Special thank you to Minted for sponsoring this post

 It’s that time of year when we all start thinking about our holiday cards. Who will take our pictures, what will we wear, where should we shoot them? Sometimes planning all the details  can feel like launching a space shuttle, trust me I know. But, it doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you plan ahead.

Here are 5 tips to nail your holiday card photo this year.

1.Perfectly imperfect. The best moments are usually captured when you’re not looking at the camera, and are totally candid. I used to be so particular about getting the perfect picture (matching outfits, forced smiles, the whole thing) – it made taking pictures stressful. Above is our Christmas card photo from last year. I asked the twins to hold up the sign and it just happened which leads me to tip #2…

2. Be relaxed, your kids pick up on your energy and if you’re stressed out trying to get the perfect picture it’s not going to work. Speaking from experience – I know especially if you’ve paid a photographer, it can be easy to stress about maximizing that time, but the best pictures will happen when you’re…

3. Having fun! Especially with young kids, bring fun toys or props to keep them engaged, acting natural, and having a good time. When I photograph our family I love to catch them “in the act” of whatever they are doing. Those are the sweetest moments.

4. Location, location, location. Pick a place that speaks to your family – whether that’s your front porch, your favorite park, your bedroom. The pictures will have more sentimental value and will speak to who you are as a family. The old green chevy truck from our card last year is parked next to the twins school. Everyday when I picked them up we would all comment about how cool the vintage truck was. I put a note in the nice owners door and he called me. Two weeks later we were shooting in his driveaway.

5. You can be your own photographer!  Getting professional shots is always nice, but you can’t have personal paparazzi following you capturing those precious everyday moments. I’ve been enjoying taking my own pictures for the blog this last year, and I’m still learning. If you can afford to invest in a nice camera do (trust me it does make a difference) I use Canon EOS 6D and my favorite lens is the 50mm, and edit in Lightroom. However, there’s alot of times I don’t want to bring along my camera and just love using my phone. When I’m just using my phone, my favorite editing apps are VSCO, Facetune, Afterlight and Apple’s photo editing software is really nice, too.

To avoid loosing your team keep the shoot to 30 minutes. The ideal time of day to shoot is the golden hour, shortly after sunrise or before sunset. Whether you shoot in the morning or the evening, time it so you can plan a family reward after. Head out for breakfast or dinner. Hot chocolate was a home run for us last year.

This is key….Draw inspiration for your holiday card before you go! I’ve already selected our holiday card for this year. Researching before you go helps you to make a mental note if you want a horizontal or vertical picture and the color scheme you gravitate toward. Minted is chalked full of inspiration. With the new Minted More membership you get 30% OFF holiday cards, 15% Off all products year-round, and free standard domestic shipping on every order, year-round.

Here’s a few cards I’m loving this year!

Feathered photo | Merry Cursive

Wintery Wonder |  | Foliage Wreath

Mr. & Mrs. Pine Crest | Holy Night

Heaven & Nature   | Simply Serene

Minted makes sending holiday cards a cinch. You can personalize your cards including colors, shapes, paper upgrades, backers backers & interiors and free recipient and return addressing. This year, Minted launched a NEW service called Text Us Your Photo. Simply text them your favorite holiday photo, and your Minted stylist will text you back your photo styled in 5 holiday card designs – for FREE. Can’t make up your mind just yet? No worries! With their buy now personalize later – Take advantage of their 15% offer now and buy your holiday card now. You can come back to finish personalizing with photos, text, or addresses at any time.

Tis the Season!

xx,

Doreen

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