How To Take Your Own Holiday Card Photos

Photo greeting cards are a popular choice when it comes to sending holiday cards in the mail.  They tend to be a less expensive option, and there are no shortage of styles from which to choose!  Traditional, modern, whimsical, colorful… there’s something for everyone!  More than the design, what makes a really good photo greeting card?  We think it is the quality of the photograph you place on the card! We also tend to think less photos can be a stronger statement than cramming a bunch of photos into a small card. That is, only if you have a really great photo! 

 

Many people choose to hire professional photographers to capture the whole family.  While we do love a good professional photo shoot, it isn’t always budget friendly and sometimes it can be hard to schedule! 

 

How can you get a winning photo to use without hiring a professional?  We have a few ideas for you!   These are general tips that you can use with just your Smart Phone.  

 

Find a friend, neighbor (or go completely DIY) 

First things, first. Ask your neighbor, friend, or neighborhood babysitter to come over and take some family photos.  You’ll need 15-20 minutes of their time. If you are unable to get someone, iPhone has a countdown timer that you can set.  You can get an inexpensive tri-pod that holds an iPhone or Smart Phone on Amazon, too! 

 

Plan your outfits 

While matching outfits can make for a great photo, we tend to prefer coordinating colors and even throwing in patterns to give a cohesive but not corny look.  Choose a color combination, such as khaki and blue, and look for shirts and pants within that. Jeans is always also a classic look.  Another idea? Dress everyone in holiday pajamas! 

 

Plan your setting 

In almost all cases, photos taken with natural light is preferred.  We recommend shooting in the evening, right before sunset and never shooting during the height of the sun. (Avoid the hours of 10 am – 4 pm).   We love the idea of shooting photos around the Christmas tree at night, too.  Turn off overhead lights, don’t use a flash, and just use the light of the tree!  You could also prepare hot chocolate and have everyone sitting around the table talking.  Sometimes the most natural settings and actions can produce the most authentic photos. 

 

Know Your Phone 

Some basic advice but make sure to have your phone charged.  Shoot in the right camera “mode.”  For iPhone, use the live setting so that you can work around closed eyes and funny expressions when editing.  Try several using the portrait mode.  Your exposure (amount of light that the shutter lets in) can be adjusted.  On your iPhone at the top, you can adjust the exposure to let more light in if it’s dark.  

 

Edit or Not Edit 

With high-quality cameras in our pockets and a plethora of online editing tools at our disposal, it is very easy to get a high-quality result.  If you need to edit after the shoot, try Adobe Lightroom to brighten your photos. Remember that is almost always easier to make a photo brighter, you ca not easily make a bright photo darker (hence why it is best to avoid very sunny photo shoots).   

 

In these apps, you can adjust the light and add filters that suit the mood.  (We tend to shy away from the over-filtered look).   Other photo editing apps to try are Snapseed, VSCO, Pixlr, and Afterlight.   

 

 

With these simple tips, you are sure to have a great holiday photo to use for your holiday photo greeting cards! The hardest part will be choosing which card to use. Here are some of our recent favorites.  

 

This Beloved Season Foil Pressed card has real foil and has the option for different die-cut shapes. A simple and festive message, this card has room for just one perfect photo! 

 

 

We also really like these “Fa La La” whimsical greeting cards that feature a full photo. They are available in 130 lb or 260 lb weight. 

 

This card has an abstract “Merry” message that helps feature the photo that you choose. 

 - This card is also available with two paper weights. 

 

 

 

Finally, we have so many holiday photo mount card options – many with “create-your-own” features allowing you to specify the foil accent color as well as various background and trim colors.

 

One of our all-time favorites! 

 

 

You can see more here! 

 

We can’t wait to start seeing your photos and holiday card orders stream in!  Remember, we can help you design something that perfectly complements your photo!

 

Options for Valentines on Valentine's Day

As you carefully put away decorations for one holiday, do you start thinking about pulling out your decorations for the next?  We can’t get enough of the holidays and so we just let one roll right into another!  Valentine’s Day is, of course, February 14^th which at the rate things are going will be here shortly. 

In an effort to be really organized in 2021, it’s never too early to start thinking about options for Valentine’s Day.   Want to do something beyond the drug store selections? There are some really cute ideas, and with a little advanced planning, you can get your kiddos adorable Valentines that will wow the classroom and their friends.  Here are 6 ideas for Valentine’s Day in 2021.  

 

1.     Exchange Cards are smaller than greeting cards.  Typically, they are about 3.5 x 5”, though we have some options that are 2 x 3.5” (like a business card size!)  We have dozens of styles from which to choose – from hearts, princesses, castles, and cupcakes to alligators, baseball, trains, and dinosaurs – your child will surely find one they can get excited about giving.  Each can be personalized with your child’s name.  They are an affordable option for a personalized printed valentine! 

 

2.     Valentine’s Day Stickers are perfect for the do-it-yourself types.  Order clear plastic treat bags (find on Amazon or your local craft store) and get some wrapped candy in bulk.  Insert the candy, tie, and finish with a personalized sticker.  We have round and square shaped stickers in so many designs!  Will it be mermaids, hearts, or stripes? Or one of our other hundreds of options? 

3.     Treat Bag & Topper Cards are sold as sets – they include both the clear treat bag and the personalized printed card that goes on top.  Insert candy, pencils, or items from the dollar store in these clear bags. The printed front and back cards arrive scored, and you simply fill the bag, fold and staple the card to seal it all up!  It’s easy to distribute in the classroom and kids love it. This is definitely a great choice for those that are looking for something a little extra. 

 

4.     Gift Tags are a great option if you are doing larger-sized gifts for Valentine’s Day.  These tie well to gift bags and look polished.  We have dozens of design styles and they can be personalized with your last name to give as family gifts or your children for individual gifts. The choice is yours! 

5.     Photo Greetings are a great way to send Valentines! Did you skip sending your annual holiday card in 2020?  If you missed it this year and wished you had sent one, consider sending your friends and family a Valentine’s Day photo greeting card instead.  We have a bunch of options with various styles, colors, die cut shapes, and ways to make it yours.  Even if you did send holiday cards in 2020, consider getting a few photo greeting cards to send to a select group of relatives.  Especially for those who haven’t been able to see their friends and family, these Valentine’s Day photo greetings might really brighten someone’s day!  

6.     Non-Photo Greetings. Not everyone loves a photo greeting so if you are looking for a simple card or greeting for Valentine’s Day, we have options for you, too.  

With a little planning and ordering in advance, you can really make some cute Valentines in 2021.  What option will you choose this year? What is your favorite? Are there any ideas that we missed? We would love to hear from you on our Facebook page or in the comments below.  

Holiday Photo Card Sale

The month of December is usually an exciting time to go to your mailbox.  Amidst all of the bills and junk mail, there are a slew of holiday cards from family and friends.  Usually the best ones received are photo cards!

Though it seems early to start thinking about Christmas and winter holidays, with a little advanced planning you can save big on your annual photo greeting cards.   Holiday Cards by Boatman Geller are currently 60% off* at More Than Paper, and we have 4 great tips for taking the perfect holiday photo for your cards!

 

 

Shop all of the Boatman Geller holiday card designs here!

* Letterpress Holiday Photo cards are not included in the sale

When you have the design all picked out, it’s time to take the perfect family photo (or photos, depending on the design of the card you like!)  Here a four ways to get a great holiday photo card:

1. Choose an interesting location like a park, the beach, riverfront or garden.  The background shouldn’t dominate the picture.  No beach?  Set up a station in your house and take photos against a shower curtain, soft linen, or hang a roll of kraft paper.   Consider your garage or side of your house as a backdrop if it’s wooden or has interesting architectural detail. 
2. Think about a clothing “scheme.”   Clothes do not have to match but consider coordinating colors.  Generally patterns do not photograph well, so keep attire limited to solids when possible.
3. Use a tripod and camera with a self timer, or enlist the help of a neighbor or friend.   If you don’t have a tripod, you can stack books on a chair or step stool.   Take a few practice shots then assemble the group.
4. Compose the picture.   Think about arranging people from tallest to shortest, or placing the tallest people on the outside and the shortest in the middle (or vice versa).   A popular composition includes placing the mother and father in the middle, and the kids around the parents.  Be sure to “lean in” to each other to avoid gaps between people.   The closer the better! 

Last year, there was quite a trend of families using props (think mustaches, wigs, sunglasses & more) and people holding chalkboard signs to showcase their greeting.   

Photo by Natalie, on this awesome blog!

Whatever your style is, be sure to follow these tips for great holiday cards and shop now to receive 60% off your Boatman Geller holiday photo cards!  Hurry, this ends 9/12/13 so shop all the cards now.