What to do so your holiday card never sees the inside of a trash bin

FOR THE SINGLE LADY OR GENT

Photo credit: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/SheKnows

• Bring your personal flair: Stage a shot that illustrates who you are. If you are a book addict, shoot it in front of your bookcase — or if you’re a designer, your inspiration board could make a nice backdrop.
• Be creative: Don’t worry about being traditional, think of creative twists to a classic card. For instance, get into character and recreate the cover photo from a favorite book, magazine or album. Or if you are a foodie, send out a recipe that you would make during the holidays. See the full recipe to this healthy holiday survival smoothie here.

Photo credit: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/SheKnows

• Make it fun: Props can always add laughs.
• Don’t get too serious: Have fun with it!

WITH YOUR BESTIES

Photo credit: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/SheKnows

Celebrate the season with your nearest and dearest and grab your besties for a festive holiday shoot, like our new Stylecaster friends and our own Ivy Davidoff show us this year.

• Coordinate outfits and hair styles: Make sure it looks like you are all headed to the same event (one person in pajamas will feel out of place if the rest of the group is wearing cocktail dresses)!
• Play up your passions: Do you and your besties have love ’80s pop music? Dress to the theme and make your card Cyndi Lauper-inspired.
• Take the portraits before you finish the wine. You don’t want another boozy friends selfie.

Picking the final shot

Photo credit: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/SheKnows

• Ask a discerning friend who isn’t in the photo: Make a private group page on Facebook or Flickr to discuss/post your favorites, so no one online will see your selects until they get it in the mail.
• Make sure it conveys the emotion and love
• It should be fun, celebratory and memorable!

SheKnows staffer, Gracie Leeman and family pose for their annual wacky fun filled holiday card photo shoot. Every year Gracie and her family reunite and have a blast shooting their family holiday card portraits. Talk about a fun shoot to look forward to every year! (Photo Courtesy: Vala Baggett Kodish/Flash Pop Photos)