Make Your Holiday Photos POP!

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The holidays are upon us. Soon we will gather near for Thanksgiving to be with the people that matter the most, our family + friends. We'll eat together, chat together + snap some special photographs our precious moments together. Not only is this a great time to catch up on the important moments past, but it's also the best opportunity to snap the perfect photo for your holiday card - when everyone is in the same place!

To prepare you for this photo-op we asked our resident photographer + lead trend setter, Kara Kurth to lend us some helpful {+ simple!} tips for taking the perfect holiday photos. This is what she had to say :: 

 Keep It Al Natural Natural light is best! Get outside or close to a window to capture a natural stream of light. It also helps to turn on as many lights around you - to even out the shadows. Though flash is handy, natural light makes your photo POP a bit more.

Quality Control Make sure your camera {whatever kind it may be} is set on the BEST possible setting for a high resolution. When you start out with a high quality photo your end-result will be crisp! It's also easier to edit a high-resolution photo for cropping, colors changes, etc. {If you're wondering how to be sure your cam is on the best resolution, refer to your camera's manual or do a quick search online. These places will give easy how-tos.}

Don't Stop 'Til Ya Get Enough Don't be afraid to move around - turn your camera vertically, horizontally or even diagonally. Get up close + personal and then back up to bring more background in. Throw on your coats + run outside -- the sky's the limit! The beautiful thing about digital photos is you can snap as many moments as you want + delete/crop/edit later.

These three guides can help you land the perfect shot for your holiday card.

The Candid Shot

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Have your camera ready for any moment - tree climbing, giggle-fits at dinner or even the little ones helping in the kitchen. Every picture tells a story + your recipients will love it!

The Close-Up

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A close-up shot cuts out the background and makes it easy to focus on what really matters :: your adorable subject!

The Whole Family

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Show the whole family! Your recipients love to know who your nearest + dearest are and how they've grown {especially your grandkids}!

Special Highlights

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The holidays are perfect time for reflection + a great time to show what you've been up to. When you include special photos that highlight important milestones you are able to connect to your friends + family {both near + far} in a very personal way.

 

All photos courtesy of Kurth Studios

Modern Etiquette :: Three Considerations for Every Correspondence

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modern etiquette {mod-ern | et-i-ket} ::

1. properties of conduct that stem from consideration, comfort and respect
2. inclusive guidelines that exist to help people feel comfortable in today's social situations.
3. a respectful core framework to RedStamp's mission to make relationships stronger.

Etiquette has received a lot of tough press in the past. And we get it. With all that's facing our society right now, who has time to worry about which fork goes where? Or how to properly phrase an invitation?

But Modern Etiquette is different. Like society, Modern Etiquette has evolved into something that's useful. Practical. A set of guidelines {not rules} that make it easier to correspond with friends/family/colleagues/acquaintances/strangers because these considerate guidelines are really just a framework to help you think of thoughtful + intentional things to say or do.

At RedStamp, we talk a lot about Modern Etiquette in part because we receive a lot of great questions about Modern Etiquette. "How can I make guests feel welcome my party?"; "How should I say thank you?"; "How do I write a kind note of sympathy?"

Each situation is unique. And in our years of helping our community figure out the right thing to say and the right way to say it, we have crafted three key considerations that will help you figure out the best way to say just about anything...

1. Be Gracious. Channel hospitality if you're the host; gratefulness if you are writing a thank you note; kindness if you are expressing sentiments from sympathy to congratulations. Always be personal.

2. Be Timely. Don't get caught up in the exact rules that say you have three days to write a thank you note or that you must allow at least three weeks to plan for a party. Instead, think about the message you communicate in following these rules. The quicker you are to thank someone, the more appreciated they will feel. The earlier you announce your party, the more likely you will be to reserve time on guests' calendars {and the more time they will have to prepare for your party}.

3. Be Relevant. Correspondence is always about the sender AND the receiver. So, always consider your audience. What do they need to know? What should they know? What will make them feel comfortable and good about themselves/the situation at hand? From invitations to thank you's, this tactic is a sure fire way to remember to include all the relevant information.

Have any questions on Modern Etiquette for an upcoming event? Or a party you'd like us to discuss? Post them below.