| Your friends, relatives and neighbors are | | | | Christmas cards, try taking some candid |
| eagerly looking forward to your annual | | | | photos of your kids doing things they enjoy. |
| Christmas photo cards. But how do you make | | | | Or pose them with props that reflect their |
| this year's holiday card really fresh and | | | | interests or accomplishments. |
| original? Here are seven ideas to help you | | | | |
| make your new photo Christmas cards stand | | | | 5. Scrapbook a page. If you're creative, you |
| out. | | | | can put together several cropped photos and |
| | | | your greeting on holiday background paper, |
| 1. Go black and white photo for a dramatic | | | | then photograph or scan it to be used as your |
| look. Many digital cameras have a setting | | | | photo Christmas card. Since most photo card |
| that will enable you to take your photo in | | | | companies use 4 x 6 inch photos to produce |
| black and white. Or you can change a color | | | | your cards, trim a standard 12 x 12 inch |
| snapshot to grayscale in your photo editing | | | | scrapbooking page to 12 inches wide by 8 |
| software. If you don't know how to do it | | | | inches high as your background for your |
| yourself, most photo card companies can do it | | | | layout. |
| for you at no extra charge. | | | | |
| | | | 6. Embellish it. Even if you have already |
| 2. The more, the merrier. This year, include | | | | ordered standard photo Christmas cards, you |
| more than just the kids in your photo | | | | might still be able to jazz them up a bit. |
| Christmas cards. Get in the picture with | | | | Check out the scrapbooking aisles in your |
| them! One year my uncle remarked that while | | | | local craft store for tiny embellishments, |
| he enjoyed receiving a photo of the kids | | | | such as bows, ribbons, and other holiday |
| every year, he would like to see a picture of | | | | dimensional items. These are practically |
| us, too. So, gather the entire family, even | | | | flat, since they are meant for a scrapbook |
| the pets. And if you have an opportunity | | | | page, so they will still fit into your |
| during the year to attend a large family get | | | | envelope after you glue them on your cards. |
| together with grandparents, uncles, aunts and | | | | |
| cousins, you might consider using a large | | | | 7. Shop around. There are so many photo |
| group family photo. | | | | Christmas card companies on the internet that |
| | | | are offering unique, original, personalized |
| 3. Pack the Santa hat on vacation. Whether | | | | designs. Some designs can even contain |
| you're going to the beach, sightseeing in the | | | | multiple photos, so you don't have to worry |
| city or pumpkin picking in the fall, bring | | | | about getting that one perfect snapshot. Or |
| along a holiday prop or two, such as a | | | | they will put your photo into the shape of an |
| Christmas stocking or ornament. When you're | | | | ornament, tree, or other holiday symbol. |
| taking photos of your family excursion, | | | | Many companies will let you write your own |
| include a few with everyone holding or | | | | message, so you have more choices and |
| wearing the Christmas props for refreshingly | | | | options. They come in all price ranges, so |
| different holiday photo. | | | | it pays to do some browsing. |
| | | | |
| 4. Think personality. While you might enjoy | | | | So, don't be afraid to try something a little |
| a posed photo of your children all cleaned | | | | different with your photo Christmas cards |
| up, in nice clothes, with not even a hair out | | | | this year. With a little imagination, your |
| of place, it doesn't show off their real | | | | holiday photo cards will be truly special. |
| personalities. For more interesting photo | | | | |