Photographs, quotes, thoughts and trees by Julie Walton Shaver, a lifestyle photographer based in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut


My Holiday Cards: 5th Design

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography DF blog front My Holiday Cards: 5th Design

DESIGN 5: FRONT

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography DF blog inside My Holiday Cards: 5th Design

DESIGN 5: INSIDE
Message: “Brightest days and warmest nights/may your holidays be filled with joy.”

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography DF blog back My Holiday Cards: 5th Design

DESIGN 5: BACK
Specs: Horizontal 5×7 card on archival linen with the inside design spanning the inside spread vertically, folded in the middle.

Do you know this family? Help them win a prize by leaving a comment about their card design!

What I love about this design — I had SO much fun working with this family! The picture on the back of the card is one of my all-time favorite images, a spontaneous family hug with mom and dad’s faces showing natural, unposed smiles as they gaze into the eyes of their adolescent children. Who wouldn’t want to memorialize a picture like that by putting it on a Christmas card? It’s perfect! Even so, I didn’t want it to compete too heavily with the front of the card, so I gave it a washed texture to make it just a bit more subtle than the front. When I went to this family’s home to deliver prints (including that picture on the back as a 16×20!) their home and yard were decorated to the nines with lights and beautiful ornaments. I wanted to bring that out in the card by giving the front an all-decked-out-for-Christmas theme. I kept the inside simple to balance the decked-out front, again, mimicking the family’s style of a fun exterior with one simple theme: family is everything.

Click here for contest details, but be sure to click your browser’s “back” button to get back to this post so that you can leave a comment about THIS card design, especially if you are commenting in order to help your friends win the prize!

Cheers! And thanks for visiting the blog!

45 Responses to “My Holiday Cards: 5th Design”

  1. jackie f says:

    When Dawn showed me the slide show I couldn’t believe how gorgeous the pictures were. I loved one picture after another! What true artistry. This was their best Christmas card ever and I have them all!

  2. George says:

    They look great. It really showes how family this time year is what it is all about.

  3. michelle says:

    On the inside of the card: how did you make it look distressed like that? That’s such a cool style!

  4. Heidi says:

    Loved the pictures – you guys looked great! I showed all my friends the card, it was wonderful!

  5. kelly says:

    u guys look really nice! i love how they look like they’re just regular x-mas cards they sell in the store!

  6. Hannah says:

    Love the card! It is sooo nice!

  7. Gabriele says:

    awwww, you guys look so good, love the cards
    Gabb

  8. Bryon says:

    Great card that captures the essence of family and the tranquility of the holiday spirit.

  9. Dimitri says:

    Oh, what a great picture, and everyone looks so happy!

  10. Art Penchansky says:

    It is always a pleasure receiving Jimmy’s card as he is one fine person and represents the finest in everything he says and does.

  11. Diana says:

    Love the family, loved the card…next year lets do a friends and family shoot!
    Diana

  12. bill says:

    We have recieved many Christmas cards over the years that were done as family photos with a brief greeting. This was by far the most professional we have EVER received….great photography and a very imaginative layout. Wjh

  13. Ed says:

    I like the first picture, it really looks natural.

  14. Stacey says:

    I love the picture on the back. So natural and full of expression. I liked the use of the tree graphics to bring together Central Park and Christmas. And, as always, I love when the color of the pictures is muted, as on the back.

  15. Jacqueline says:

    I loved doing the shoot. This was the best card we have ever sent out in a long time!

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