One of the most unique and memorable presents you can create is a customised photographic Christmas calendar.
This thoughtful gift combines personal memories with practical use, making it the perfect choice for family and friends alike. Even those who live overseas.
And you can even put together a Christmas care package of tasty traditional treats to accompany your special calendar to family members who are living abroad and who might be missing the comforts of a Christmas at home. In fact, we'll be covering such care packages in a later post, so please keep your eyes open for that.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you design and publish your own special calendar in time for the festive season.
1. Gather Your Photos
The heart of a photographic calendar is, of course, the photos! Start by selecting twelve meaningful images, one for each month. These could include:
Family moments: birthdays, anniversaries, or family holidays.
Milestones: the birth of a new baby, graduations, or even a new home.
Candid snapshots: natural, in-the-moment photos that capture the essence of your family and friends.
Seasonal images: photos that reflect the season or holidays for each month (snowy winter walks, blooming spring flowers, summer beach trips, autumnal leaves).
If the calendar is for a close family, consider mixing both recent photos and some nostalgic older ones. This blend creates a wonderful balance between cherishing the past and celebrating the present.
2. Choose a Theme
A cohesive theme will make your calendar look polished and professional. The theme could be as simple as using a consistent filter or colour scheme across all your photos, or it could be more specific:
Seasonal Themes: Match your photos to the seasons, with festive winter photos, spring blossoms, summer fun, and autumnal tones.
Family Heritage: For a more nostalgic touch, delve into old family photo albums and select a mix of historical and modern photos. You could dedicate certain months to different generations.
Holiday Travels: If your family has had a year full of adventure, create a travel-themed calendar with photos from your favourite trips.
Whatever theme you choose, ensure the images flow smoothly from one month to the next, offering a visual journey through the year.
3. Add Personal Touches
To make the calendar even more special, consider including personal dates and reminders. You can add:
Family Birthdays: Mark important birthdays with fun icons or little notes.
Anniversaries: Highlight special dates such as wedding anniversaries.
Special Events: Include upcoming family events, holidays, or gatherings already planned for the next year.
You might also want to add little quotes or captions alongside some photos, offering a heartfelt message or a funny memory that ties in with the image.
4. Choose a Design Platform
Once you have your photos and theme, the next step is to design the calendar. There are numerous user-friendly platforms that allow you to upload your photos and customise your design. Here are a few popular options:
Canva: A great choice for beginners, Canva offers a range of pre-made calendar templates that you can customise. You can upload your own photos, add text, and tweak the design to suit your preferences.
Vistaprint: Known for high-quality printing services, Vistaprint also offers an easy-to-use calendar design tool. You can choose from several templates and print your calendar in different sizes.
Photobox: Specialising in photo gifts, Photobox allows you to create calendars quickly, with options for various layouts and sizes.
Once you've designed your calendar, you can either print it yourself at home or have it professionally printed and bound.
CEWE: Offer wide range of photographically printed goods. Available either on line or via branches of Boots.
Mixam: Offers various printing services including books, art prints, etc.
Max Spielmann: Wide range of photographic printing services including mugs, jigsaws, calendars, etc. In store in supermarkets, etc.
5. Printing and Binding
While digital design is key, the final look depends heavily on the print quality. You want your calendar to feel substantial and look professional. If you're printing at home, invest in high-quality photo paper. However, it’s often easier and more effective to use an online printing service like Vistaprint or Photobox, which will print and bind your calendar for you.
Options to consider include:
Size: Standard A4 or A3-sized calendars are ideal, but some companies offer more creative sizes, like square or long portrait.
Paper: Choose a high-quality, glossy or matte paper to enhance your photos.
Binding: Spiral binding works well for calendars, making it easy to flip through each month.
6. Add a Festive Finishing Touch
To make your calendar truly feel like a Christmas gift, think about how you'll package and present it. Wrap it in festive paper with a beautiful bow, or place it in a decorative gift box. You could even include a handwritten note or a personalised Christmas card to add that final touch of thoughtfulness.
7. Give the Gift of Memories
Once your calendar is ready, it’s time to share it with family and friends. Whether you’re giving it to your immediate family or as a wider gift to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the calendar will be a daily reminder of your love and shared memories throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
A photographic Christmas calendar is more than just a gift – it’s a celebration of the people and moments that matter most. By carefully selecting your photos and personalising the design, you’re creating a keepsake that will be treasured long after the year ends. This Christmas, give the gift of memories – and make every day of the new year a reminder of love and togetherness.
Happy creating, and Merry Christmas!