Ok..it is time to update our annual post about “where to order holiday cards”!
It is the time of year when our portrait customers ask who we recommend to print their holiday cards.  In our opinion, there is nothing worse then having a great picture that does not get reprinted well – it is soooo disappointing!  In order to answer this question properly, I decided to do some research! Hopefully this will save you some time and possibly avoid a headache!

We know that Costco, Target, as well as hundreds of online sites offer their flat one sided photo greeting cards printed on photo paper. Needless to say, these are not our favorites.  Often, there is very little quality control and the reproduction of your image will probably not look that great.  If it is in your budget, we recommend using either a local professional lab or check out the following:

CUSTOM CARDS (Moderate to Expensive)

We recommend Celebrations in Paper right here in Old Town Scottsdale.  If you are looking for something truly unique – something really custom – this is where you need to go!  The quality is excellent and the service is first rate!  Check out an earlier blog post to see some samples that they designed specifically for us this holiday season.  Just be sure to tell Renee that we sent you!

PHOTO CARDS (Moderate to Slightly Expensive)

Two newcomers (to my radar anyway) worth including:

Minted. – “Minted.com delivers fresh designs from indie designers printed on luxuriously thick paper, for cards that will be remembered long after the holidays.  Be unique.  Get minted.”  Offer Code: CMH 10% off holiday cards, until 12/15  –  My favorite offering (exclusively theirs) is their Minibook Holiday Cards – tell the story of your year with 3-6  photos.  Matte paper, bound with chic grommets.  $5 each – a little on the pricey side, but beautiful!  Their selection is Keith’s favorite – a good selection of their designs tend to feature the photograph! (Click on the minted.com and it will take you to the Keith Pitts Photography photographer storefront.)

Paper Culture – “…Paper Culture: modern stationery with exclusive designs, 100% recycled eco friendly cards and unparalleled convenience and personalization. Make sure to check out our Mail & Message service where we will address and mail your cards AND print a different personal message on every card if you choose. Mail & Message service is free until Jan 1, 2010″.  WOW!!!  That alone is reason to use Paper Culture – what a great service!!!  I might actually get my cards out if I used them!  Also, they currently have an offer of saving $15 on a $75 order – great deal.  They are environmentally friendly, modern and fresh – and they have some really nice holiday photo cards!

www.tinyprints.com:  even better than last year, they are amazing!  So much to choose from – and they have a great selection of holiday photo cards (which of course is what matters most to us!)  I love the Inspiration Square Folded Card – it lets you include several photos and include custom writing on the inside!  PROS:  they offer limited edition holiday cards, they sell coordinating holiday labels, extremely user friendly site – it is so easy to drag & drop, change greeting, font, color, etc..you can request a sample of your card, but the best is:  they PRE-SHIP envelopes so you can get a jump on addressing the envelopes (if you decide you want to do that part yourself!)  CONS:  I don’t really have any!

www.peartreegreetings.com:  this sites has a great selection of  flat holiday cards – great designs – a breath of fresh air!  They also offer my preferred style: folded. They offer something called a “photo pocket” (looks like an envelopment) – several styles that fold in different ways.  The folded card features your photo personalization, a wrap pocket and a matching return address label.  I love this – they look beautiful!  Like the others, these cards include a white envelope but other upgrades are available.  Here is my favorite budget friendly choice this year …and it is even under $1.

And last but not least, I just do not have a fondness for gimmicky Holiday stuff with my kids pictures all over but I really like their magnets.  Yes, Photo magnets – don’t gasp – they actually have a nice look – and they are replicas of their cards – prices start at $1.33.  I know my grandmother would love one!

I realize that there are endless places to place holiday photo card orders…I would love to hear about others that I have not come across – I would really appreciate feedback!  Thanks!