Turn Your Turkey Trot Photos Into a Holiday Card

Pick a bright, close, smiling photo, crop it for a card, and share it before the holiday rush

A turkey trot photo is one of the best holiday card images you can get: everyone is outside, moving, and happy. With a little planning you can turn one frame into a card, a framed print or a digital gift for relatives who could not be there.

Start with the right photo

Look for these qualities when you go through your race photos:

Faces you can see: sunglasses, hats and bibs are fine, but choose a frame where expressions are clear.
Room around the subject: cards need space for text, so photos with a simple background crop better.
Good light: bright, even morning light looks warmer than harsh shadows.
The group together: matching shirts or costumes make a family photo feel like a story.

For help narrowing down your options, read how to pick the best photo from your turkey trot.

Crop and format for a card

Decide the shape. Most holiday cards use a vertical 5 by 7 inch layout, but you can crop a horizontal photo to fit a square or panoramic card.
Keep faces away from the edges. Printers trim a little, so leave margin around heads and hands.
Leave a text area. A greeting works best over a plain patch of sky, road or a darker corner.
Keep the full-resolution file. A large file is much more forgiving if you enlarge or print it.

Gift and share ideas

You do not need a print to share a good photo. Send the digital file to grandparents, add it to a group chat, or set it as a photo for the family calendar. If you want something physical, you can take the file to a print lab of your choice for cards, a framed print or a mug. Surf Snaps delivers digital downloads only for now, and the file is good enough to print.

Where to find your race photos

If you do not have a photo yet, browse Explore on Surf Snaps without an account. Filter by sport (running), location (venue, city or state) and date. Explore does not search by bib number, so use the place and date filters and scan for your group. Photos start from $8, and you pay per photo, with no packages. You need an account to buy; after payment the watermark is removed and the full-resolution file is in My Purchases. Cards accepted are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Questions about refunds go to support@surf-snaps.com. Read how to find your turkey trot photos for more.

Respect other people in the photo

If your card photo shows other runners or children, think about whether they would be comfortable with it being sent widely. When in doubt, crop to your own group, and check the photographer's licence terms on the terms page: a purchase is a licence to use the image, and the photographer keeps the copyright.

Turkey Trot Holiday Card FAQ

Can I print a Surf Snaps photo for a holiday card?

Surf Snaps provides a digital download only, and the file is good enough to print at a lab of your choice.

How do I find my turkey trot photo?

Use Explore to filter by running, the race location and the date. Explore does not search by bib number.

How much do photos cost?

Photos start from $8, and you pay per photo. Photographers set their own prices.

When do I get the full-resolution file?

The watermark is removed after payment, and the full-resolution file is available in My Purchases.

What if I cannot find my photos?

Not every race has a photographer on Surf Snaps. Try a nearby date or city, and ask friends who attended whether they took photos.