13 Festive Thanksgiving Photoshoot Ideas

Looking for the best Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas to capture the festivities of the holiday with friends and family? Then we at Peerspace have you covered! These Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas will inspire you to take photos you’ll always treasure.

We not only bring tons of inspiration when it comes to photoshoot ideas but venue suggestions, too. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace makes it easy to find and book unique photoshoot locations that bring all your projects to life. A few of which we’ll share with you ahead! So sit back, relax, and start dreaming of those leftovers.

1. Dress your baby as a pumpkin or turkey

We’re starting this list with a truly adorable Thanksgiving photoshoot idea: dressing up a baby or toddler as a pumpkin or a turkey. It’s easy to find kids’ costumes of both in plenty of different sizes. You’ll treasure these precious photos for years to come.

For portraits focused on one or a few children, we’d recommend a neutral backdrop to let the subjects really shine. If you’d like to take these photos in a photo studio to optimize the background and lighting for this photoshoot, you might want to rent one in your area by the hour through Peerspace.

For example, this Twin Cities photography studio in Saint Paul, MN is not only well-equipped, but it’s also an affordable choice at just $60 per hour. From one of the more than 100 positive reviews of this space: “As usual, it was an absolute pleasure. Arnold [the host] is both friendly and very helpful. The space is always nice, welcoming, and provides for both our photography and video needs.”

2. Plan ahead to ensure a smooth shoot

If you’re the one photographing on Thanksgiving (and you’re not hiring a photographer), it’s important to plan out at least some elements of your photoshoot in advance to ensure that you have the right equipment for the photos you’re taking.

Expert Photography suggests, “It will be most helpful to bring a zoom lens like a 24-105. You’ll take wide-angle shots but also close-ups or detail shots of the food.” If you’re not too familiar with the place where you’re taking photos, you might also want to visit in advance to take a look at the lighting and the space you’ll be using.

3. Take some candid photos to remember the special moments

You can do some staged photos as well, of course, but we think you’ll be especially glad to look back on candid photos of your loved ones in the future. They’ll end up being the most accurate representation of what things were really like at your Thanksgiving dinner. And most importantly, there’s nothing like a genuine laugh, smile, or hug for the most heartwarming Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas.

4. Take mouth-watering photos of the meal itself

Some of those who cook meals on Thanksgiving might be frustrated that they put all this hard work into the art of food preparation, often spending all day in the kitchen to get a delectable dinner on the table, and then the food is gone forever into the bellies of their grateful guests.

Photographing people while they’re eating and during the meal is one way to capture the cooks’ hard work. Get a photo of that beautiful, golden-brown turkey fresh out of the oven, and you can look back and marvel at how delicious it was.

It’s just around the corner now! So check out our outdoor Christmas photoshoot ideas!

5. Head to the patch for a pumpkin-picking photoshoot

Dress up in your best fall sweaters and get out there to pick pumpkins at your local patch. When you do, you’ll have the makings of a truly adorable photoshoot, especially if there are kids present!

Keep in mind that most pumpkin harvests happen around the end of September, so you might have to execute this Thanksgiving photoshoot idea a little early to ensure that there are still pumpkins to pick by the time you head out there.

6. Wear matching outfits for some serious “aww!” factor

Not every family is going to be willing to dress in matching sweaters, but if you’re the kind of family who will, this is a seriously cute and funny Thanksgiving photoshoot idea. Tell everyone to wear the same color (a fall-appropriate color like orange would be perfect) and get group photos of everyone in their coordinated attire.

In the Chicago, IL area and need a professional setting to pull off family portraits like this? Then consider booking this Wicker Park natural light photo studio. It’s only $60 per hour and provides you with moveable walls, lots of props and furnishings, and optional colored seamless backdrop add-ons.

7. Take photos of the cooks in the kitchen

Some of our most heartwarming Thanksgiving memories take place in the kitchen while the food is being prepared. If this is true for your family, taking photos of the cooks doing their magic in the kitchen and everyone hanging out, chatting, and having a great time together is an awesome choice.

8. Take photos of the table settings

As we mentioned in #3, one of the most frustrating aspects of Thanksgiving is that the beautiful meal ends up gone at the end of everything (although at least you always have lots of leftovers to look forward to!). Similarly, beautiful table settings and centerpieces are also quite transient, so it’s a good idea to take photos of those to preserve them, too!

9. Include a loved one who can’t be there with a framed photo

If there’s someone who you wish could be there on Thanksgiving who is unable to make it to the gathering in person, Love to Know Photography has a wonderful suggestion as an alternative.

They write, “A framed photograph of a loved one who is not able to be in the portrait is a nice way to include them”. What a thoughtful idea!

10. Plan a beautiful outdoor fall photoshoot

Since Thanksgiving takes place in the fall, it’s a great time for an outdoor photoshoot, so making sure to get some autumnal pics outside is one of our top Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas. Just find a pretty location like a big open field, an area under some trees covered in colorful fall leaves, or a pumpkin patch for a beautiful backdrop. Bring your family there and start snapping away!

Check out our beautiful autumn photoshoot ideas next for more inspiration!

11. Focus on the details for artistic and professional images

Don’t forget to zoom in on interesting, meaningful details during your photoshoot. For example, writes Creative Live, “Get a close-up of the steam coming off that turkey. Fill the frame with a pair of hands slicing that turkey. Zoom in on the centerpiece. Take a macro shot of the whipped cream curling on top of that pumpkin pie”. Wow, these descriptions are making us hungry!

12. Take photos gathering around the table

Just about everyone agrees that the biggest focus of Thanksgiving is the bounty of delicious food that everyone enjoys together at dinnertime. Make the Thanksgiving dinner the star of the show by having your photoshoot take place around a dinner table! That could be your own dinner table or a dinner table at a rented home if you prefer the more professional look of a studio-style space that’s been set up to be ideal for photography.

For readers located between Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR, check out this 1906 gated oceanside historic mansion in Long Beach, WA. It’s a grand and inviting home that would be a really great choice for this type of photoshoot. You can use the home’s kitchen, dining room, and ballroom for your Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas and dinner.

13. Take photos of your guests playing games before or after the meal

Like any good party, your Thanksgiving gathering will surely involve some games to keep your guests entertained. This is the perfect time to take more photos! After all, your guests will be relaxed and involved in their gameplay, so you can expect to take plenty of candid shots that help preseve the memories of the holiday.

Our Friendsgiving game ideas provide suggestions for some turkey day fun. Check them out!

Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas: conclusion

We hope these Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas have inspired you! Remember, you can use Peerspace to easily book classic photoshoot locations, event venues for your Thanksgiving dinner, and venues for pretty much anything else you have on the horizon. Check out what we have available near you today!

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