
A deposit locks in your session. The balance is charged on the day of your shoot.
Plan and style
You get my style guide, your shot plan, a meeting point and my list of favorite places to eat near your session.
Your session
Up to 90 minutes in Rome at Christmas. I direct, you enjoy each other, and we warm up with a coffee if you like.
Your gallery
Your fully edited, high-resolution photos arrive in a private online gallery within one week.
Christmas photoshoot in Rome FAQ
How much does a Christmas photoshoot in Rome cost?
My Rome Christmas Session starts at €650 for up to 90 minutes of photography, one or two nearby locations, planning help, a style guide and a fully edited gallery delivered within one week. Larger families, groups and add-ons like a cinematic video reel are quoted on our call.
When is the best time for Christmas photos in Rome?
The season runs from late November, when the lights start going up, until January 6. For time of day, I recommend starting about 90 minutes before sunset so we catch golden hour and then the Christmas lights as they switch on. For empty locations like Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps, sunrise is best.
When do the Christmas lights and trees go up in Rome?
Street lights usually appear from late November into early December, and the big trees at the Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia and St. Peter's Square typically go up in the first half of December. Most decorations stay until Epiphany on January 6.
Where are the best places for Christmas photos in Rome?
My favorites are the Spanish Steps and Via dei Condotti, the Piazza Navona Christmas market, the lights along Via del Corso, Trastevere in the evening, St. Peter's Square for the Vatican tree and nativity, Gianicolo Hill at sunset and the Pincio Terrace above Piazza del Popolo.
Can you photograph a Christmas proposal in Rome?
Yes, proposals are one of my specialties. I help you choose the spot and timing, stay discreet until the moment, and then photograph the two of you together afterward. Sunrise at the Spanish Steps tree or an evening lane in Trastevere are two of my favorite holiday proposal settings.
Do you photograph families with children?
Yes. Family sessions are paced for kids, with plenty of movement, play and short breaks. Golden hour works well for little ones because it's warmer and wraps up before dinner.
Can I book a holiday photoshoot with my friends?
Absolutely. Friend groups, girls' trips and family reunions are welcome. Tell me how many people are coming and I'll plan locations with enough room and a quote that fits the group.
Do you photograph LGBTQ+ couples?
Yes, always. Love Society Studios is built on the belief that love is for everyone, and I photograph queer couples throughout the year in Rome.
How long until I receive my photos?
Your fully edited, high-resolution gallery arrives within one week of your session, delivered in a private online gallery where you can download, share and order prints.
How many photos will I get?
A 90-minute holiday session delivers at least 150 fully edited images, and often many more. I cull out blinks and misses and edit every image I deliver.
Will my photos be ready for Christmas cards?
If your session is in late November or the first half of December, yes. Photos arrive within a week and are high resolution, so they're ready for cards, prints and albums.
What happens if it rains?
If the weather turns, we can move your session to another day during your trip at no extra cost. Light rain under the Christmas lights can also look incredible, and I'll bring clear umbrellas if you want to go for it.
What should we wear for Christmas photos in Rome?
Layer a beautiful coat over textured pieces like cashmere, velvet, wool or leather, in a palette of two or three coordinating tones. Wear shoes you can walk on cobblestones in. Every client gets my full style guide after booking.
Can you arrange hair and makeup?
Yes. My partner salon in Rome, Bartorelli, offers hair and makeup before your session, booked and paid directly with the salon. I can also connect you with styling options for your shoot.
Will the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain be crowded?
During the day, very. That's why I shoot these locations at sunrise. By late afternoon I lean toward spots that feel festive with people around, like the markets, Via del Corso and Trastevere.
Do you speak English?
Yes. I'm an American photographer based in Rome, so the whole experience happens in English, and I'm happy to help with Italian along the way.
How do I book my Christmas session?
Fill out my contact form with your dates and who's coming. We'll have a quick video call, I'll send your quote, and a deposit secures your date. Holiday dates fill fast, so earlier is better.
Let's make your Christmas in Rome unforgettable
Tell me your dates and who's coming, and I'll take it from there. Your photos will be waiting for you before you've even unpacked.
Reserve your holiday dateFrom €650 · Up to 90 minutes · Delivered within one week