With the family together, Thanksgiving is the perfect day to cross “take family holiday photo” off your holiday to-do list.
Once we turn the calendar to December, much of our free time is spent Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, decorating, and baking cookies for those countless cookie swaps. Don’t forget all of the holiday party obligations and white elephant gift exchanges! With the flurry of activity in the month of December, it’s no surprise that many families make Thanksgiving their annual family photo day.
Why you should take family Christmas card pictures at Thanksgiving
- Everyone is together. Siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents… the holidays are the best time to gather everyone for a big family photo op.
- Everyone is usually dressed a bit nicer. There typically aren’t too many jeans and t-shirts at Thanksgiving dinner.
- Not too hot, not too cold for outdoor pictures. This does depend on your climate, but the weather is usually perfect for snapping a few outdoor shots with the fall leaves for a perfectly autumn family photo.
- Lots of candid photo ops. If you’re looking to send out humorous family Christmas photo cards, hang out in the kitchen while food is being prepped, watch the kids play games, or just keep your camera poised and ready during dinner when talk is cheerful and spirits are high.
How to Make Thanksgiving your Annual Family Photo Day
There are two ways to take the perfect family picture for your Christmas cards.
First, you can hire a professional photographer. Book an appointment with a family photographer for sometime at the end of November—but call them earlier in the month, or even in October, as their year-end schedules fill up fast! Many photographers will come to your home or an outdoor setting (like a park). This makes your photos a personal reflection of your family’s style. If you like the polished look of studio style photography, go to a portrait studio where they have many options for backdrops and seasonal props.
If you are more of a DIY-type, shoot your own photos with a tripod. Just set the camera timer, and go! This method works for a lot of people. Taking family Christmas card pictures this way can take some time to get your pose just right, so it might not be the best option for families with young children or pets. If you fall into that category, consider asking a friend or family member to take the picture.
Here are 5 Quick Tips for the Perfect Christmas Card Photo
1. Be you. Sound simple? It can be, but when the camera is ready, some people will freeze up. To get around this, ask a friend or extended family member to quietly snap some candid photos while you and your family are playing in the leaves, telling stories, or even baking cookies.
2. Don’t match outfits too closely. Don’t put everyone in a solid navy blue shirt with khakis. Instead, give a color palette as inspiration. That way, a solid navy blue top will go nicely with a wine-colored plaid top and a mustard sweater. Kate L. Photography has some excellent advice on how to choose outfits for your family photos.
3. Include the family dog or cat. Sometimes having an animal in the photo will make everyone more at ease. It can also make for some really cute images!
4. Don’t photograph yourself. Not feeling photogenic? Photograph something that your family holds near and dear to their hearts. Maybe it’s the family farm, a picture of some of your kid’s artwork, or maybe just the cat, dog, or even goldfish. Remember, with family Christmas cards, it really is the thought behind it.
5. Make it generational. Your extended family will love seeing the family lineage, from the oldest member to the youngest. It is sure to evoke fond memories, and it’s a great gift to give the youngest members of your family.
Turn your Family Photo into a Christmas Photo Card
Once you have the perfect picture, why not use it as your Christmas card? Personalized photo greeting cards are popular because they are affordable and easy to create. Simply order some prints, and slide your photos into photo insert cards.
Why photo insert cards work so well as Christmas Family Photo Cards
- You have plenty of color options to choose from, including white, black, red, and forest green. We also have Christmas photo insert cards.
- Our Simplicity photo insert cards require no glue or tape—just slide your photo under the window frame border.
- This card that holds your 4″x 6″ photo can also double as a cheap 5″ x 7″ photo frame mat.
- These photo frame cards are acid free and archival-quality, making them a safe way to store your prints.
- Unlike cheap photo frame cards from craft stores, our window borders are glued down so the window frame edges don’t pucker. Tight window borders mean your photograph won’t slide around—or worse, slide out.
If you don’t want to send a card with your family photo inserted in the frame, you can design your own custom printed Christmas photo cards. If you need help designing it, we can help! Just call us at (800) 346-3063 or send us an email.
Whichever Christmas photo card style you choose, Christmas greeting cards made from your Thanksgiving family photo day are a fun, creative way to say, “Merry Christmas!”
So go on, get out and take that perfect (or imperfect!) family photo this Thanksgiving. You’ll have fun taking it, and the memories you’ll make are sure to last a long time.