Create Your Own Christmas Cards

James Paterson shows you how to make personalized festive cards, ideal for sending to friends and family, with these easy-to-follow tips

- James Paterson

THE MISSION

Try these shooting ideas on your own family and pets for a creative range of Christmas cards

Time needed

Two hours

Skill level

Beginner

Kit needed

• Christmas tree

• Christmas lights

• Props & pets

This year many of us may not be able to spend Christmas with the people that we love. At times like these photos can help to bridge the spaces between us. And while sharing pictures on social media is fine, there’s something special about giving and receiving a proper Christmas card.

With the convenience of online printing and the quality of home printers it’s arguably easier to print your own Christmas cards these days than it is to buy them from the shops, possibly cheaper too. More importantly, it’s also the perfect way to send friends and family a personalized photo and a message that means something special to you and them. Customized cards like this aren’t simply put in the recycling bin once Christmas is done but instead kept as a keepsake.

You might already have a special image that would work for your Christmas card design, but if not then why not try out one of the ideas we’ll discuss over the next few pages? We’ll begin here by going over some of the key camera settings you need for festive indoor portraits, then we’ll go on to explore a range of fun ideas to try out with your family, from bokeh effects, to composing tips and collages. Give these techniques a go and you’ll likely end up with a range of Christmas card designs to choose from, as well as a host of festive portraits to enjoy and share.