I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Moriah, and to have her write a guest post on this page makes me a bit giddy, though she says she is giddy to write on here, so I guess we are both very giddy girls! Moriah was the very first blog I ever read, really even heard about a blog. She wrote about her life, and her boys, and it was before I really got to “Know” her. We met through a shared friend a couple times, but only within the last 3 years or so did we really get to hang out more. She is a Joy and I know you will love reading her posts. Be sure to check out her own blog- A Southern Girl who rambles, as well.
Christmas Cards. Let me be honest. They are work. Right? First, it is a matter of trouble to start simply by having to capture the best pictures to use as possible. If that isn’t a chore…getting everyone dressed, posed, lighting great and everyone looking happy and not miserable comes on top of it!! After years of capturing families as a Professional Photographer I’ve learned a lot through the years. For starters by hiring a pro, you take out a lot of the problems such as “how to work the camera” as well as mastering the use of lighting but with a few lessons, mastering the art of the “Christmas card picture” can come with a little less stress. My favorite thing during the holiday season to open up my mailbox and see that my friends and family have sent me beautiful Christmas cards with the faces of their children, their growing families and what would account for, their entire world. That’s basically what we are doing. We are showing you on the face of a card, with a lick of an envelope and one sticky stamp, our world. Everything we have every held of value in this life. And we want it to be perfect. Don’t we?
It can be captured without the use of a pro….I’ll give you a few thoughts on how.
Capturing the best for your card.
1. Coordinate. Find a color scheme. Stay away from patterns. My advice: Mom, find your outfit first. If you look great in Carolina Blue…base your outfit around that and then find
the rest of your families to match. You know, if you love how YOU look in the picture it sure will help make matters easier when you are sweatin’ to death from getting everyone else dressed and ready.
2. Look for natural light. I love open shade. Under an oak tree, in a meadow beside a wood line…etc. The best time to shoot is early morning at 7am or so, and more practical..an hour and half before sunset.
3. Relax and have fun.
After you have captured the pictures( and recovered from the hangover you obtained following your families photoshoot) you need to design your card. Most people nowadays have made great investments into wonderful photography equipment…but the problem is, they haven’t exactly mastered the world of Photoshop, layers, copy and move, and all things that require designing their own card from the start to finish.
Shutterfly takes the work out of design.
Have y’all seen some of the designer work they have launched this year on their card site?
YOU have got to go HERE and check out the new designs!! The designs are beautiful!! Shutterfly has free unlimited secure storage, is 100% happiness guaranteed and they will never delete your pictures to make “space on their server!” Their site is super user friendly as well!!
Not only that, they seem to often times run great deals!!
Want a chance to win free cards this year? We have a giveaway!! Shutterfly is offering you the chance to send your family beautifully designed cards this season!!
Giveaway prize: $50 off total order (does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos)
Simple entry: Enter below in the comments by telling me where you put your Christmas cards out in your home for display? This always has me curious how others display them!!
Good luck!! Giveaway ends Friday the 19th at midnight.!!
xo-Moriah
Thanks M! I love you and Loved this post. Moriah is a fabulous local photographr, so I was tickled with her tips here! Hiring a photographer for these does make my life simpler!
From Jess: Reminder to check out the Special Offers page on Shutterfly to find some other Great Deals!
Find them on Social Media Outlets:
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/Shutterfly
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/
• Instagram: Shutterfly
• Google +: https://plus.google.com/+
• Blog: http://blog.shutterfly.com/
~This is a sponsored post from Shutterfly- they are providing free product for our honest review and feedback.
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About Jessica Ballard
Love to hang lighted garland and display my cards in the lighted garland, tracietrump@yahoo.com
We hang our Christmas cards around our pantry door,which is visible from the front door.
good idea!
I put ours on the front door usually. This year we might put them on the kitchen cabinets.
How are you going to attach them to the cabinets? certain patterns? with Tape? would love to hear your idea, interested to hear!
I’ve displayed mine in different ways. Once all hanging from the mantle, then once I made them into wreaths that hung in the foyer. I like to have them where the kids and I can see them. I may make a mobile for one of the doorways this year. Great giveaway!
Wendy recently posted..Chevron Baby Shower
I am the same way Wendy, I like to change it up each year!
I put them up on our mantle, and around the fireplace.
I used to do that until I made last years display to hang on our coat closet door.
I’m going to try something new this year with my cards that I’ve seen on Pinterest. I haven’t decided exactly yet but I may put them all on a key ring and place them on our coffee table for everyone to see!
Susan @ Real Life Travels recently posted..Weekly Menu – Week of 10.14.12
What a neat idea.
I have a card holder that hangs over a door. Of course it only holds a dozen so the extras get taped to the wall or hung in the tree!
Tell me about your card holder Stephanie. What does it look like?
i like to make scrapbook paper frames and hand around the house and on the tree depending on the design of each
Beth, would love to see a picture of a paper frame you made!!!