One of MY favorite things about the holiday season is CHRISTMAS CARDS!! I just love going to my mailbox every day and getting that little gift from my friends and family. As many of you know, my family goes ALL OUT with our Christmas card. So I thought I’d put together some a short list of tips to create an amazing holiday card.

Everyone loves to see how your kids have grown and changed. If possible, use a professional photographer (of course) and showcase your family!! In 2011 we created this lenticular card that showcases how much the kids have changed from 2009 when the old Memorial Bridge was taken to 2011 when the new Memorial Bridge was built.

This card was inspired by my nieces playing an old game that I played as a little girl. I put my own spin on it by adding the pictures of the family-including our dogs-because as you recall in the first tip, people want to see your family!!

Last years card was inspired by my daughter’s favorite childhood book. We took the look and feel of the book and told our own story about sending her off to her first year of college. It still brings tears to my eyes when I read it. I hope you find these tips helpful. You don’t have to go crazy, like we do every year, but keep in mind a few of these tips and I’m sure your holiday card will be one that people look forward to getting year after year.

This portrait is from Emerson’s one year session. It’s my favorite from this group. I have heard people say they want to wait until their baby is one before they bring them in for portraits-I say “What?!” Your child goes through SO many changes during their first year, it would be such a shame to NOT capture that. Take a look below at Emerson’s first baby portrait.
- Look at how her entire arm is the same size as her dad’s thumb! She was TINY, amazingly tiny! I am SO glad that we captured this moment, so small in daddy’s arms, completely sheltered by his hands.

Emerson at 6 months old! SUPER CUTE!! This seems to be the shot that mom’s in the Baby’s First Year program look forward to having done the most-the orange couch! There is something about this orange couch that just works. It’s timeless. It is important that the baby is able to sit on his or her own for the 6 months session.