How to Clean Up Your Holiday & Christmas Photos
Make holiday and Christmas photos look magical: remove clutter, wrapping paper, cables and photobombers with an AI eraser, plus tips for festive shots.
By Ayoub Farid · · 3 min read
Holiday photos are some of the year's most shared — and most chaotic. Wrapping paper everywhere, a tangle of light cables, a laundry basket next to the tree, someone walking through the family shot. A few minutes of cleanup turns them into photos you'll want to frame.
Before you shoot
- Clear the floor around the tree before the group photo.
- Turn on the tree lights and turn off harsh ceiling lights for a warmer look.
- Shoot at the kids' eye level for the present-opening moments.
- Take a burst of group photos — someone always blinks.
What to remove afterwards
| Distraction | Tip |
|---|---|
| Wrapping paper and boxes | Erase in a couple of passes |
| Extension cords and light cables | Trace with a small brush — like removing power lines |
| Laundry, bags, toys in the corner | See removing clutter |
| Someone walking through the shot | See remove people from photos |
| Thermostats, switches, sockets | Small brush, one erase |
Cleaning up with Erase Spark
- Open Erase Spark and choose Remove Object.
- Brush over the biggest distraction first and tap Erase.
- Continue with smaller items.
- Compare before and after, then save a copy.
Add some festive magic
Use Replace Object to add seasonal touches to empty spots:
- "a wrapped present with a red bow"
- "a small Christmas tree with lights"
- "a plate of gingerbread cookies"
- "a snowman" (outdoor shots)
More ideas in how to replace objects with AI.
Holiday cards and stories
Want a clean family cut-out for a card? Use Remove Background and place the family on a festive design. And for group shots, check our guide to removing someone from a group photo if needed.
Fix common holiday lighting problems
Indoor holiday photos are often shot in low light, which makes noise and blur more likely — and makes erasing harder, because the AI has less clean detail to work with. A few habits help:
- Add light instead of raising ISO. Open curtains during the day, or switch on extra lamps in the evening.
- Brace your phone on a table or shelf for group photos with the timer.
- Use Night mode sparingly for moving kids; it can smear motion.
- Shoot extra frames of the scene without people (the empty room, the tree) — they make great backgrounds for cards and stories.
The sharper the source photo, the cleaner every erase, replace and cut-out will be.
Try it this holiday season
Erase Spark is free to download on iPhone and iPad — perfect for tidying up the photos before you send them to the family chat.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove clutter from Christmas photos?
Use an AI eraser to brush over wrapping paper, cables and other mess, erasing large items first.
Can I add decorations to a photo with AI?
Yes. With AI replace, brush an empty area and describe what you want, like "a wrapped present with a red bow".
How do I make a family cut-out for a holiday card?
Remove the background from your family photo and place the cut-out on a card design.
What's the best light for Christmas tree photos?
Turn on the tree lights and dim harsh overhead lights for a warm, cozy look.