What better way to send your best wishes this season than with a photo kwikcard? Whether it's a shot of the kids playing in the snow, a vacation photo of the family, or just a picture you're proud of, sending a card with a photo you've taken is a wonderful way to send a personal hello to people you care about.

Here's an example – we've used a winter scene to highlight the season and create a warm, seasonal, completely unique card. Want to see how we made it? Check out the demo.

You can make a photo card in minutes:

1. Select the card type (photo or folded).
2. Choose a theme.
3. Upload your image, then drag and drop it into the template.
4. Insert your text, preview – and you're done!
5. Want to get a little more creative? Click “Customize” and you can change the layout and add captions, clipart and borders.

Use KwikPix.ca's super-easy software to create custom cards for any occasion. Choose from lots of backgrounds and layouts, or make something that's totally your creation. The scrapbooking tool lets you move elements of the card design around, add new elements, reposition photos, add text, change colours and more.

Need a few ideas? Photo greeting cards are great for:

• Birthday party invites. Take a shot of your kid dressed up as a pirate (or a princess) and send out personalized cards inviting their friends to a pirate festival or a princess extravaganza.
• Wedding thank you cards. Use a shot of the two of you on your big day – that you you can send your guests a memento of your wedding as well as a note of thanks. You can personalize it ever further by including a picture of you with your guest at the reception.
• Family photo cards. Everyone loves getting holiday cards with updated photos of your clan. KwikPix.ca has lots of Christmas and winter themes to choose from, so create away!
• Birth announcements. Send out news of your new arrival with a customized card – there are lots of baby designs to choose from, or feel free to create your own.

More ideas:

• Get well soon card with a funny photo.
• “Just because” cards featuring pictures you're particularly proud of.
• Wedding invitations with a black and white photo of the two of you laughing together.
• A 50th anniversary party invite with an old wedding photo paired with a current picture.

From pretty princesses and scurvy pirates to creepy creatures and eerie decorations, there's no shortage of great photo ops on Halloween. Here are some tips to help you get some seriously scary pictures.

Tell the whole story. Don't just photograph your kid in their costume. That's just part of the story. Take a series of photos of your child getting ready – get in there when they're doing their makeup, putting on their costume, and heading out the door with their friends. Then, once they're back from trick-or-treating, take some shots of their candy all spread out on the table, of smeared makeup or damaged costumes. The memories are all in the details.

Photograph the details. Don't forget to take pictures of the decorations, carving the pumpkin, your kids' friends, before and after shots of parties, close-ups of food, etc.

Be dramatic. Get in nice and close and fill the frame with your subjects – it's a great way to punch up your shots. Play with perspective, too. Want your little monster to look extra creepy? Shoot her from below to make her look bigger and scarier. Or have your little vampire shine a flashlight onto his face from below for a little “ghoul lighting” (don't use your flash on this one).

Give them something to do. Why just tell them to stand there and say cheese? Let them have some fun by making their scariest faces, acting “in character” or lying down on the ground and pretending to be dead.

Tips on shooting in low light.

On Halloween, the real action happens after dark. Darkness can make picture-taking a little more challenging, especially if you don't want to use your flash (which can certainly take the mystery out of an image). If you want to take great shots, all you have to do is be prepared, and think about light sources in advance.

• Avoid stark flash illumination. Turn off your flash and opt for one of these alternatives instead:
  1. Increase your ISO (go with 400 or more). The larger your number, the more sensitive your image sensor is to light, which makes it easier to shoot in darkened conditions.
  2. Use a tripod and decrease your shutter speed. The tripod will stabilize your camera so you can avoid blurring when you open up your shutter for longer periods.
  3. Use a bigger aperture. This widens the hole in your lens and lets in more available light.
• Diffuse your flash. If you have to use your flash, soften it a bit with coloured cellophane. Red will cast an eerie glow that looks great on Halloween.

You probably have hundreds of photos sitting on your hard drive. Why not use them to create a wonderful memento or an unforgettable gift for someone you love? Chronicle a great trip, make a book of baby's first year, or create a family album/scrapbook that you can personalize with text, backgrounds, scrapbooking tools and more.

Even if you don't have a lot of time, with KwikPix.ca, making a book is remarkably fast and easy. Just pick your theme, select your images, and we'll do the rest. In just minutes, you can make a great-looking book that leaves old-fashioned, photos-falling-out albums in the dust.

Here's how easy it is:

1. Choose your photos and put them in the order you want them to appear.
2. Pick a theme and our software will auto-create your book.
3. Preview your layout.
4. If you want, you can change pics, page layouts, and add text and captions.

See our photobook demo video.

If you're interested in making something more customized, we're set up for that too. Customizable templates, professional backgrounds and scrapbooking tools give you complete creative control.

Kwikpix.ca photobooks are a great way to preserve your memories – and you can make one in less time than it takes to fill a photo album with prints!