Kids Photo Birthday Invitations - 6 Top Questions To Ask When Choosing Your Child's Invites

If you really want your child's party plans to get noticed, you may be thinking of sending out photo birthday invitations.  They stand out, are fun and put everyone in the mood to celebrate.  But before you go any further, here are six top questions (and answers) to help you put together the best invites for your boy or girl.

1. Should I have my child's pictures taken by a professional studio for these party invitations?

Not, necessarily.  A skilled photographer may be able to get a nice portrait shot of your girl or boy. But that doesn't mean he can capture your child's personality in a 30 minute session.  You might get a sharp picture, with every hair in place and a manufactured smile.  But will that be your favorite photo of him or her?  Or, will you prefer the quick snapshot you took that reveals the sheer look of delight on your kid's face as he holds his new puppy?

If you want to increase your odds of taking the perfect picture for your child's birthday invites, keep your digital camera always on hand.  Take tons of photos, close-up, in lots of natural light.  Get in the habit of taking snapshots of ordinary, as well as special moments. That way, you'll have a pile of photographs from which to choose.

2. If I decide I still want to have the picture taken by a studio, do I need permission to use it for invitations?

Yes, absolutely.  Any photo taken by a professional photographer is copyright protected, and cannot be used without written consent. The good news is that most of them are more than happy to give you permission. Many studios even have preprinted forms they can fill out for this purpose.  So, if you are planning on ordering personalized photo invitations for your child's birthday party, ask the photographer to sign a slip during your session.  That way, you don't have to double back later, to get the go ahead.

3. Should I use multiple photos on the party invites?

The growing trend is to use more than one picture on everything from holiday cards to birth announcements to birthday invitations.  You might want to consider using several snapshots if you really like a few of them, but can't decide on which photo is best.  Or you could feature a posed portrait and an action shot.  It can serve to tell a story or showcase the many expressions of your child's face.  It's really up to you, but it's a nice option.

4. How should I choose the picture I want to use?

For the best results, use clear, bright, and sharp photos. Professional invitation companies can improve your pictures to some extent. They can slightly sharpen a blurry photo, but it will still be blurry . Many times they can fix a dark snapshot. But occasionally, when lightening it, some detail is lost.  So, always strive for the best possible quality.

Another thing to keep in mind is the background of the picture. If it's very busy, it can be distracting.  Simple, uncluttered backdrops are better.  Nice scenery can also serve the purpose.

5. Do I want to include a theme in my child's photo birthday invitations?

Many companies will feature a theme on their invites. If you browse online, you'll find princess, pirate, farm animals, teddy bears, circus, movie star, sports, tea party, jungle, under the sea and dinosaur designs, to name just a few.  What you may not find is your child's favorite movie, TV or cartoon characters available in this category.  That's because cartoon characters and other similar pictures are owned by the companies that created them. Certain business pay a high licensing fee for the right to reproduce their images.  But the companies that specialize in custom work with smaller orders don't find it cost effective.

6. Where can I find photo thank you cards for after the party?

If you didn't get around to sending out photo birthday invitations, you can still mail photo thank you's. Some companies have a special category of cards to thank guests. But you will find that most professional online companies will be able to easily adapt any of their own designs and turn it into a thank you card.  You can use any of the party samples in your chosen theme.  Add one of more pictures showing highlights from the celebration, and you'll have a memorable way to thank your guests.

So, just browse online for photo birthday invitations and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how many great designs are out there.  It may be hard to choose the one you like best. They're an inexpensive showcase for your little darling. Send them out and soon everyone on your guest list will be looking forward to your child's special celebration.