Family photo Christmas cards - love em or loathe em?

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello,
We've been asked for thoughts on Christmas cards with family photos as the pic in the light of the party leaders' cards this year. Am due on the Today programme tomorrow am to discuss - would love to know what you think of them in general. Nice or naff would you say?
tia

I love them (though not necessarily from any politican).

Far better than the waste of paper that is your usual card.

If I was more organised I would do one.

they are great. lovely to see people's kids grow up in an annual photo.
snapshot better than posed studio shot all in matching clothes though (americans do this a LOT)

At least they are better than round robins, which are embarrassing (so boastful).

naff

I like them and I like the cards drawn by chidren too.

Not so keen when the adults are on them too though - prefer just children.

And prefer natural snapshots rather than posed for potraits or dressed up type.

I like the children's photos on cards.
I have American cousins who send photo cards of just themselves (childless couple) and I think it's a bit naff.

A photo in the card is lovely. A photo on the card is naff - I don't want some random family gurning at me from the mantelpiece!

We get one every year of a couple with their dog. That ones gets hidden!

I don't like them. I know I sound mean saying it, but I have no interest in other peoples family photos. Would prefer Christmas cards with Santa or a nativity scene.

I am much more forgiving of "normal" people than of politicians doing this.

With politicians, its's all about presenting themselves as very very naice and down to earth, and one step away from kissing babies on the election campaign. It's just spin.

From normal people, I don't mind. I actually give a toss about their children.

It's when people send out wedding invitations emblazoned with their portraits in glorious detail- every pore visible- that I think... yuk.

I don't like them as I don't like the idea of throwing away cards with people's photos on them or sending photos of children to recycling - it just seems wrong.

I agree a photo in the card is nice as you can keep it

I like them they are from friends, but those smarmy politicians ones are bleurgh

I quitq like them, actch.

i like them but prefer just the children.

Also - where are the cameron's other kids?!

I like them. Especially when they dress the kids in fancy dress for the photo. And extra points if the adults dress up too

love 'em, except when it is done in order to exploit the children for political ends. (I do so hate it when my friends do that.)

As long as the man in the photo is balder than my DS, the woman looks fatter and older than me and the children are not as cute as my DDs then I love them. Does that make me a bad person?

No, no, no.
Add a photo slipped inside if you want but not as an actual card.

no but it sounds like you are a bit insecure

surely no child is ever as cute as your dcs, anyway?

(that was to SoTiredMum)

Any idea what time you're on tomorrow Justine

Those politician ones are all boakity boak boak!

The Milliband's is better than the others. Cameron's is wierd because it doesn't include all his children.
The drawings are just odd. No-one except the parents finds your kids' drawings cute.

Generally sent by the overly smug! So perfect for the Camerons!

If by insecure, you mean would I use photoshop to get rid of my double chin before appearing on card, then...oh yes!! :)

On a serious note, I have done Christmas thank you cards with a photo taken on christmas day (complete with paper hats and looking just a little sloshed). They went down very well with relatives especially.

Just kids - lovely
Adults too - bit odd
Just adults - wrong
Adults with one/some of the kids (Camerons) - distasteful.

Pics painted by kids - lovely if under the age of 8.

Remember red eye reduction though. Family of ours send one of the kids every year and one of them always looks like the devil child.

Vile generally

Definitely loathe the politicians' ones. Yuck, family spin and agree it's not right for the Camerons' only to feature the baby.

Personally would never do it, except perhaps one of DS for his grandmothers, who would always be thrilled with anything with him on it - I wouldn't have the arrogance to assume others would be interested!