If it helps, our Christmas letter has no photos typically. If there is a photo of any type, it's a tiny picture of the girls (our dogs) just to the side of where we sign it and is placed solely to avoid awkward looking white space. :)

I do think crediting the makeup artist is a nice touch. After all, it's Christmas. Let the peasants feel good about themselves.

*blowing raspberries*

In the past I've had pictures of my younglings made into Christmas cards, but this year I enclosed small school pictures in the scant few cards I sent out.

And don't you just love (hate) those "update" letters?

Robbo, it's my experience that women like the one you've described purposely wear themselves out with their extensive thank you notes and Christmas cards so they have no energy for s*x...

Then Dad, who's footing the bill to keep his wife detained (away from him) actually is dumb enough to smile for the camara, after donning the mascara and lip powder.....

I like the update letters as long as it isn't extensive crowing about last year's vacations.
I have a son currently living in Nagasaki Japan. Being the terrible friend that I am, not many people know this. My husband is also over in Asia many moths of the year. We have a few rather humerous, if you want to call food poisoning and hospitalization humerous, stories of his recent travels to the dark side of the moon...
So, we sent out an update letter, complete with a picture of one kid in a Santa hat outside a Buddhist temple in Japan and the other guy in his flight suit opening his suit to reveal his Superman tee shirt underneath...
Maybe I am gouche, but I thought that was something that people I care about would like to see and get a chuckle from.

Jeez. Can't wait to hear what you have to say when you get my Christmas card.

:P

I'm totally with you, though. I got one from a sorority sister and there were pictures of each one of her three kids---the girls in matching dresses---one of the kids together, and one with the parents and the kids. It seemed a bit excessive, but I know her: she undoubtedly bought outfits for the kids for the pictures and wanted to make sure she got her money's worth.

It's nice to get cards that show people put some thought into it, but there is a point where they definitely go overboard.

And you are friends with these persons for the following reasons...? What? Just asking.