Money Saving Tips for this Year’s Awkward Holiday Family Photos

If you are anything like me, you’re already thinking about the family picture Christmas card you’ll be sending out in a few short weeks. I actually obsess over this event all year long, but now is the time I actually have justification in consuming my days with plans of matching outfits and staging joyful settings.

This year, I’ve set a goal to save a few bucks along the way. I’ve outlined some tips for you, as well! Consider it a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Just Because gift from me to you.

Tip #1 – Forget the Pros

With today’s technology, and especially the availability of camera and camera equipment rentals, there’s no need to book an expensive appointment with a professional photographer or agency. Mostly, because inevitably, the scene will play out like this – you will fight with everyone in the family over outfits, which will make you late for your appointment, therefore you’ll be left all waiting in a room full of other miserable families for what seems like forever just to get pictures of your toddler screaming, your teenager evil eyeing the camera, and you and the hubs acting like you couldn’t be any happier than in that exact moment. Oh, and that “lovely” memory that you plan on sharing with friends and family in the form of a holiday card is going to leave you scrounging for change just to buy gifts for those happy kids you have.

Tip #2 -New Duds are for Duds

Unless you’ve been trapped inside a Supercenter shopping outlet for the last year, you’ve probably heard of online apparel companies like Rent the Runway that let you rent clothing. Before you let your mind flitter into the abyss of how gross this could be, rest assured companies like Borrow Baby Couture and Wearhop carry out very strict, very hygienic, Tiana-approved OCD-like cleaning processes in between wears. So instead of buying those cutesy matching guises (because who really dresses like that outside of picture day?), check out what you can borrow for a fraction of the cost.

Tip #3 -Get a New Best Friend

Can Bridget get you 100 Christmas cards for $19.99? Can she get you stamps for less than their actual worth? I think not. But you know who can? Sam can. Well, Sam’s…Club. Wholesale clubs like Sam’s and Costco offer jawdropping deals in their photo centers that will have you running out of the warehouse to your car hoping they won’t catch their pricing mess-up before you get out of the lot. And since you’re there, you might as well pick up 3700 yards of wrapping paper and 5000 bows for next to nothing.

Tip #4 -Sell Your Rights

After the rented tripod snaps a shot of you and your loved ones in your borrowed clothes and they’re uploaded to the warehouse print shop, send a copy of the picture to awkwardfamilyphotos.com, and see if it’s tacky enough to go public. I don’t know for certain you’ll get any royalties, but it’s worth a shot. Hell, if it’s downright appalling, you might just come out ahead in the end.