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Stanford Business magazine

 

Unsinkable Art of Holiday Family Poses

By Janet Zich

LattinIt seemed like such a simple idea. “We wanted to take a very formal picture with us seated in chairs like the old family portraits back in the 1800s—except we would be under water,” says Tom Garland, MBA ’88. “We had my brother-in-law in the swimming pool with a plastic $5 disposable camera. Unfortunately, we and the chairs kept floating to the surface. Seventy-two pictures later we got one where we weren’t floating and didn’t have bubbles obscuring our faces.”

The Unsinkable Garlands (at left) appeared on the family’s 2002 Christmas card. It is one of the best examples of a recent trend in holiday cards: the family photo with a twist.

Dave Merriwether’s 2006 card, which featured a portrait of his 4-month-old daughter Alexa, was a takeoff on the baby-on-a-bearskin classic (at rigth). But, surprise: It’s Santa Baby! The photo, which looks as professionally styled as a centerfold, was taken on a whim with a digital camera by Alexa’s mom, Marla.

But for a shock, take a quick look at Rob Henderson’s family portrait on his 2003 card (below). Then take a second look. Henderson, MBA ’88, says the trick was simple: “We took a family portrait and used Photoshop to switch two of the heads after sizing them.” The heads in question were Henderson’s and that of his youngest daughter, Kayla, then 1 year old.

Ah, Photoshop. Garland received a huge response from his underwater card. Problem was, nobody believed it wasn’t manipulated. He decided he would show them. For his 2003 card, he picked something recognizable, the Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover, and used Photoshop to switch his family of five for the four Beatles (little Tommy was the Fifth Beatle). The following year, Garland chose the Sgt. Pepper album and Photoshopped some of his MBA classmates into the background.

So what should friends and family expect this holiday season?

Merriwether, MBA ’00, who moved East and looks forward to a real white Christmas, suggests something along that line. Henderson hints his card “may involve our little ones emerging victorious in a world-class athletic event.” And Garland says, “My wife spends a lot of time driving kids to soccer games. I have not decided yet but I will give you a small hint: ‘We all live in a yellow minivan, yellow minivan…’”