The photographer in me just can't help herself and I would be lying if I said I didn't start thinking about these sorts of things while I was still pregnant with Maclane. Four months ago. In fact, I may have already nailed down everyone's outfit and chosen a location.
What can I say? I love a good plan.
Now that those decisions have been made, I like to check out my card options so that I can kindly offer suggestions to our photographer as to how to take our pictures. The best poses, the best angles, etc. Thankfully our photographer is my Dad and he doesn't mind me wearing my Bossy Britches to our photo shoot. Or, if he does, he doesn't say it out loud.
Right from the start I visit Shutterfly's website and narrow down my options based on some things that are must-haves when it comes to the M Family Christmas card. Things like: it must be a flat card, 5x7 in size, made from premium card stock and display only one picture. If I can find one that I like that bears our monogram or initial? It's usually a shoe-in.
It also must be said that I prefer for whatever photo we choose to do most of the talking. Again, it's the photographer in me.
Here are my top five front runners for 2012:
Not too shabby, huh? Needless to say, I like to keep things simple. If simple just isn't your thing and you prefer bold and bright, Shutterfly has plenty of cards to deck your bold and bright halls as well. You should check them out and while you're at it, check out their special offers page too. It's there that you'll be able to find discounts on shipping, address labels, stationery and more.
So, what's on your must-haves list for holiday family photos? I know I can't be the only one who starts thinking about this sort of stuff during 4th of July fireworks.
Or maybe I am. Like I said, I blame the photographer in me.
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**I did not receive monetary compensation for this post, however I will be receiving a discount code towards future Shutterfly purchases. The opinions shared above are honest and purely my own. Visit Shutterfly's blog today to learn more about one of my favorite companies.
92 comments:
Probably the whole family. We need to get on picture taking too!
My husband, the wilds and I!
We just took ours outside last weekend it was 40 and we all froze but we wanted the fall leaves in them lol...it was our family
I wanted the Be Merry ones last year but our photo wouldn't fit. We're getting our photos done this Thursday - fingers crossed for a good one:-)
A picture announcing we are expecting our first baby!
Hubs, me, and of course, our furbabe Deuce! I wanted to send Christmas cards last year but decided to wait until we were married(why, yeah no idea lol)
I can't wait to take our pictures it will be baby's first Christmas. She was a preemie 1lb. 7 oz. and are so excited she is home with us. But she won't be able to partake in Christmas activities because of rsv season.
I already have my kids outfits picked! Now to pick the hubs and I and get a beautiful weather day to take it outside!
We have two new additions this year- {adopted} baby boy and baby girl! So excited to get pictures of the 4 of us done!
It will be the whole family. But the dog will be featured!! :)
family on the card...and using your photography too!!!
Me and the old man and our new addition :) Plus the two furry babies we own :)
I'm hoping out little girl will make her appearance before Christmas so she can make her debut on our Christmas card this year!
A family photo!
The Hubs, Owen and I. Owen is our baby.
We'll use the photos we had taken two weeks ago.
Have to wait 4-8 weeks to see them and it is KILLING me.
Photo cards are going to be very important this year because of our son, who was born in August, & not everyone has gotten to see him yet
I think I am just going to take a pi of our 2 yr old son. I am stressed that I don't have a pic yet!!! I need to get on that ASAP!!!
Alison S
I'm so excited for family christmas cards! This will be the first time that we've done it, since little O is here :-) Thank you for recommending Shutterfly, it's just what I was looking for!
We usually do a family picture on our cards! I'm loving all of your picks!
The whole family. Hopefully the toddler will cooperate.
We will have our four kids on the front of our Christmas cad.
Hoping (fingers crossed) that there is a good family photo for this years cards. If not then a good picture of the kiddos :)
Hopefully there is a good family photo in our pictures from a couple of weeks ago (still waiting to see!). If not then a good one of each of the kiddos :)
Hubby & Kallers & I! Pending I like our family pictures :) Or it's just Kal!
We have always had our whole family (us, the kids and the dog), but this year I am trying to go simple and just have the kids on the card.
Me the hubs our two kids and of course our dog! We love shutterfly!
Hopefully our family of three and ideally a baby bump. Come on little swimmers! ;)
Our family of three and hopefully a baby bump to debut. Come on little swimmers! ;)
I love the last one! J and I will be sending out of first christmas card as a couple this year after dating for almost three years. I have our outfits and location picked out as well!
I love the last one! I have our outfits and location picked out already as well. The big day is November 3rd!
I always just have the kids on our holiday cards. I hate having my picture taken so I prefer it sans parents and just the cute kiddos.
I usually only put my son on the cards, but this year we have a daughter and I think we're going to put a family pic. To heck with whether or not I think I'm too thick! haha
I love all of your pics..... and our card will have my husband, 2 year old, 6 month old, fur baby, and myself :)
We're actually all going to be on the card this year...we're using pictures from Erin's wedding!
My husband, daughter and me!
Our whole family is on our card every year. Started as just my husband, myself, and our dog and expanded with our daughter 2 years ago.
I hoping to do a self photo shoot of my daughter and our whole family. I'm like you and prefer the simple cards with one pic so depending on which photo is best will determine which photo is on our cards.
I hoping to do a self photo shoot of my daughter and our whole family. I'm like you and prefer the simple cards with one pic so depending on which photo is best will determine which photo is on our cards.
Either a family photo or pic of my toddler daughter...depending on which is cuter. Thanks for the giveaway. I love shutterfly.
I'm right there with ya! Our 3rd will be 7 months for Christmas so I'm excited to include her in our family Christmas card!
We do the family picture on our cards, generally it is funny....even though it isn't the original intent ha!
Just the kid. The husband's deployed right now, so I don't want an incomplete family on the card.
Honestly, I have thought about getting pictures done but haven't even begun to think about the details. I better get on the ball!
Ehh we're boringsville, just traditional cards probably : )
I can't decided if I want to do the whole family, just the kids or a mixture of both. Like you I'm very into just a one picture card. And I HEART anything with a monogram. :)
Those are some cute cards!!
This year we will probably put just the boys on our card...oh, who ami kidding? We will all be in it :)
Hopefully I can have the four of us plus the 3 dogs on our card!
I'm hoping to get a decent pic of the whole family for our cards but if all else fails, it'll be just a pic of the babe! great giveaway!
Hoping for a group family shot to make it onto the card this year but if all else fails, we'll just go with a pic of our little one!
Me, hubs and the kidS! I can't believe we will have 2 kids in our Christmas card this year!!
My little boy will be on our Christmas card this year. I love shutterfly!
Me being 6 months pregnant, hubby, and son! I hope to get a great picture of the belly incorporated as part of the family photo! What a great memory that will make
Me being six months pregnant, hubby and my two year old son. I hope to incorporate the belly as part of the family. I think that will make a great memory!
me, hubby, and son
I cannot wait to do our card photos!! I've had this idea in my head since last Christmas haha! As of no it will just be Matt & I on it...but I keep putting it off just in case we have some news to share by then haha. Because THAT would change the whole concept entirely! Either way, I'm excited! I'm anxious to see yours, I know they will be great!!
I asked my husband about cards a few weeks ago and picked out some from Shutterfly! Now we just need pictures to actually narrow our choice down (:
As of now, it'll be the three of us, my husband, son and myself. But, we're hoping to be able to share some news and include an ultrasound of baby #2. We'll see, though ;)
Just the kids... We are going to try the Pinterest picture of the little boy (kids in my case) in the car with the tree on top.
Just me & miss Priss. Mostly miss Priss ;)
Me, my sisters, and my parents! :)
Me, my sisters, and my parents! :)
we're having baby #2 in november, so it'll serve as a christmas card AND a birth announcement! probably with both girls in it only. :)
We got our pictures taken last weekend and I've been eyeing all the options on Shutterfly! Can't wait to get the cards made up!
We got our pictures taken last weekend and I've been eyeing all the options on Shutterfly! Can't wait to get the cards made up!
maybe all of us or maybe just the two girls....
maybe all of us or maybe just the two girls...
I really like something with traditional holiday colors, and usually chose a New Years themed layout since I never get our cards out on time. Not sure what will be in store in the future since it's still just hubby and I!
All of us - hubs, me, Benny, and of course, our dog!
All of us will be in it. My husband, Zach and I. I usually like to find a card that has three photo spots so I can do one larger family on and then a couple of just Zach.
My must have is pretty simple - all of us looking at the camera, at the same time. And smiles all around would be really nice!
I too think about Christmas cards in July haha. I may have also started listening to Christmas music too. As for our cards? Me, hubs and our 7 month old son : )
I have been thinking about Christmas cards since September :) This year it will be my husband and the 4 legged pups!!
Usually it is just my kids because they are a lot cuter than I am!!
it BETTER be the whole 'fam-damily' as my grandmother says. Last year, someone didn't cooperate so we made do with a cute pic of E, but this year, I want us ALL! ;)
And...LOVE Shutterfly!!!!
I think it'll probably just be our daughter because I hate every picture I'm in!
Just my little girl :)
Just my little girl :)
Just my little girl :)
Hmm, I think we'll go with the whole family and possibly a surprise! :-)
It'll be the whole family but I'm hoping to include our newest addition, our pet dog.
We will probably just have the toddler on ours this year since I will be 5 months pregnant...we are hoping to do a family photo next year.
love shutterfly and i like simple cards too. we got one last year that had 12 picutres on it! overload.
This year it'll be the hubby and I. I might play around with two pictures, one from both our homes (Liverpool and Vermont) to showcase our big.move back.to the states! :) p.s I freakin love Shutterfly! two years ago I ordered photo ceramic ornaments. I love them!
I luuurve Shutterfly! And your card choices--just my style
I would love to have the whole family - my husband, our son, and our dog!
I love shutterfly and Christmas cards!!! Yay!!!
Pick me!
the whole family including the new 7 month old baby! (or just the 2 kids depending on if we actually get any decent ones of all of us!)
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who loves a good plan! Go Shutterfly!
whose on my christmas card, me my hubby and our two jack russells!
I dont know what I am going to do this year! I am due with my third child 12/27 so I cant decide what to do. May do a happy new year card/birth announcement instead of a Christmas card and then birthday announcement. That might be too much!
My brother is getting married in a month. I am crossing my fingers (and toes) that we can capture a good picture of our little family while we look all snazzy.
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