Holiday Cards...Lessons Learned
It was dinnertime at the Corbid house, probably about 2014, when all three kids were still in the nest. At one point, during our normal conversation, I mentioned that we needed to schedule some time to take pictures for the annual holiday card. I thought I would see a few eye rolls, then we’d set the date…conversation complete.
I was wrong.
The Corbid 2013 Holiday Card
We spent the next 30 minutes talking about what we were going to put on the card, what the photos would look like, and my 8-year old at the time even started designing the card. Eventually, the suggestions started going off the rails a bit, but here’s what I learned about my family that night.
First, they really do care about our holiday card. And second, they had some really great ideas!
I LOVE giving AND getting holiday cards (and so does my family). I get so much joy out of seeing how the babies have grown into teenagers and now young adults, seeing people's travels and just catching up.
No surprise, I have a love for the photo card. I display them in my home from the day they start coming in December, through the end of January (at least). We hang the cards we receive on ribbons that hang in our front entryway so holiday visitors get to enjoy them, too.
Here are some more lessons I've learned over the years:
Unique is fun and interesting. Make your card personal. Add captions to photos or highlights from the year. At minimum, include kid's ages and maybe some of their interests.
Action shots rock. Posed can be beautiful, but don't be afraid to use photos you've taken throughout the year. If you need to take photos, remember happy kids=happy camera. With that said...there's nothing I love more than a photo card where the kid's expressions are so real they make me laugh.
Get close. People want to see faces more than backgrounds.
Don’t make the photos so tiny you need a magnifying glass. Fewer is sometimes better.
If it’s a posed pic, go neutral with clothing. I learned that lesson from my own senior pictures (still wondering why someone didn't tell me).
Don’t forget the date! You’d be surprised at how many do.
Keepin’ it real. A picture we used in 2014.
Keep 'em coming friends! Thanks for all of the joy you've given me over the years. Can't wait to go to the mailbox this year!
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Holly Corbid is the Founder/Owner of Capture Your Photos, where we help you celebrate life, tell stories and touch hearts with your photos and videos. We specialize in digital photo organization and work remotely with clients all over the country.