Monday, May 3, 2010

Planning Photo Christmas Cards Early - Top Reasons to Start Now

The last thing you might want to think about at this time is photo Christmas cards.  The holidays still seem far away. So,  what's the rush? Why should you bother to start planning now?  Here are the best reasons to begin early.

The early bird catches the...DISCOUNT.

Many Christmas card companies, especially those online, offer a price break to those smart shoppers who think ahead. Those businesses are overwhelmed with orders closer to the holidays, so quite a few of them reward customers who plan in advance. Shop around online and you'll find you can save money by beating the crowd. Just think of the satisfaction you'll feel when you know you got a bargain and didn't pay full price.

Time to browse.

Most people take their pictures first and then select the design for their photo Christmas cards later.  A better idea can be to choose a holiday greeting you love and then take the photographs that will fit into the design.  That way you'll know if you're going to need one portrait or multiple snapshots.  Based on the layout,  you'll see if the pictures should be close-up or with more background  You'll be able to visualize what the photos should look like to fit into the format of your selected card.

But finding that great design that you absolutely love can take time.  If you wait until the last minute, you may have to settle.  This way, you can look around until you find something that is unique and reflects your family's personality.  You'll have the time to check beyond the first page of your favorite search engine results to see what a wide variety of companies offer.

Better photo opportunities.

Now is the time to take advantage of the nice weather, sunshine and outdoor activities  Yes, you could wait until it gets colder and huddle the kids in front of the fireplace with matching sweaters and not a hair out of place.  But nothing compares to the charm of pictures of your children having fun.  Take your camera with you everywhere and record all your family's joys. Use natural lighting, taking spontaneous snapshots rather than anything overly posed.

That doesn't mean you can't group your kids together while you're out doing stuff and ask them to smile for a quick family snapshot.  But they'll be naturally more relaxed than if they were to sit down for a more formal picture taking session.  

One less stress during the holiday season.

So, you planned ahead and took the time to find unique photo Christmas cards.  You got some great family pictures, ordered your holiday greetings early and even got a discount.  Now, take it one step further, and address the envelopes, put the cards inside, place a stamp on the outside and seal.  The only thing left to do is put them in the mailbox when it gets closer to the holidays.

With Christmas shopping, decorating and all the other seasonal things that need your attention, this is one thing you won't have to worry about any longer.  By planning ahead, you will have less to do when the holidays approach.  You might even get a few moments to relax and enjoy the compliments, when your family and friends tell you that this was the best photo Christmas card you ever sent them.




Linda Kling, as the owner of www.photo-party-favors.com, has offered ideas to people planning parties and celebrations since 1992. She recommends these photo Christmas cards. Visit her website for free printable Christmas gift tags, quotes, party recipes, more.

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