Ever since I started photographing, Christmas tree farm photos have always been on my “bucket list”! I’m excited to share some beautiful photos here today, as well as Christmas tree farm outfit ideas, and some of my favorite farms in Chicagoland. 🙂
Christmas Tree Photos
What I love about Christmas tree photos, whether or not they’re at a farm, is that they’re a joyful way to celebrate both the holiday season and what season of life you’re in. 🙂
Christmas Tree Farm Maternity Photos
Maternity photos at the tree farm are a lovely and elegant way to capture the joy and anticipation of the holiday season and your own baby!
Christmas Tree Farm Family Photos
There’s nothing more classic than Christmas tree farm family photos to celebrate the holiday season!
Christmas Tree Farm Photos
One of my favorite parts of Christmas tree farm photos is that there’s actually quite a bit of variety you can get in your photoshoot! While of course you’ll want images with the trees, you can also take images without for a different, more season-neutral look.
We can get fun photos of your family walking through the farm looking for the perfect tree to bring home, photos of you all snuggling in a blanket, or simply playing together in this beautiful setting!
Christmas Tree Farm Photo Outfits
There’s a variety of different directions you can go with your Christmas tree farm photo outfits – here are four of my favorite color palettes for families!
- Pastel tones – this meshes beautifully with the background of a tree farm and can provide a lovely light and airy look to your images!
- Blues, khakis, and cream – you will really stand out against the gold grasses of the meadow
- red, green, cream – these traditional colors really play up the holiday theme! I recommend going with jewel tones – burgundy, ruby, emerald green – which will look more cohesive with the field background than brighter, saturated red and green.
- warm neutrals – cream, khaki, brown. These colors lend simplicity to your image, and tend to look great with most homes’ decor if you choose to put prints up on your walls.
Many families say that deciding on a color palette is the hardest part of a photoshoot. That’s why I provide a comprehensive session and style guide to help guide your choices, as well as a Zoom wardrobe consultation to help finalize your outfit choices!
Christmas Tree Farms Near Chicago
Here are some of my favorite Christmas tree farms near Chicago! They often open to photographers in the first half of November, then open to clients wanting trees in the second half of November. They do require photo permits, and most also require clients to sign a waiver.
Richardson Christmas Tree Farm
Richardson Farm at 909 English Prairie Road is near the Illinois-Wisconsin border to the northwest of Chicago in Spring Grove, IL. It’s 65 miles and 75 minutes away from the Chicago loop. They open the day after Thanksgiving, and are open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Richardson Farm offers free wagon rides to and from the fields, and they’ll haul your tree back to the car for you (thank goodness)! They also offer many different varieties and sizes of Christmas trees, greenery, and wreaths. Photo permits are $100 during public hours, and $250 when the farm is closed to the rest of the public. Dogs are welcome(!) as long as they are leashed and not unruly.
Abbey Farms
Abbey Farms at 2855 Hart Rd in Aurora, IL is another lovely choice if you’re looking for Christmas tree farms near Chicago! At 2855 Hart Rd in Aurora, this farm is the closest to Chicago at 38 miles west and 50 minutes away from the Chicago loop. They offer a variety of tree species and sizes, as well as a farm store to warm up and get a hot chocolate! Dogs are welcome at Abbey Farms, as long as they are leashed and owners take responsibility for their pet. Photo permits are available at $100/hour only during November 1 through November 17, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Oney’s Tree Farm
Oney’s Tree Farm in picturesque Woodstock, IL is one of the biggest and oldest tree farms in Illinois! It’s 66 miles northwest of the Chicago loop, a hour and 20 minute drive. They are open for only a short time – the last week in November through the first week in December, and are open 9-4 PM. In addition to trees, you can also visit with Mrs Claus and peruse some lovely wreaths and greenery to take home with you!
Interested in Christmas tree farm photos of your own? I’d love to help out! Look here for my holiday portfolio, and reach out here to get the ball rolling for your own photoshoot!
Kristen Hazelton is an award-winning Oak Park, IL (West Chicagoland) and Livermore, CA (San Francisco East Bay Area) graduating senior, and family photographer. She occasionally photographs in San Diego, CA, Tucson, AZ, and Seattle, WA. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!
