We accept any of the following formats of photos:

• Print from traditional film camera for us to scan for you, your original will be returned to you,
• Your scanned image of a print in JPEG format,
• Your original digital image from a digital camera in JPEG format, not from a CD provided by a ‘photo lab’.

If you are using a professional photo, we require written copyright release from the photographer. Most are willing to do this free of charge, others assess a copyright release fee. Please request the copyright release in written form, signed by the photographer and addressed to Handled With Care Custom Stationery. The copyright release can be faxed or mailed to us. Please see Contact Us for fax number and mailing address.

Suggestions for Optimal Photos

For best results, provide several sharp focused photos. On back of the photos or on attached sticky notes, indicate your order of preference. We will then choose the most suitable photo, considering your order of preference. Do not send photos that you would not be pleased with in your stationery.

When preparing your equipment, please consider the following:

Digital Photos

• Be sure your camera is set to the highest resolution, generally any setting equal or better than 1492x1104.
• We do, however, recommend a minimum of 1800x1200 to allow for cropping and resizing.
• Although some images look nice on your computer display, they do not print as nicely. Such images should be reserved for online sharing. You may print them on your own printer to ensure you are satisfied with the quality.
• If you provide an image we determine to be of poor quality or resolution, we will inform you. If you opt to proceed with it, there will be no refunds or reprints due to dissatisfaction with print quality. However, it would be your option then to place a new order with a different photo and pay full price.
• Provide the original JPEG as downloaded from the camera. Do not resize or compress it in any way.

Film Photos

• We recommend 100 and 200 speed film for 35mm cameras.
• Sometimes 400 speed film will work if you are using an auto-focus camera.
• Please do not send your only copy of the photos, unless you have retained the negatives. We cannot guarantee performance of the US Postal Service.

Other Film and Print Types

We strongly recommend against using:
• Polaroid prints or other instant camera photographs
• Disposable camera photographs
• Prints on paper from a home computer printer, such as inkjet, laser or photo printers
• 110 film
• Photocopies
• Images from a CD provided by a photo lab. Typically, these are low resolution suitable only for computer display or online sharing.

When setting the scene for your photo, please consider the following:

• Sleeping or candid poses work just as well as portraits, there’s no need to worry about getting the subject (especially a baby) to look at the camera.
• For babies, hands should be tucked near the face or neck.
• For a full body vignette (see example below in cropping styles), ensure that no part of the body is cut out of the photo or covered by blankets, grass or other obstruction.
• If indoors, use natural light, overhead lights or lamps and a camera flash. Darkness and shadows typically cannot be corrected with retouching. If outdoors, use the natural sunlight, in addition to the fill-in flash on your camera, but avoid intensely bright sunlight. Be aware of shadows while you are setting up indoors or outdoors, and correct accordingly by repositioning and lighting adjustments.
• Avoid getting too close to the subject – cropping and resizing a high resolution photo after the fact is always an option.
• For colorized feature photos (see example below in cropping styles), add something unique, such as flowers, an American flag, Christmas decorations (i.e. glass bulb ornaments), a stocking/Santa cap, or stuffed animal. Or dress the subject in a solid, but pale or subtle, color outfit.

When selecting your photo, please consider the following:

• Sharp focus, no grainy or blurry photos
• Glossy finish, as opposed to matte
• Light colored and plain clothing and background
• Ensure no portion of the subject’s body is cut out of the photo (i.e. the top of his/her head) that you would like to have included. Often this is overlooked because people naturally focus on the face. Be sure to look at all edges of the photo. We cannot correct missing parts, such as hands, ears, or heads.
• On photos with more than one subject, be sure they are posed closely together, especially at their heads, possibly touching.

As part of the Photo Setup fees assessed, we will provide the following services. Please be sure to specify on your Customization Form what you would like us to do. Feel free to make a black and white photo copy of your photo and make indications directly on it for clarity.

• Airbrush and retouch blemishes
• Remove red-eye and flash reflections
• Colorize a feature of your photo, as shown in the examples below
• Remove unsightly background, such as a person, chair, or outlet. Please understand that we cannot guarantee that everything you’d like to have removed can be. We do our best, but sometimes not all background can be removed/airbrushed. If there is a large amount of unsightly background and the photo is a fully body image, we suggest a Full Body Vignette (see examples below). Be aware of surroundings, as well as lighting, when setting up for the photo.
• Leave as color or convert to black and white, washed out or sephia, using the guide below
• Crop to include not much more than the subject itself or use one or a combination of the cropping styles using the following examples as a guide. If you like the cropping style of a photo in one of our products, please indicate item number.

Examples:
Oval/Round Vignette	Rectangle/Square Vignette	Random Vignette
Colorized Feature	Add a feature, such as angel halo	Full Body/No Background
Beveled Frame	Photo Corners	Drop Shadow
Spatter Frame	Strokes Frame	Color
Black and White	Washed Out	Sephia

Please do not hesitate to Contact Us for further suggestions and information. We’d be happy to assist in any way we can.