Choosing a holiday card photo isn’t exactly easy. In fact, for many of us, once a decision is made, there’s no going back! Luckily, if you have your image(s) in hand, you’re over the hump. From here, it's all about finding the photo-forward design that helps tell your story best.
Read on to get our simple tips for choosing a card that complements your favorite moments — along with card recommendations to jumpstart your search.
01
Family
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same family photos inside](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-family.gif)
In keeping with tradition, most card-creators choose to use their snail mail to celebrate family in its many forms. And while there’s certainly no wrong way to go about it, we find that the simple pleasure of time together comes through in an equally parred down design. Sticking to classic, minimal, and organic elements can help put the focus on and bring out the warmth in family photography.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Photo Capsule Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-photocapsule.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Fun, organic cropping
√ Multi-photo design
![Artifact Uprising Tell On Multi-Photo Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5-tellon.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Hand-lettered greeting
√ Scene-by-scene story
![Artifact Uprising Only Upside Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-onlyupside.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Inverted arch crop
√ Editable greeting
![Artifact Uprising Joy Multi-Image Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/j/o/joymultiimage-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Option for foil greeting
√ Unique greeting design
02
Wedding
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same wedding photos inside](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-Wedding.gif)
Chances are, your best day was also your biggest story of the year. (Plus, you already have professional photos at the ready!) Minimalistic card designs will give your wedding photos well-deserved focus, while elegant foil-stamped embellishments can add that little something extra.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Foil Arches Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-foilarches.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Bespoke foil-stamped arches
√ Full-bleed feature photo
![Artifact Uprising Merry Me Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5-merryme.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Elevated foil ring design
√ Choose one to four photos
![Artifact Uprising Minimal Bordered 2023 New Year Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-minimalbordered.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Minimalistic foil-stamped border
√ Horizontal or vertical orientation
![Artifact Uprising Modern Lines Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-modernlines.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Geometric design elements
√ Elegant serif typeface
03
Furry Friends
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same pet photos inside](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-Pets.gif)
We understand the urge to feature your fluffball. (You might even catch some of ours running around the office!) In this case, we’d say the cute and goofy nature of pet photography calls for a more whimsical card design. Fun, informal touches with equally fanciful lettering capture the quirky, comedic personalities of cats and doggos — at their most dapper and derpy alike!
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Merry Merry Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-merrymerry.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Oval-cropped photo vignette
√ Repeating "merry" underlay
![Artifact Uprising Retro Wavy Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-retrowavy.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Whimsical retro font
√ Stencil-inspired design
![Artifact Uprising Effortless Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/e/f/effortless-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Artful brushstroke element
√ Simple to customize
![Artifact Uprising Stacked Serif Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/s/t/stackedserif-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Foil-stamped serif greeting
√ Vertically stacked lettering
04
Props & Objects
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same festive photos inside](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-props_r2.gif)
Symbols of the season have their place. Think: gingerbread cookie platings, wreaths in just the right light, out-of-focus string lights — the list goes on! Depending on the photos you plan to use, your card may take on a number of different vibes. Our best advice is to use the greeting in your card - both typeface and message - to play off of the mood in your images and create a truly complementary pairing. Many of our cards even allow for completely custom greetings.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Border Grid Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-bordergrid.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Add 10 photos on front
√ Border grid design
![Artifact Uprising Multi-Image Vertical Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/m/u/multiimagevertical-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Nine-photo story grid
√ Option for foil stamping
![Artifact Uprising Feel the Fa La La Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-feelthefalala.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Syllable-by-scene design
√ Vertically stacked, wide crops
![Artifact Uprising Joyful Deluxe Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-joyfuldeluxe.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Joyful retro typeface
√ Choose foil & orientation
05
Highlight Reel
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with various family photos from the year featured in each](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-highlights_r2.gif)
Choose just one photo to celebrate the season?! No way, say those with snap-happy camera rolls. Never fear, we offer plenty of cards to bring your favorite snippets of the year together in a little (or not so little!) highlight reel. In narrowing down your options, take note of the photo cropping and keep an eye out for geometric or organic shapes that might complement your stories.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Ornamental Foil Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-ornamentalfoil.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Use horizontal & vertical photos
√ Playful, design-forward shapes
![Artifact Uprising Tell On Multi-Photo Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5-tellon.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Hand-lettered greeting
√ Scene-by-scene story
![Artifact Uprising Year-in-Review Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5-yearinreview.jpg?width=800&auto=webp)
√ Design that tells a story
√ Choose from two layouts
![Artifact Uprising Multi-Merry Photo Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-multimerry.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Option for foil greeting
√ Unique greeting design
06
Couple
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same photo of a couple featured](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-Couple.gif)
Celebrating your seasonal significance as significant others? Especially if it’s your first card together, all the more reason to keep it simple. Choose a card without too many bells and whistles, where your photo can take the lead. Look for a hand-lettered or more organic font if you’re trying to keep the tone of the card a little more informal.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Simply Handwritten Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-simplyhandwritten.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Choose any border color
√ Simple, cheerful design
![Artifact Uprising Season Ahead Holiday Card Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/s/e/seasonahead-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Foil stamping is optional
√ Accommodating square crop
![Artifact Uprising Handwritten Wishes Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5-handwrittenwishes.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Full-bleed feature image
√ Custom greeting option
![Artifact Uprising Happy Half & Half Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-happyhalf_half.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Minimal, balanced design
√ Custom greeting option
07
Holiday Scene
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same photos of a holiday scene featured](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-HolidayScene.gif)
There’s nothing like a holiday scene to give your card that most-wonderful-time-of-the-year feeling. If you set out in search of a picture-perfect holiday backdrop this year, chances are you’re not looking for your photos to take the back seat. Let them shine with a photo-forward card that brings in simple, complementary elements. For instance, even just a touch of bordering embellishment can go a long way in supporting your photo!
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Hand-Lettered Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/h/a/handlettered-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Simple, photo-forward design
√ Choose orientation & add foil
![Artifact Uprising Oval Window Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/o/v/ovalwindow-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Five available foils
√ Modern oval border
![Artifact Uprising Modern Lines Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-modernlines.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Geometric design elements
√ Minimal, photo-forward design
![Artifact Uprising Joy Merry Script Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/m/e/merryscript-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Unique script with foil option
√ Vertical & horizontal images
08
Engagement
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same engagement photos inside](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-Engagement.gif)
There’s big news to share — and a holiday card can be a fun way to let people in on your now not-so-little secret. If you had a photographer capturing the moment while it unfolded, a multi-photo card can tell the story scene by scene. But there’s certainly no shame in picking a favorite and letting it speak for itself! Either way, a little bit of foil can give the appropriate touch of glam for your good news.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Falling Together Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-fallingtogether.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Greeting plays off photo
√ Optional foil in five colors
![Artifact Uprising Minimal Greeting Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/m/i/minimalgreeting-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Minimal design with subtle text
√ Photo makes the statement
![Artifact Uprising Symmetry Multi-Image Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/s/y/symmetrymultiimage-01_1_1.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Multi-photo with feature
√ Classic, symmetrical design
![Artifact Uprising Multi-Image Grid Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-7x5_multiimagegrid.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Elegant serif with optional foil
√ Eight photos tell a story
09
Landscapes
![Four Artifact Uprising Holiday Cards alternate with the same landscape photo featured](https://au-assets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/campaigns/2022/Q4/10-31+Choosing+Your+Card+Blog/2022-Cards-UpdatedLPs_GIF-Landscape.gif)
Maybe your reasons for the season are the wild places that inspire something within? Landscape photos often require a horizontally oriented card design, which helps to narrow the search a bit. From there, don’t be afraid to go large in terms of how much of the card the image takes up. These types of designs will highlight the magnitude of Mother Nature in ways that invite pause out of the envelope.
Pair your photo with...
![Artifact Uprising Simple Window Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-4x8-simplewindow.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Ideal for panoramic photos
√ Five optional foil border colors
![Artifact Uprising Be Light Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-4x8-belight.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Unique card dimensions
√ Bold, modern typeface
![Artifact Uprising Art Deco Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/0/1/01_front-5x7-artdeco.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Full-bleed photo printing
√ Foil & orientation options
![Artifact Uprising Simple Photo Holiday Card](https://media.artifactuprising.com/media/catalog/product/s/i/simplephoto-01.jpg?width=1600&auto=webp)
√ Full-bleed photo without overlay
√ Add your message to the back