This weekend, the BetterinBulk family set out to create the perfect Christmas card picture. It’s a tradition that we keep every October, and although I am a photographer and love taking pictures, it has become one of the least-enjoyed family traditions that we continue to observe. Why is it such an ordeal? Mostly because I certain older male in the family tends to have a less-than-positive attitude about the pictures. He wants to have them, and enjoys them after they are done, but he complains (and gets the kids complaining along with him) from the moment I set up the first shot.
So how do we survive family pictures and go on to create a Christmas card that accurately portrays our happy family (and NOT the unhappy picture taking time)? Here are a few tips that we followed this weekend to create our 2010 Christmas Cards:
- Find the perfect location for pictures (it helps if the weather is just right….Nobody looks happy when they are freezing their tooshies off in family pictures)
- Let the kids relax and have some fun before getting down to business
- Set up the tripod and take a few test shots
- Let the kids take turns pushing the remote shutter button
- Pick your favorite shots and let PurpleTrail’s personalized holiday cards do the rest….
The fact is, I wouldn’t recommend doing it this way. Here’s what I would do in a perfect world:
- If my sister still lived near by, I would let her be the photographer and I would stop running back and forth between the camera-bearing tripod and the posed and restless family.
- I would somehow bribe my husband to stifle all of his family portrait grumblings for an hour once a year so that the kids would be more relaxed and so that I wouldn’t feel like yelling at everyone. It’s hard to put on the “happy family” face when everyone is arguing.
- I would go shopping for coordinated outfits and have them picked out for everyone so that no one had to scramble around through their drawers whining, “But I don’t HAVE a solid color shirt!”
- I would bribe my children with ice cream if they could smile and stay still for an hour.
- I’d pick my favorite shots and let PurpleTrail’s personalized holiday cards do the rest….
Do you see the only common thread here? It’s easy to make a great looking Christmas card if you’ve got the right tools. And PurpleTrail made it so easy. I can’t believe that I am done with Christmas-card-creating before Halloween. This has got to be a record for me.
Not only was it easy to design a card that I liked on PurpleTrail, but I loved the options that they had. I can order prints (envelopes come free with every order), I can save the design and print at home, and I can share my card online by emailing it to friends and family.
Creating the card was the easiest part of the whole Christmas card experience. I feel great. It almost makes the headache of being my own photographer worth it…..
Now if only I can find someone to address all these cards….
PS–linked up with SITS for their annual Holiday Card Exchange. Happy Holidays!!
Note: I am participating in a giveaway for PurpleTrail.com and this post makes me eligible for a PurpleTrail gift code to order these Christmas cards.
© 2010 – 2012, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
You have an entire set of beautiful family photos – and the final card is gorgeous.
If you ever find that service to address your cards, please let me know! ;)
Merry SITSmas.
They are ALL gorgeous! I love the “band photo” one with the kids throughout the building…
Your picture turned out beautiful!! I love it! That is exactly what I’m looking for next year! Except I’m going to have someone take the pics for me!
That really is perfect!
Great post and fabulous pictures! Happy Holidays SITStah!
I love the tips.(Especially the ice cream one.) The card came out so well.
Beautiful photos and LOVE the final card!
Great tips too! Thanks.
Those are some beautiful photos.
Those look great! It isn’t easy to get the family to take good photos, is it? There’s always someone in my household that makes a face, rolls their eyes, and makes rabbit ears while I’m trying to take a picture…LOL. ;)
Awesome tips! Great picture:-)
Beautiful pictures! I finally gave up and hired a photographer. Now the pictures are done I just have to wait to receive the CD (this week) and then I will make cards. I’ve used Tiny Prints in the past so I will probably use them again. It’s not the cheapest way to do it but it allows me to keep some small shred of sanity (very, very small).