Want some cool Christmas photo contest ideas? This blog is for you. Running a Christmas photo contest can be a great way to connect with your audience and promote your business during the holiday season. A solid strategy can create excitement, grow your social media presence, and boost sales.
Check out the 15 ideas below to run a successful Christmas photo contest and take your business to the next level!
How to Run a Christmas Photo Contest?
Before I jump into the ideas, here are some general tips on how to run an online photo contest in Christmas holiday season:
#1. Set clear goals and objectives
Define what you want to achieve with your Christmas photo contest. Is it to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or engage with your audience? In addition, set specific metrics to measure the success of your contest, such as number of submissions, social media followers gained, or revenue generated. This will help you tailor your content accordingly.
#2. Choose a theme
A Christmas-themed photo contest is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and make your contest more engaging. You can choose from traditional themes like ‘Santa’s Workshop’ or ‘Winter Wonderland,’ or get creative and create a unique theme that aligns with your brand.
Read the whole blog to discover all the Christmas photo contest ideas for more ideas.
#3. Decide on the photo contest rules
Be clear about the rules of your contest, including eligibility criteria, photo guidelines, submission deadlines, etc. Here are some Christmas photo contest rules examples:
- Photos must be original and not edited
- Only one entry per person
- Submissions must be made by a certain date to be considered
- Participants must follow your social media accounts
- Use #hashtags to organize submissions and increase visibility
- Mention or Tag your brand in the photos
#4. Determine the prizes
The prizes you offer can make or break your Christmas photo contest. Consider what your target audience would value and get creative with your prizes – think beyond just products or discounts.
Here are prize ideas for the Christmas photo contest-
- Gift cards or vouchers
- Experiences like a free trip or dinner
- Collaborations with other businesses for a prize package
- Customized merchandise or products
- Social media shoutouts or features
- Grand prize for the best photo
- Consolation prizes for runner-ups
- Special discounts or exclusive offers for participants
#5. Promote your contest
Promotion is key to a successful Christmas photo contest. Leverage all your marketing channels, including social media, email marketing, website banners, and influencer collaborations, to spread the word about your contest. Use eye-catching graphics and a clear call-to-action to entice people to participate.
#6. Engage with participants
Don’t just stop promoting the contest – engage with your participants throughout the contest. Respond to comments, share submissions on your social media, and create a sense of community around your contest. This will keep your audience interested and encourage more people to participate.
#7. Be transparent
Make sure you are transparent about the selection process and criteria for choosing winners. If possible, involve your audience in the judging process – this will make them feel more invested and increase their engagement with your brand.
#8. Announce the winners
Once the contest ends, announce the winners on all your marketing channels. This will not only give recognition to the winners but also create buzz and excitement among your audience for future contests. Plus, don’t forget to thank all participants for their submissions.
#9. Follow up
After the contest, keep engaging with your new followers and customers. Offer them exclusive promotions or discounts as a token of appreciation for participating in your Christmas photo contest. This will help build customer loyalty and encourage future participation in your contests.
Check out the below video for more detail explanation on how to start your own photography contest.
15 Best Christmas Photo Contest Ideas
Alright, let’s get down to it! Here are 15 awesome Christmas photo contest ideas to engage your audience and give your business a holiday season boost:
#1. Ugly sweater photo contest
An ugly sweater photo contest is a fun and lighthearted way to get your audience involved during the holiday season. Participants can enter by sharing pics of themselves wearing their most outrageous Christmas-themed sweaters. Not only does this theme bring out the holiday spirit, but it also encourages a sense of humor and creativity, which customers love!
You can offer prizes for categories like “The Ugliest Sweater,” “The Most Creative Sweater,” or “The Most Festive Sweater,” and promote the contest on all your social media platforms. Creating a unique hashtag for participants will make it easier to keep track of submissions and engage with everyone involved.
Plus, involving your audience in voting can boost interactions and give your brand even more visibility. So, let’s get started and have some festive fun!
#2. Christmas tree decoration photo contest
Hosting a Christmas tree decoration photo contest is another great way to get your customers involved. Participants can share photos of their beautifully adorned trees and be judged on creativity, originality, and overall appearance.
You can also involve your audience in voting by asking them to like or comment on their favorite submissions.
To make it even more exciting, you can collaborate with a local charity or non-profit organization and donate a certain amount to them for every submission. This will add a charitable aspect to your contest and encourage more people to participate.
#3. Pet photo contest
The holiday season is about spending time with loved ones, including our furry friends! A pet photo contest is a fantastic way to engage with animal-loving customers and showcase adorable holiday-themed pet pics.
Participants can submit photos of their pets dressed up in festive outfits or engaging in holiday activities like playing with snow or opening presents. You can host the contest for several categories like “Cutest Pet,” “Best Dressed Pet,” or even “Most Festive Family Photo.”
Plus, don’t forget to include a donation aspect by partnering with an animal shelter or rescue organization and donating a portion of your sales to them for every submission.
#4. Poster making contest
If you want to run a promotional campaign for Christmas, running a poster design contest can be a fun and effective idea. This contest allows your audience to showcase their creative skills while promoting your brand simultaneously.
Participants can submit festive posters featuring your brand logo and tagline. Winners can be recognized in categories such as “Best Design,” “Most Impactful Message,” or “Most Shared Poster.”
Additionally, engage your customers in voting by encouraging them to vote for their favorite submissions on social media.
#5. Holiday recipe photo contest
We all have our favorite holiday recipes, and hosting a recipe photo contest is a great way to gather and share them with your audience. Participants can send photos of their mouthwatering holiday treats and the recipe. You can have fun judging them for categories like “Best Presentation,” “Most Unique Recipe,” or “Best Holiday Dish.”
Don’t forget to share all the entries on your social media platforms and create a community of food enthusiasts who can try out each other’s recipes. And why not add a charitable touch by donating a portion of sales from specific holiday-themed products to a local food bank or hunger relief organization?
#6. Christmas lights photo contest
Who doesn’t love driving around and looking at all the beautifully lit houses during the holiday season?
Hosting a Christmas lights photo contest is a fantastic way to get your audience involved in capturing the magic of the holidays! People can submit photos of their own or others’ beautifully lit homes. You can offer cool prizes for categories like “Best Light Display,” “Most Creative Use of Lights,” or “Most Festive Neighborhood.”
Also, you can even let your audience vote for the winners! This boosts engagement and spreads that wonderful holiday spirit in the community.
#7. Gingerbread house-making contest
A gingerbread house-making contest is another fun and creative way to engage with your audience during the holidays. Participants can share photos of their gingerbread creations and include a fun caption or story.
The best part of this contest is that anyone can participate regardless of age or location, making it an inclusive and exciting experience for all. To make it even more exciting, you can also involve your audience in voting by asking them to vote for their favorite submissions on social media.
#8. Christmas cookie decorating contest
Cookies are a staple during the holiday season, and hosting a cookie decorating contest is an excellent way to involve your audience in all the delicious fun! Participants can submit photos of their decorated cookies and include the recipe or any interesting story behind them.
You can have categories like “Best Decorated Cookie,” “Most Creative Cookie Recipe,” or even “Best Holiday-Themed Cookies.”
Also, you can partner with a local charity or non-profit organization and donate a portion of your sales from holiday-themed products to them for every submission.
Read also: Cookie contest ideas
#9. Best-dressed Christmas window display
For brick-and-mortar businesses, hosting a best-dressed Christmas window display contest is an excellent way to showcase your creativity and attract customers to your store during the holiday season.
Participants can submit photos of their beautifully decorated windows featuring your brand and products. You can also involve your audience in voting by asking them to vote for their favorite window displays on social media.
And don’t forget to offer a prize for the winning display, such as a gift card or store credit, to encourage more participation!
#10. Christmas home decoration photo contest
Hosting a Christmas home decoration photo contest is an awesome way to get your audience involved in creating that festive vibe at home. Participants can share pics of their holiday decorations, from Christmas trees to outdoor light displays. Let the festivities begin!
Some categories for running this contest can be “Best Indoor Decorations,” “Most Festive Outdoor Display,” or even “Best DIY Decor.” By partnering with a local charity and donating a portion of sales to them for every submission, you can spread holiday cheer while giving back to the community.
#11. Christmas door decoration photo contest
Here’s another awesome and unique idea for a photo contest during the Christmas holiday: a door decoration photo contest! People can share pictures of their beautifully decorated doors, whether a classic wreath, a fun snowman, or a sleigh.
You can have different categories like “Office Door Decorations,” “Most Creative Front Door Design,” or even “Best Use of Recycled Materials.” And don’t forget to engage your audience by letting them vote for their favorites on social media.
This contest is also a great opportunity for businesses to showcase their products or services by decorating their door and participating. Plus, you can donate a portion of sales from holiday-themed items to a charity.
#12. Selfie with your product contest
If you’re a business selling physical products, this holiday-themed selfie contest is perfect! Encourage your customers to take creative selfies with your product in festive settings and share them on social media. You can even ask them to include a fun caption or tag your brand in the photo.
This promotes your brand, encourages user-generated content, and boosts engagement. Plus, you can offer a prize for the best selfie or even feature some of the submissions on your social media pages to showcase your customers and their love for your products during the holiday season.
#13. Santa costume photo contest
Embrace the Christmas holiday spirit by donning a Santa costume! Engage your audience with a Santa costume photo contest, where they can share their finest Santa outfits. Create categories such as “Cutest Santa,” “Most Creative Costume,” or even “Best Group Costume.”
Spread the joy by pledging a portion of holiday-themed item sales to a local charity for each submission. This contest presents an excellent opportunity to promote your brand. Encourage participants to incorporate a branded element, like a product or logo, into their costumes and share the festive spirit on social media. Let the merriment begin!
Read also: Costume contest ideas
#14. Christmas-themed art competition
Looking for a Christmas photo contest for students? Hosting an art competition is a cool way to connect with schools and universities during the holiday season. You can collaborate with a school, university, or local artist to organize a Christmas-themed art competition.
Students can submit their artwork with any Christmas or winter theme, like paintings, drawings, digital art, or sculptures. You can also have different categories based on age groups or types of art.
And hey, don’t forget to offer some sweet prizes for the winners and display all the submissions in your business or local gallery to spread holiday cheer through art!
Read also: Competition prize ideas for students
#15. Christmas charity challenge
The holiday season is a time for giving back, and what better way to do so than by involving your audience in a charity challenge? You can partner with a local charity or non-profit organization and create challenges for people to participate in, like a fun run or a food drive.
To make it even more engaging, you can have different levels or tasks for the challenge and offer prizes for those who complete them. Encourage your audience to get involved and spread the word on social media by sharing their experiences, photos, and videos and using a branded hashtag. This promotes your brand and raises awareness and support for a good cause during the holiday season.
For every submission or completion of the challenge, you can donate a portion of your holiday-themed product sales to the charity, making it a win-win for everyone involved. This will bring positivity and goodwill towards your brand and help make a difference in the community during the holiday season.
How Running a Christmas Photo Contest Helps Your Business?
Now you have a detailed explanation of some awesome Christmas photo contest ideas and how to host them. So, let’s dive into why running a Christmas photo contest can be a super cool marketing strategy for your brand.
#1. Boosts Engagement and Brand Awareness
Hosting a Christmas photo contest is an excellent way to engage with your audience and increase brand awareness. User-generated content like photos, videos, or even captions shared by participants will promote your brand and encourage others to participate in the contest. This will increase your business’s visibility on social media and beyond.
#2. Creates Positive Brand Image
Incorporating charitable or community-focused elements into your Christmas photo contest can create a positive brand image and show that your business cares about giving back during the holiday season. This will attract more customers and foster loyalty among existing ones.
#3. Drives Sales and Conversions
A Christmas photo contest can be an excellent opportunity to promote your products or services. By including a branded element in the contest, such as using a product in photos or incorporating your logo into costumes, you can showcase your offerings and entice customers to purchase. Offering exclusive discounts or promotions for participants can also drive sales and conversions.
#4. Builds Relationships with Customers
Hosting a Christmas photo contest is an interactive way to engage with your customers and build relationships with them. You can make them feel valued and appreciated by showcasing their submissions on your social media pages or featuring them in your business. This can also lead to long-lasting brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
#5. Provides Valuable Data and Feedback
Running a Christmas photo contest can also provide valuable data and feedback about customer preferences. By analyzing the submissions, you can gather insights into what resonates with your audience and use that information to improve your products, services, or marketing strategies in the future.
How Royal Votes Can Help You?
Royal Votes is a reputed online contest vote seller. My team is here to help both participants and hosts.
Participants can buy votes for their submissions to increase their chances of winning. Our expert team uses safe and secure methods to deliver votes, ensuring your contest’s integrity.
As a host, you can also use our services to buy votes for specific entries or categories in your Christmas photo contest. This can help boost engagement and drive more traffic to your social media pages or website. It also helps to increase the visibility and credibility of your contest.
With Royal Votes, you can also get customized packages and personalized support to suit your contest needs. We offer competitive pricing and timely delivery to ensure a successful contest for hosts and participants.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact Royal Votes today and make your Christmas photo contest a hit!
FAQs on Christmas Photo Contest Ideas
What are good Christmas contest ideas?
Apart from photo contests, there are so many other Christmas contest ideas. You can host a Christmas giveaway, guess the ornaments, trivia quiz, Christmas bingo, scavenger hunt, or recipe contest. The key is making it fun and engaging for your audience while promoting your brand.
How do you promote a Christmas photo contest?
To promote a Christmas photo contest, you can use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. It will help to reach a wider audience and encourage participation. You can also use email marketing, influencer partnerships, and paid advertising to promote the contest.
How do I choose a winner for my Christmas photo contest?
You can select a winner for your Christmas photo contest by combining public voting, a judging panel, or random selection. It’s crucial to have clear guidelines and criteria for choosing the winner before the contest begins to avoid confusion or bias.
Also, offering prizes for different categories or runner-up submissions can make the contest more exciting and fair.
Are photo contests worth it?
Yes. If done correctly, photo contests can be worth it for your business. It can boost engagement, increase brand awareness, drive sales and conversions, build customer relationships, and provide valuable data and feedback.
However, planning and executing the contest carefully is essential to ensure its success and align with your overall marketing goals.
What makes a good Christmas photo?
A good Christmas photo can vary depending on the theme or criteria of the contest. However, some general elements that can make a good Christmas photo are creativity, holiday spirit and cheer, quality composition, and relevance to the brand or contest theme.
Additionally, incorporating festive decorations, costumes, or props can add to the photo’s overall appeal.
How do you create a photo voting contest?
To create a photo voting contest, you can use online tools or platforms that allow users to upload and vote for their favorite submissions. Some popular options include Woobox, ShortStack, and Wishpond. Make sure to clearly explain the voting rules and guidelines to avoid confusion. You can also offer incentives for participants to encourage them to promote their entries and garner more votes.
How to win a Christmas photo contest?
If you are a participant in a Christmas photo contest, some tips to increase your chances of winning are:
- Read and follow the guidelines and criteria carefully.
- Be creative and original with your submission.
- Incorporate elements that align with the theme or brand of the contest.
- Promote your submission on social media and encourage voting from friends and family.
- Follow the contest’s rules for interacting with other participants or promoting your submission.
- Buy votes or use online tools to increase your vote count (if allowed and within the budget).
Read also: How to Enter to Online Photography Contest to Win Prizes?
Final words
Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and spreading cheer. And what better way to do so than by captivating your audience and promoting your brand through engaging and imaginative photo contests?
From quirky ugly sweater competitions to heartwarming charity challenges, the possibilities for creating festive and interactive experiences for your customers during the holiday season are endless.
