Photos Are Made For The Holidays
IT'S TIME TO MINE THE GOLD SITTING IN YOUR PHOTOS LIBRARY
When I think of holidays around the Christmas tree, it’s framed on a page of Life Magazine with “A Kodak Moment” emblazoned across the top. Dad is proudly hefting his Brownie (or whatever) into position for that shot of Junior unboxing an electric train set. The family is beaming with delight, oblivious to Santa peeking through the window.
I made that up.
But it captures the spirit of film photography as a personal documentary medium of our lives. Holiday photos are a thing that everyone did back then. People were together. Spirits were high. When I work on clients’ photo libraries, holiday pictures from Thanksgiving through New Years are a given. And toss in Halloween if there were young kids. If you only shot a roll or two of photos per year, chances are it was for the holidays.
I’m a big fan of all that, for reasons I’ll get to presently, but first I want to take you behind the curtain to see the flip side of holiday photos today.
Digital photography - and particularly the iPhone - has made photographers of us all. 24/7. Without the limitations of a 24 image mindset and with the convenience of instant review, photography is a treasure trove of opportunity to mine during the holidays. The gift that keeps on giving.
The nifty thing about those photos (and videos) is that you have the raw material for making some really great holiday treats and gifts, and it’s easier than it's ever been. The world of your past year - heck, ALL your years - is ripe for the taking, and everyone will love it.
Photo-related projects transport memories out of the ether and into the real world, with a dose of hand-made magic. A modern version of those wool socks your grandma knitted. There is no greater gift than your time, and people appreciate the effort it takes to create things whether it’s a gift for them or a project for yourself.
Here are some ways you can use your photos this holiday to amaze and delight.
PHOTO BOOKS
Committing pictures to the printed page is something we all value. Choosing the images, designing pages, and creating a finished book is truly special. As a gift, photo books are one of the most personal items you can create.
And there are as many themes as there are people in your life. A photo book can be a year in the life, a long-planned vacation, photos of a favorite activity or sport, or a family retrospective. Maybe those old wedding photos that never became an album, or pictures from a lifelong friendship.
Photo books can be more utilitarian, like a custom agenda with room to make notes or a family cookbook.
Many people think that Apple Photos no longer supports bookmaking, but that feature is better than ever with a choice of companies that work through the Projects section of Apple Photos on the Mac. You can create anything from a small pocket book to an elegant tabletop edition.
CALENDARS
I find wall and desk calendars kind of grounding. Like photo books, a nice calendar keeps me in the real world and adds a nice visual touch that makes me smile. Calendars are one of those things that is both decorative and practical in ways that digital is not.
What’s particularly nice is the variety of print calendars available online. From a tiny 1-picture-a-day desk cube to a 3-foot by 4-foot 12 month wall print, you can find unique designs not available at the bookstore and add your own photos to personalize them. You’re also not locked into the January to December time frame if you want to time it to a school year or other date.
PHOTO PRINTS
Picking out and printing favorite photos makes a statement, and the options here, too, are endless. For desktops, a collection of small prints held in a stand is a great way to both enjoy the images, and to regularly shuffle them. But you can also go big with a favorite landscape from a trip or a family portrait. Fine art paper, metal or acrylic, traditional framed prints; all of these and more are available to order online. If you are hosting people over the holidays, large wall prints are a decorative element that will spark conversation and add personality to your home.
CARDS
Back in the day, personal photo cards were the top-of-mind option for holiday greetings. Now it seems that more people are opting for digital delivery. I get that, but I still think there’s a place for making and sending real cards in the mail. Especially because, like calendars and books, you can get interesting designs and styles not available off the rack. Triple fold. Multi-photo. Perfect for your family and friends who still stick cards on the refrigerator.
SUBSCRIPTION PRINT PRODUCTS
Maybe you have someone who would love to have their photos in print but can’t quite get it together. How about a gift card for monthly printouts from their own camera roll? Companies like Recently and Timeshel offer iPhone Apps that tap into their photo library and suggest pictures for monthly printouts as elegant magazines or photo prints, delivered for their enjoyment.
I hope these ideas spark your interest. A picture beautifully printed on a page or fine art paper takes the photo viewing experience to a whole new level. Whether for display or as a gift, photos are a magic part of the holidays, and there’s still time to add them to yours.
This post was first published on November 10, 2024, and updated.
If you would like to create a photo book, calendar, or card for the holidays, and need some guidance, you can sign up for my 2 week online workshop and create a project together. Click the button below to get on the information list and watch your inbox for complete details.
Some charming ideas. Photos around the holidays are so fun. Have a great one, Paul!