My Holiday Cards: 5th Design
DESIGN 5: FRONT
DESIGN 5: INSIDE
Message: “Brightest days and warmest nights/may your holidays be filled with joy.”
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.
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Cheers! And thanks for visiting the blog!
Naturally this is my favorite since it is my family. You said it all in your blog. Family is everything to us. Thanks so much. We loved the cards and the prints. Your the best and we had so much fun hanging with you that day in Central Park.
Comment by Dawn — January 10, 2008 @ 8:26 am
Loved the card…..Love them!!! It was the best card I recieved this holiday season.
Love,
Sue
Comment by Susan Spellerberg — January 10, 2008 @ 8:35 am
I want this card & it isn’t even my family! LOVE it!
Comment by PamN — January 10, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Amazing pictures! My brother and his family looked so natural and care free, not posed or staged. Looks like they had a fun day in Central Park too!
LL
Comment by LL — January 10, 2008 @ 8:56 am
The picture on the back was my favorite! My daughters want to set up session for next year because we loved the card sooooo much!!! Love you guys, Sara & the girls!!!!
Comment by Sara Andren — January 10, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Sweet..fursur !
Good lookin bunch,… except for Jimmy.
Need a Hot TransAm in the pic…LOL !
Comment by Grimm — January 10, 2008 @ 9:11 am
THESE ARE GREAT PICS,MOST FAMILY CARDS LOOK TO STAGED. THESE LOOK NATURAL. GREAT JOB!!!!
Comment by JOE ONISKEY — January 10, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Loved, Loved, Loved the card. The all looked like models.
Could not have been more natural.
Ellie
Comment by ellie Smith — January 10, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Loved the theme “Family is everything”. The tone used was perfect to capture the family’s love.
Comment by Richard P. — January 10, 2008 @ 9:33 am
When Dawn showed me all of the proofs, I could not get over how natural they all were. You seemed to have captured very special moments. When I received the X-mas card, I have to admit, I was jealous! I hope, one day soon, I get a turn to have a session.
Comment by Patty Lusk — January 10, 2008 @ 9:42 am
Had to take a double take to finally realize that they were not professional models but my loving family ! The best card in the bunch!
Uncle Bill
Comment by William Mulhole Jr — January 10, 2008 @ 11:38 am
That picture on the back of the card is priceless.
Comment by Steve G. — January 10, 2008 @ 11:49 am
THE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO IN DESIGN #5 SHOWS THE A VERY RARE OCCURANCE TODAY…. A HAPPY FAMILY. B/W PHOTOGRAPHY CONVEYS SO MUCH EMOTION.
Comment by PITTS — January 10, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
this was the best christmas card we have ever sent out! I hadso much fun doind the shoot and want to do it again!
Comment by Jacqueline — January 10, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
great card and i had fun doing the shoot.
Comment by JJ — January 10, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
I loved doing the shoot. This was the best card we have ever sent out in a long time!
Comment by Jacqueline — January 10, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
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.
Comment by Stacey — January 10, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
I like the first picture, it really looks natural.
Comment by Ed — January 10, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
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
Comment by bill — January 10, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Love the family, loved the card…next year lets do a friends and family shoot!
Diana
Comment by Diana — January 10, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
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.
Comment by Art Penchansky — January 10, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Oh, what a great picture, and everyone looks so happy!
Comment by Dimitri — January 10, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
Great card that captures the essence of family and the tranquility of the holiday spirit.
Comment by Bryon — January 10, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
awwww, you guys look so good, love the cards
Gabb
Comment by Gabriele — January 10, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Love the card! It is sooo nice!
Comment by Hannah — January 10, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
u guys look really nice! i love how they look like they’re just regular x-mas cards they sell in the store!
Comment by kelly — January 10, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Loved the pictures - you guys looked great! I showed all my friends the card, it was wonderful!
Comment by Heidi — January 10, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
On the inside of the card: how did you make it look distressed like that? That’s such a cool style!
Comment by michelle — January 10, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
They look great. It really showes how family this time year is what it is all about.
Comment by George — January 10, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
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!
Comment by jackie f — January 10, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
It’s such a pretty card and out of all the christmas cards this year this one was my favorite.
Comment by claudia f — January 10, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
Great card. My wife would love to have family photo like this.
Comment by Ron — January 10, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
My favorite card by far this year. The whole shoot was stunning! My best friend has the best family and now she has the best pictures to show them off! I love you guys!
Comment by Cheryl — January 10, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Cool Pics!!! Joy
Comment by joy — January 10, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
Very nice pics/design … I like it a lot!
Comment by Vlad — January 10, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
Awesome family + Great photographer = Unique christmas masterpiece
Comment by Frankie — January 10, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
At first, I was not happy driving to Central Park on Marathon day, but after seeing the final result I would do it again in a heartbeat. I like the blend of the green and brown colors on this card the most.
Comment by jimmy — January 10, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Very unique. We enjoyed receiving such an original card. We are looking forward to next year’s masterpiece!
Comment by Aunt Joan — January 11, 2008 @ 9:44 am
The card is beautiful. very creative
I know the family was very pleased.
Comment by April — January 11, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
the black and whites actually ENHANCE to color photos on the center spread. a beautiful family.
Comment by bob — January 11, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
I love your card even though I’m not in it!
It is so cute!
Good Job Designing!!!!!
Comment by philip — January 12, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Absolutely beautiful. It’s a keepsake they will cherish forever. The pictures were GREAT!! Loved the idea
Kathleen
Comment by Kathleen J Jotz — January 12, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
This is my favorite card out of the bunch so it gets my vote. I know there’s more coming, but still…..
I won’t comment on the photography itself but rather the design of the card. You might remember than I am an artist who does graphic design freelance so when something grabs me, I love to say it. And this one does. First of all, I like that the family is wearing cold weather garb. It is a card that comes, after all, in the winter and I think it should be current, rather than others at the beach with summer themes, etc.
I love the layering on the front, the way that the top rectangle is a bit askew and that its edges are rough like ripped paper. I like the color choices. The neutrals seem to go perfectly with the neutralized green background–it’s still green for Christmas but is a nice change from the bright green we usually associate with this holiday. You wisely left out its partner, red. It doesn’t need it to say “Christmas”.
I like all the added textures and “noise”–the “snow” that ties together all three sections (front, inside and back), the little trees on the beige layer, the lone tree a light silhouette on the front and the one whole one and portions on the back and the large snowflakes around the edges of the front. Everything is balanced perfectly.
I also like the font you used for “Merry Christmas”. Which one is it? Or did you tweek one to your own liking.
Comment by linda from edison — January 14, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
VERY COOL. DIFFERENT, WHICH I LIKE.
GOOD JOB
Comment by LORI — January 16, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Wonderful Card. This is my first comment on any blog ever, but it is such an awesome card that I couldn’t help myself but to comment.
Comment by Alan Goodwin — January 16, 2008 @ 4:36 pm