Stress-Free Christmas Photos in Wausau: My Heart Behind These Studio Minis

Why Having a Studio for Christmas Photos Means More to Me Than You Might Think

Every year, I start December with the same hope:
“This year I’m finally going to take beautiful Christmas photos of the boys.”

I picture cozy moments… warm light… that magical, nostalgic feeling you see in other families’ Christmas photos.

And then reality hits:

Two kids.
Two dogs.
Two cats.
A house that is always just a little bit chaotic, no matter how much I try.
And lighting that feels like it actively works against me.

By the time Christmas rolls around, I’m usually running on fumes. We’re doing all the “fun” things — baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping — but the emotional load of creating Christmas magic leaves me pretty worn down. And taking photos becomes one more thing I don’t have energy for.

while I love living here in Wausau, our house is not exactly a photographer’s dream.
It’s cramped in a way that feels uncomfortable, not cozy.
The living room only fits a Christmas tree if we rearrange everything like a puzzle.
And the lighting? Dark. Dim. Moody in the wrong way.

So instead of beautiful Christmas portraits, I usually end up with a few dark snapshots and too-awkward selfies on my phone.
Memories I love — but not images I want to print and hang on our wall.

As a photographer, there’s always been a little sting in that.

Because when I think back on my kids’ Christmases, I want to remember them clearly.
I want to see their joy.
Their little faces.
Their pajamas.
Their messy hair.
All the tiny details that slip away faster each year.

And I know myself — I struggle to remember everything unless I can see it.

But this year… something changed.

This year, I have a studio.

And I didn’t expect it to feel this emotional.

For the first time ever, I could create the cozy, vintage, magical Christmas vibe I’ve always wanted — without fighting my house, the clutter, the lighting, or my own end-of-year exhaustion.
The studio was already clean.
Already decorated.
Already peaceful.

All I had to do was show up with my boys as we are.

And when I look at these photos… I honestly feel a lump in my throat.
They are everything I’ve dreamed of having for my family:
Warm.
Joyful.
Classic.
Timeless.
The kind of Christmas photos I’ll treasure when these little years are long gone.

And I realized something:

I’m not the only mom who feels this way.

Because Christmas is beautiful — but it can also feel heavy.

We’re all busy.
We’re all tired.
We all want to make Christmas magical for our families, but it doesn’t always look the way we imagined.

Sometimes the house is messy.
Sometimes the tree barely fits.
Sometimes the lighting is terrible.
Sometimes you’re carrying so much responsibility that the idea of “just taking pictures” feels overwhelming.

I get that.
I live that.

And that’s why I’m so excited — deeply, genuinely excited — to offer Christmas studio sessions this year.

Not because they’re cute (they are).
Not because they’re convenient (they really are).
But because I know what it feels like to want beautiful Christmas memories and not have the capacity, space, or energy to create them.

The studio gives families what I’ve needed for years:

• A place that’s already clean

• Already decorated

• Already well-lit

• Already magical

A place where you can simply show up, breathe, and enjoy the moment — without the pressure to create it all yourself.

If you’re in a season where Christmas feels like a lot…
Ify our home isn’t photo-ready…
If you want those cozy, nostalgic images but feel too overwhelmed to make it happen…

I hope this studio feels like a gift to you the way it has been a gift to me.

You deserve to have Christmas memories you love.
And I would be honored to create them for you.

If you’re ready for cozy, stress-free Christmas photos this year…

I would love to welcome you into the studio.
My Wausau Christmas mini sessions were created with families just like mine in mind — families who want beautiful, timeless images without the overwhelm.

You can learn more and reserve your spot by sending me a message here.

Whether you join me for a holiday studio session or simply take a few extra snapshots at home this year, I hope you capture the moments you want to remember.

And if you’re local and searching for a Wausau family photographer who gets what this season feels like… I’m here, cheering for you, camera in hand, ready to help you create something beautiful.

~Carissa