The holiday season is a time to reconnect with family and friends, and sending a personalized card and/or annual letter are festive ways to do that, especially if you have loved ones who live far away. Whether you’re capturing a sweet family photo, crafting a heartfelt letter, or choosing a pre-made holiday card design, here are some tips to help you create a festive, memorable, and stress-free holiday card experience.

DIY Tips for the Perfect Holiday Photo

Getting that picture-perfect family photo can feel daunting, but with a little planning, you can make it a fun and festive experience.

What to Wear

Coordinate, Don’t Match: Pick a color palette with 2-3 complementary colors. For example, navy, burgundy, and cream work beautifully for winter.
Matchy Match: If you do decide to match, go with something simple and identical like matching pajama sets from Burt’s Bees Baby or Old Navy.
Seasonal Accessories: Think cozy scarves, cute beanies, or festive items like reindeer antler headbands or Santa hats for a playful touch.
Avoid Distracting Patterns: Stick to solid colors or subtle patterns to keep the focus on your smiling faces.

Setting Up the Background

Natural Settings: A favorite park, rows of twinkling lights, or your festively decorated living room makes for a cozy backdrop.
DIY Options: Hang a white or neutral-colored sheet for a clean look or string fairy lights on a blank wall for sparkle. Amazon also sells tons of backdrops if you want something unique like a Gingerbread House or Winter Wonderland.
Props Add Charm: Add wrapped presents, holiday ornaments, or even your family pet wearing a festive bow.

Lighting Tips

Use Natural Light: Aim for outdoor shoots during “golden hour” (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) for the most flattering light.
Soft Indoor Lighting: If you’re inside, set up near a large window for bright, even light. You can also use a ring light for a professional touch.
Avoid Harsh Shadows: Place light sources at an angle to reduce unflattering shadows.

Tools to Make It Easier

Tripod: A tripod with a remote shutter like this one ensures everyone gets in the shot and it can also be used as a selfie stick.
Self-Timer Apps: Apps like Camera+ or ProCamera can help with timed shots and enhance your photos.
Affordable Ring Lights: Try something like this ring light with a phone holder to brighten indoor photos. You can play with the brightness and color temperature settings to get the warm glow you’re going for.

Where to Print or Order Holiday Photos and Cards

There are so many options for creating beautiful, customized cards:

Shutterfly: Known for its high-quality photo cards with plenty of design options.
Minted: Offers luxurious designs created by independent artists.
Vistaprint: Affordable options with a quick turnaround.
Costco Photo Center: A great budget-friendly option for photo cards.

Writing a Thoughtful Holiday Letter

If you want to go beyond a photo card, adding an annual letter can be a wonderful way to share updates with loved ones.

What to Include

A Warm Greeting: Start with a cheerful holiday wish to set the tone.
Highlights of the Year: Share major milestones like weddings, graduations, new jobs, or travels.
Favorite Memories: Include a funny or heartwarming story that captures the spirit of your family this year.
Hopes for the Future: End with a note about what you’re looking forward to next year and well wishes for the loved ones you are sending your letter to.
Decorative Elements: You can print your letters at home with high-quality paper like this cute one and this one with a modern flair. You can also opt to use festive envelopes to add a finishing touch.

What to Avoid

Too Much Detail: Keep it short—around one page is plenty.
Negativity: Even if it’s been a tough year, focus on the positive to keep the letter uplifting.
Over-Sharing: Personal struggles or controversial topics are best left out.

5 Quick Grammar Tips

If you have a lot of cards or letters to write, grammar might be the last thing on your mind. But there are some common mistakes seen year after year that we’d like to help you avoid. Here are a few tips to keep handy when you’re putting together your holiday cards, letters, and envelopes.

Don’t Use Apostrophes Where They Don’t Belong

Ah, the season of holiday cards is here, and so is the annual appearance of errant apostrophes! Many well-meaning folks mistakenly add an apostrophe when making their last names plural, but this isn’t needed. For example, a card from the Smith family should say “Happy Holidays from the Smiths,” not “Smith’s.” The apostrophe shows possession, not plurality! If your last name ends in an “s” or a “z,” forming the plural might seem tricky, but it’s not. Simply add “es” to the end—so the Jones family becomes the Joneses, and the Gomez family becomes the Gomezes. Avoiding apostrophe errors keeps your holiday greetings both festive and grammatically correct!

Watch Your Capitalization

It’s tempting to capitalize words for emphasis, but only proper nouns and the first word of a sentence need capital letters. For instance, write “Merry Christmas from the Johnson family,” not “Merry Christmas From The Johnson Family.” Overcapitalizing can make your message look less polished. Try putting words in italics or making them bold in a holiday letter if they are important.

Keep It Simple with Greetings

When writing greetings like “Happy New Year” or “Season’s Greetings,” there’s no need for excessive punctuation. For example, “Happy New Year’s!” doesn’t need the apostrophe unless you’re referring to New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Beware of Tricky Homophones

Words that sound the same but have different meanings, like “there,” “their,” and “they’re,” can trip anyone up. Double-check your usage to ensure your message stays heartfelt without unintended errors.

Personalize Without Overloading

If you’re handwriting cards, avoid long, run-on sentences. Break your thoughts into shorter, clear sentences to make the message more personal and easier to read—especially for older relatives!

Final Touches

Handwritten Notes: Add a small personal message to cards for an extra special touch.
Seal with Style: Use decorative stickers or wax seals to make your envelopes stand out.
Post Early: Send cards by mid-December to ensure delivery before the holidays.

Festive Photo and Letter Ideas for Holiday Cards They’ll Never Forget