Long-Distance Family Christmas Photos: Stay Close from Afar

You can still feel close without a shared living room. Take one good photo, tailor it for both print and digital, and make the connection clear.

Capture tips for distance

• Keep it simple: one window-lit portrait; turn off overheads.
• Include a personal element (ornament from them, a framed photo) if you like.
• Shoot portrait or square for phone viewing; leave clean space for text if printing.

Message ideas that bridge miles

• “Miles apart, but your voice is in our kitchen every week. Video call Sunday?”
• “We saved a story for you—call us when you get this?”
• “Different time zones, same love. Here’s a snapshot of our year.”

Digital + print strategy

• Mail prints to elders; keep font large and legible.
• Send digital to everyone else with a short personal line and an invite to connect.
• Add a QR to a 20–30 second private video update if you want more depth.

If your space isn’t photo-ready

• Take one clear shot by a plain wall/window.
• Upload and generate 18 festive backgrounds in 60 seconds—pick cozy or modern, export 5x7 for print and ~1080–2048 px for digital.

Timing

• International mail: aim for Nov 30; domestic: Dec 7–10.
• If late, send digital first; mail a New Year’s print later.

Keep the thread going

• Offer a specific call time/date; don’t leave it as “let’s catch up sometime.”
• Mention one shared tradition you’ll honor from afar (song, recipe, prayer).

Print/digital specs

• Print: sRGB, 300 DPI, 5x7; faces/text 0.25" inside edges.
• Digital: sRGB; under ~2 MB; portrait/square for phones.

Distance changes the logistics, not the love. One honest photo, a personal line, and a clear invite keep the connection alive.