2009 Holiday Cards

There are some card companies out there that are just better than others. Of course you can always buy JPG files from me and make your holiday cards anywhere you'd like (at a rate of $55 for the first JPG, $30 for each additional one), but if you'd like to avoid that cost, I have a couple of partners that I work with because I love their style, quality and customer service. There's no charge from me to send any of your photoshoot JPGs to these card vendors, because I know they'll do a great job for you and make the photos look their best. They also give me credit for the photos on the back of the cards, which is nice!

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Option 1 - Custom-designed Photo Collage Cards: Chubbybum Cards

My first holiday card partner is the fabulous Amy Nourse. I've been working with her for a number of years, and she's built her whole business around designing custom cards for her lucky clients. You really won't be disappointed if you choose to work with her, I've loved everything she's done for my clients. She's local to Boston, and her company is Chubbybum Cards. She's incredibly creative -- and I love the way she uses lots of different photos on the cards - showing your family in lots of different ways. The only thing you should know if you choose to work with Amy is that because she does custom cards for every single client, her turnaround time is a bit longer than my other partners' turnaround time. This is because she's giving your card that personal touch.

The ones she's done as samples below showcase just a bit of her skill and creativity. Many of her cards are 5"x7", on a rich, glossy cardstock, and they can even come folded in a white linen envelope with a sticker closure. Chubbybum Cards range in price from $3 - $5/card.

Here are just a few sample Chubbybum cards -- click on any of the cards below to see them larger. Remember that these are just samples, and for your card, Amy will create you an entirely custom design.

---OK, I like these cards. What do I do next?
First select the photos from your photoshoot that you'd like to use on your cards (note the image numbers "Billy3495" for Amy) and go ahead and email amy (at) chubbybum.com. Amy can make a custom collage card for you out of those photos. Just send me an email to let me know you're doing your cards with her, and let me know which photos you've chosen. I'll work with Amy to send her the digital files, and she'll take care of you from there. If you already know what you're looking for, you can fill out the form Amy has posted here.

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Option 2 - Mounted Photocards and Fun Templates: MangoInk Cards

I started working with MangoInk a couple of years ago, and their photo cards are beautiful. Ryan is the designer and Heidi is the business person, and their company has grown to include a number of other staff as well. They live in the Pacific Northwest, and I've just loved all the cards they've been creating for my clients over the past couple of years.

For their mounted cards, they hand mount every card onto a 2nd layer of heavy 100 lb cardstock. I chose five of my favorites to show here on my site with my photos in them, but you can browse their whole collection on their website. The white border around the cards shown here represent the way the finished mounted card looks. Mounted cards range in price from about $2 - $2.75/card.

This season they've started also offering really nice 5x7 unmounted cards, on a thick 130 lb (gorgeous) card stock. They have lots of samples of these cards on their site, and range in price from $1.50 - $3/card.

---OK, I like these cards. What do I do next?
First browse through the MangoInk website, and choose which card design you'd like to use, and go ahead and place your order on their website for your card. Let them know on their order form that the photos will be coming from Jessica McDaniel at Boston Baby Photos. Then select the photo or photos from your photoshoot that you'd like to use on your cards (note the image numbers "Billy3495") and let me know which photos to send and what your order number is, and I'll work with Heidi and Ryan to send them the digital files, and they'll take care of you from there.

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Option 3 - Watercolor Paper, Pretty Templated Designs: Picturebook Cards

Just like I have for the last few years, I'm also partnering up with a wonderful card maker out in Minnesota called Picturebook. They have some really gorgeous new designs this year - some samples are below, but their site has a ton more. I've had many clients use them so far, and I think the cards turned out beautifully. They're small cards (A2 is the standard size, which is 4.25" x 5.5"), but that only means you have to write less on your cards :) The cards themselves are great looking, and I find that they really highlight the black and white photo style. I like the less expensive Watercolor paper (these cards range in price from $1.80 -$3/card), but there are a few different papers to choose from.

                   

                   

---OK, I like these cards. What do I do next?
First take a look at Picturebook's website at www.picturebookonline.com and find a card that you like. Then select a photo or photos from your photoshoot for your cards (using the image number "Tessa3495") and go ahead and order your cards through Liz at Picturebook. Send me an email to let me know you're doing your cards through them, and let me know which photo or photos you've chosen. I'll work with Liz to send her the digital file, and they'll take care of you from there.

**At Picturebook, holiday card orders must be received by the end of November**

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Option 4 - You can make your own card online somewhere

You can buy a JPG (which is a digital negative) of one of your pictures from me for $55 and use it on cards you create at an online card service, like KodakGallery.com or Snapfish.com.

---OK, I'm sold, what do I need to do next?
You can order your JPG online through my order form, or you can just send me an email with the image number of the photo you want, and I will email a high-resolution JPG to you. You can mail me a check for the $55 after you get the file - I trust you :)

---I found a card online that I love, but it has space for 2 (or 3, or more) pictures on it. Do you offer any sort of discount when I need more than one picture?
Sure. Just when it comes to holiday cards, the first JPG is $55, and each additional JPG is $30. I hope that helps.