Christmas Card Ideas for Her Retro Holiday Vision
Christmas card ideas are such a fun part of celebrating the holiday season! For the past six years, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with a wonderfully creative client who approaches her Christmas cards with a fresh and imaginative theme each year. Her sessions are always a delightful highlight of the season, filled with her vision and the starring roles of her beloved pets.
Her Christmas card ideas are far from ordinary. They reflect her personality and attention to detail, and they always feature her two sweet French bulldogs, Gordy and Donut, and, more recently, her cute cat, Kiwi. Together, we’ve brought her ideas to life, creating Christmas card ideas that are one-of-a-kind, whimsical, and heartwarming.
In the past, we have made an adorable cookie baking scene, a spa day scene, a basking in the golden glow scene, a witchy Christmas scene, disco pets, and this year, something different and retro!
These Christmas photo cards go beyond simply capturing a cute photo. Each session blends creative problem-solving, artistry, and precision to bring her unique vision to life. It’s a collaborative process that results in truly memorable Christmas cards with photo keepsakes.
A Holiday Theme Like No Other
This year, my clients’ Christmas card idea was to channel the vibes of an old-school 1970s ski resort with a playful, deadpan twist. Her inspiration came from a Sabrina Carpenter photo she’d seen, where Sabrina donned earmuffs and a fluffy fur coat. The look was super stylish with a touch of retro vibes — what’s not to love?
When I heard her Christmas card idea, I couldn’t help but think of the classic painting American Gothic. The iconic subjects, with deadpan expressions and straightforward stares, seemed to perfectly embody the mood she wanted. Blending her inspired Christmas card idea with a retro ski lodge aesthetic, and the lively playfulness of Sabrina Carpenter promised to be a unique and exciting creative challenge, and I was eager to bring it all together.
Bringing Her Christmas Card Ideas to Life
Firstly, I used AI to sketch out a rough concept of what the final image could look like. This is one of the first steps with all the fantasy photography I create. Thus, I recommended she check out MidJourney, an AI-powered text-to-image generator that creates realistic images from text prompts. Tools, like Midjourney, are fantastic for helping clients visualize their ideas, especially for sessions with multiple elements.
Once we had a clear direction for her Christmas card idea, it was time to plan the logistics. The goal was to create a composite photograph—a single image made by layering multiple individual photographs together. This method was ideal for ensuring every detail was perfect, from the background to the pose and position of each subject.
The Christmas Card Ideas Process to Create Her Retro Holiday Vision
On the day of the photoshoot, my client arrived ready to bring her vision to life with wardrobe options for everyone. Everything was in place. Then, it was time to start photographing each element of the image.
1. My Client Was First
Since my client would be the central figure in the photograph, framing the pets around her, we started with her portrait. She wore an oversized blue coat and brought large sunglasses to complete her retro ski lodge look. So, I added a fuzzy headband to her look to give it more of the Sabrina Carpenter vibe. The oversized coat was a fun challenge—it was intentionally big to achieve the retro vibe, but we had to adjust it to elongate her neck and give her some shape. Undeniably, her sunglasses added a touch of sass, and her deadpan expression completed the look.
2. Kiwi’s Close-Up
Secondly, it was Kiwi in front of the camera, wearing her seafoam green furry jacket. Being a bit camera-shy, she took some extra time to settle, but we managed to get the perfect shot of her perched in Ashton’s arms, looking directly into the lens. Then, we were set to frame up the rest of the composition with the two dogs!
3. Donut’s Moment
Thirdly, Donut was in set, in her teal green fuzzy sweater. As the excitable one, she brought a lot of energy to the session. However, her energy made achieving the deadpan look difficult. But her joy was infectious, and her happy expressions were too cute to ignore.
4. Gordy’s Turn
Fourthly, all ready to go in her pink sweater, Gordy was the last in the hot seat. She is a pro when it comes to posing. Unquestionably, she is calm and collected, and always gives a variety of expressions to choose from. For this session, she nailed the stoic, straight-into-the-camera gaze we were looking for! Too cute! The perfect way to end the session!
The Magic of Post-Production for Christmas Card Ideas
Then, with all the photographs captured, the magic of post production begins! This is where the vision truly comes to life.
- Compositing the Elements: Each subject—Ashton, Gordy, Donut, and Kiwi—was carefully cut out of their respective images and layered into the background. Then, the background itself was slightly reworked to better fit the new composition.
- Creating a Painterly Texture: One of the most unique aspects of this project was mimicking the painterly texture of the inspiration photograph. This step added an artistic quality to the image, making it feel like a painting, and giving it some character.
- Adjusting Colors: To ensure the final image was cohesive, a custom color palette was created. This helped me match the lighting and tones across all the elements, from the highlights to the shadows of skin and fur. Then, I refined the colors of the jackets. Even the colors of the pets’ coats were slightly adjusted to align with the palette.
- Final Retouching: The last step was retouching. I fine-tuned every detail, from skin to fur and snow, making sure the final image was polished and flawless.
Her Retro Vision Brought to Life!
The finished photograph was everything we’d envisioned—a playful yet sophisticated Christmas card with a unique retro vibe. The oversized coats, the stoic expressions, and the carefully composed background came together beautifully, creating a holiday card that’s as charming as it is memorable.
This project was such a joy to work on, and it’s a wonderful example of what’s possible with a little creativity and planning. Every year, my client challenges me to think outside the box, and every year, we create something special. I can’t wait to see what theme she brings me next Christmas!
Are You Ready to Bring Your Christmas Card Ideas to Life?
Whether you’re looking for a classic family portrait, Christmas cards with your pets, or something totally out-of-the-box, I’d love to help you create a Christmas card photo that captures your spirit in this joyous season. Click the button below, schedule your holiday photo session, and let’s make your dream holiday card come to life this year!
