When Did We Start Including Photos On Our Christmas Cards?

Photos on Christmas cards might be what's expected now, and getting the image right means everything.

There are so many ways to approach a holiday card composition. As our writer explains here, the charm of the tailoring a message to each card can be a significant undertaking. But the value of what is sent in the name of a magical holiday season, whether it be detail oriented or efficient, still matters. Within the range of what can be accomplished in holiday cards--whether handwritten or photo enhanced--let's take a look at some options. Your holiday card audience awaits.

The Handwritten Card Tradition

My mom has always preferred the handwritten Christmas card. It’s a laborious process. It's one that takes days instead of the hour to address envelopes and slap on stamps, but I love the tradition of it. I admire the time she spends tailoring every card and the message within to the recipient. As you might have guessed, my holiday greetings take on a more generic tone. Sure, our family flat photo cards hit more mailboxes, but maybe, like in so many things, it’s the quality over quantity that matters most—and I’m not talking cardstock weight.

The Pressure Of The Photo Card

Part of me is envious of my mom’s commitment to the handwritten holiday card letter. Friends and loved ones have come to expect her seasonal greetings in looping cursive, whereas I find myself in the hamster wheel of trying to snap the perfect photo of my small children, which starts to feel more like a pressure cooker as the weeks from October through November ebb on. And I know I’m not alone in that. Even those who opt for the professional photos are not immune. Will the kids cooperate? Will this $300 family session be in vain? Will my husband wear the coordinating shirt? The potential pitfalls are endless.

While the photo card seems the most popular way to send season’s greetings in recent years, I was merrily surprised to see a few options that did not include photos during my recent card shopping adventures. There were photo-mount options where a printed photo could be attached (a trend I noticed last year, but seems to have gained traction this year), but there were also one or two beautiful holiday cards that—gasp—left no room for family photo inclusion as the star. Something which I found nonexistent last year. Trust me, I looked.

To Photo Or Not To Photo

Does a pre-printed card void of a family photo go even more generic than the mass-printed photo cards? Sadly, that might be true. But does it eliminate some of that perfect-family-photo pressure? You betcha. It’s a mighty good option for those of us who are on a multi-step program of breaking up with our mass mailings in favor of our mother’s handwritten holiday greetings. Even if I am only on step 1.5 of this process.

Just last week as I resolved to go the no-photo route, I happened to snap a photo of my two little ones standing on a seawall overlooking the Atlantic during our Thanksgiving vacation. Before you get ideas of this picturesque scene, note that what wasn’t shown was the parking lot they were facing. They stood in t-shirts and jeans with their arms lazily wrapped around each other but big grins on their faces. Once I snapped it, I knew it was Christmas card material. It’s a far cry from the staged and formal photographs we’ve used the past two years where knee socks and curls were perfectly in place, but something about this one feels more warm and cozy than any of the others.

Holiday Card Goalsetting

It feels like letting my friends and family in on our lives, even if it’s just in a photo wear the wardrobe isn't even considered, rings a bit more true during this current season. I feel my little family finds ourselves one step closer to the ultimate goal of my mom’s handwritten holiday card. A stretch goal but, Mama, I’m on my way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Christmas cards are sent in the U.S., annually?

According to the Hallmark corporation, Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States with approximately 1.3 billion cards sent on a yearly basis.

What percentage of Americans still send cards, annually?

AmericanGreetings.com research reveals preferences and habits of Americans with regard to sending and receiving Christmas cards. Statistics for the 2021 holiday season, uncovers that 73% of Americans report sending holiday cards that year, and 60% say they send holiday cards consistently each year.

Do holiday card recipients enjoy receiving a card in the mail?

Further research from AmericanGreetings.com states that 89% of Americans benefit from a feeling of joy when they receive a holiday card in the mail.

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