Holiday Photo Printing: Cards, Gifts, and Wall Art
The holiday season is the time of year when printed photos matter most. A photo card mailed to family. A framed portrait as a gift. A canvas of the kids on the wall in time for Christmas morning. These are the things people actually want — and the things that require a little planning to get right.
Here is a practical guide to holiday photo printing, covering cards, gift prints, and wall art, with enough lead time advice to make sure everything arrives when you need it.
Holiday Photo Cards
A photo card is still one of the most personal things you can send during the holidays. It does not have to be elaborate — a good photo, a simple message, and a real print on professional paper is enough to make something people actually keep rather than recycle.
At Yellow Lab Imaging, holiday cards are a custom product. We do not have an online card builder with clip art and font choices. What we have is professional photographic paper, careful color review, and the willingness to work with you directly on the result. Cards are available in 5x7 and 5x8 sizes, with envelopes included.
Timing: If you want cards in hand before Christmas with time to address and mail them, place your order by early December at the latest. Earlier is better — reaching out in November gives us the most flexibility and gives you the most peace of mind. Holiday card orders are produced in the order they are received, and we will not rush a job that needs to be done right.
Contact us to discuss your holiday card order.
Photo Gifts — Prints That Mean Something
Printed photos make genuinely meaningful gifts, particularly for parents and grandparents who already have everything they need. A framed portrait of the grandchildren. A set of prints from a family vacation. A photo from decades past, restored and printed beautifully. These are gifts that do not end up in a donation pile in January.
Standard prints for framing: For most photo gifts, standard Lustre prints in 5x7, 8x10, or 11x14 are the right choice. Order them early enough to allow time for framing before you give them. Free shipping on orders of $25 or more.
Canvas gallery wraps: If you want to give something that is already framed and ready to hang — no trip to the frame shop required — a canvas gallery wrap is worth considering. Each one is printed on museum-grade canvas, hand-stretched over a solid pine frame, and finished with two coats of UV protectant. It arrives ready to hang. Sizes start at 11x14. Allow at least two weeks for canvas orders — they are built by hand and cannot be rushed.
Metal prints: For a more contemporary look, metal prints offer vivid color and a dramatic finish that suits bold photography and modern interiors. They are extremely durable, require no frame, and come ready to hang. Smaller sizes (8x10 and under) are produced in-house; larger sizes require additional lead time.
Restored photos as gifts: One of the most meaningful holiday gifts we produce is a professionally restored photograph — an old, damaged family photo brought back to the way it was meant to look. These are especially powerful gifts for older family members. Restoration is done by hand and priced by the hour, so start the conversation early. Learn more about photo restoration here.
Children’s Artwork as a Holiday Gift
If you have young children or grandchildren, their artwork makes an unexpectedly wonderful holiday gift for parents and grandparents. A child’s drawing or painting scanned and printed on canvas or metal — reduced to a manageable display size — is a keepsake that grandparents genuinely treasure. It is not about whether the artwork is technically accomplished. It is about the fact that it came from a child they love.
Canvas gallery wraps start at 11x14. Metal prints are available in a range of smaller sizes. Contact us to discuss your project — these orders require a consultation before we can give you a price or timeline.
Holiday Shipping — Plan Ahead
Standard print orders (Lustre and Pearl prints in sizes up to 11x14) typically turn around in 3–5 business days and ship via standard carriers. For holiday delivery, place print orders by mid-December to be safe.
Specialty products need more lead time:
- Canvas gallery wraps: Allow at least two weeks (14 business days) from order to delivery
- Metal prints (larger than 8x10): Subcontracted to a California lab — allow extra time for production and shipping
- Restoration projects: Timing depends on complexity — start the conversation as early as possible
- Holiday cards: Allow 7–10 business days for production, plus shipping and mailing time
Free shipping on all orders of $25 or more. We ship to all 50 states.
Start Your Holiday Order
Yellow Lab Imaging is a small, owner-operated lab. Every order is reviewed by a real person before it prints. We do not automate quality control, and we do not disappear behind a ticket system when something needs attention. If you have questions about any holiday order — timing, product options, file preparation — reach out directly.
Call 913.217.7202 or email info@yellowlabimaging.com. Or browse and order online below.