Shutter Sisters - Journal - warmest wishes

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Nov142010

warmest wishes

Sunday, November 14, 2010 by

Every year, about this time, I get asked to share Holiday photo tips. And with the popularity of photo greeting cards, the question always comes up asking for clever ideas for Holiday card photos. We had a series of posts called Great Greetings a few years back where I went into great detail about ideas, tips and tricks.

But, the other day, the folks at Martha Stewart Radioasked for ideas for listeners that don't have kids. It was one on a list of questions that we didn't even have time to cover on the segment (time flies when you're having fun chatting over the air waves) but it got me thinking. It's a really good question.

I began brainstorming about universal symbols of holidays, seasons, peace, joy, and of course, wishes. In other words, you most certainly don't have to use a family photo for your holiday card. There are more than enough ways to Picture the Holidays!

Today, I would love to hear (and see) some ideas from you. Share a photo of something that you think would be a fantastic holiday card photo. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to use these kinds of images as gift tags, on calendars, or other gifts! For as many images as there are to take, there are that many ways to share them. Inspire us!

30 Comments

Reader Comments (30)

I had a fun holiday shoot today. Fall in Idaho is crisp and colorful.

http://lastpictureshowphotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/five-and-counting.html

November 14, 2010 |

Audra Van Vliet

Being that I am in northern Vermont I am fortunate to get to experience the perfect holiday scenes BEFORE the holidays. We usually are inundated with snow around the end of November, first of December, and while the thoughts of holidays are strong in my head I have a very holiday-like landscape to photograph. I usually do landscapes so I simply drive around looking for cutely decorated houses, horses (really look awesome in the snow and for Christmas) and country scenes, like barns.

If you want great Christmas/Holiday inspiration look at what is on Christmas cards. Those types of scenes are what you need to look for in your own surroundings!

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

November 14, 2010 |

Jen at Cabin Fever

I've always thought that this would make a lovely holiday card:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=630

November 14, 2010 |

Marcie

Store displays are a great source of images! This was one I captured in November of last year, in time to use it for the holidays:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.html

November 14, 2010 |

Kat

how did you capture that magic. the photo is stunning. love.

November 14, 2010 |

melissa

I took these shots during a snow storm last year. I thought one of these would be nice on a holiday card.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2010/01/11/my-little-friends/

November 14, 2010 |

Kacey ~ Kay Pickens

Three years ago I went nuts taking photos of Christmas lights. Not on houses, but on my studio floor. It just so happened that our new house(a 50 year old split level in the suburbs) had the same kind of hardwood floors as my childhood home. As Christmas drew near I remembered the thrill of seeing my dad stretch the strings of Christmas lights across the floor and plugged them in in order to make sure everything was in working order. Here's the first one I posted on my blog: http://capturedbylight.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/christmas-lights/

November 14, 2010 |

Dorean Beattie

How about wintry shots? Frost on my window:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/3157473763/in/set-72157611976932251/
A neighborhood building: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/4286811904/in/set-72157622949164450/

November 14, 2010 |

Kathleen

this photo is so incredible. how did you do it?
i grew up making my cards every single year - the old fashioned way - but as I've get older, and my daughter is grown, a photo seems to be the quickest route to take. That is if you pay attention through the year to capture a great image.
this one i took last winter i was thinking would be nice (because of the beautiful snow there were a few to choose from that trip)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4339810492/in/set-72157623250964835/

or this one that my daughter and i worked on at the new year
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4237833158/in/set-72157618747034995/

November 14, 2010 |

spread your wings

Gorgeous shot! It says so many things.

November 14, 2010 |

Jennifer Steck

Last year instead of one photo, I sent about 60! I made a video slideshow of my favorite pics from our lives last year and shared those. Everyone really liked it.
http://mz-cellaneous.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.html

November 14, 2010 |

Lana @ Mz-Cellaneous

The first thought I have when I think holiday cards is snow. Here's what I sent out last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebiblioholic/3120384895/in/set-72157611530244659/

And this year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebiblioholic/4202140814/in/set-72157625376208772/

November 14, 2010 |

The Biblioholic

Love the photo! What was your secret?

No snow here in No. Cal, but the arrival of migrating hummingbirds resting in the fruit trees makes for natural sparkly ornaments in the sun. Here's one with a little greeting added:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/humbirdhum/5174704731/

November 14, 2010 |

humbird

Last January, as I was taking down the Christmas tree, I couldn't help but love all the sparkle coming from the pile of ornaments waiting to be wrapped and stored away for the year. In the middle of it all stood one of my favorite ornaments of a little dinosaur. http://www.flickr.com/photos/55373974@N03/5175438918/ My husband and I don't yet have children, but I wanted to do a fun, personalized card...so here it is! I added some fun graphics wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and uploaded it to a printing site. They turned out great! I can't wait to see what I photograph during 'Picture Holidays' to use on next years card! Rawr! : )

November 14, 2010 |

Kristine Cramer

Of course, I used my cat this year. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bass_clarinet_2000/5164106353/

I usually go for a snowy scene. The one I wanted to use and my mom didn't like was a sunset in a local cemetery. The sky was purple and orange while the snow was purple. It was a really pretty scene. She didn't like it because it was taken in a cemetery. Ok, I agree it is morbid. However it was really a nice picture.

November 14, 2010 |

Becky R.

omg - fabulous photo

November 14, 2010 |

Lori

We had our first snow of the season in MN yesterday. This is maybe a bit of a sad photo for a card, but it totally says "Christmas" to me. We see these snow covered fields as we drive out of the city to visit all our relatives back home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/5176375840/

November 14, 2010 |

joey

A Thanksgiving card, perhaps. :
http://wildfledged.tumblr.com/post/1576512524
And your photo is AWESOME. Whoa.

November 14, 2010 |

Alex

Funny you should ask ... I began working on our family christmas card this weekend. I, of course, have kids so they remain my central focus. The photo itself was taken in June but I thought it was perfect.

http://apictureintime.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/warm-wishes/

November 14, 2010 |

cynthia

i like photographing my vintage ornaments.
i think this might make a pretty card.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3071410006

November 14, 2010 |

kristin

That photo is amazing!

November 14, 2010 |

Jessica

Just found your blog and have had fun visiting. Love your photography and your ideas and photos are so inspiring. I so enjoy seeing what other photographers see. I will be back to visit again soon and I invite you to visit me, too!

November 15, 2010 |

WhatKarenSees

we always send out a photo of all of us, but I wonder what people do with the photo, I mean the ones I receive are stuffed in a drawer after Christmas ( aren't I terrible?) Would people just as easily enjoy a wintery scene or ornaments?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5174065554/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4158083792/
The shot above is amazing, if I received it in a card, I'd frame it :D

November 15, 2010 |

claudia

Each year I try to take a photo to use for the next year's holiday card...sometimes I just never get around to making them...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/3116822116/

November 15, 2010 |

Gail

We love the red-dirt places. The year after we went to Bryce Canyon we sent Christmas cards out with this photo: our version of red and green. On the inside we stamped "peace on earth" in a cinnamon-coloured ink.

http://scatterbeams.aminus3.com/image/2010-01-09.html

November 15, 2010 |

Jet Harrington

I gasped when I saw this. Brilliant!!

November 16, 2010 |

wendy

November 17, 2010 |

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I used this for my Christmas card last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/4158069810/in/set-72157622903015497/

November 17, 2010 |

mary

What an amazing photo! Stunning!

November 17, 2010 |

suswhit

December 17, 2010 |

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