photography

Jillian Spencer Studios & Basic Invite: A Perfect Holiday Combo

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Sponsored post; all opinions within are my own.

This season, we had the absolute joy of returning to Jillian Spencer Studios for our second photo shoot — and once again, Jillian delivered the warm, natural, personality-filled portraits that our family loves. Those images became the heart of our 2025 Christmas card, designed through Basic Invite, a brand we’ve been loyal to for four years. Together, they made this year’s holiday experience truly special.

📸 Working with Jillian Spencer Studios in Roxbury, NJ

Jillian Spencer Studios is located at:

100 Main Street
Succasunna, NJ 07876

We first discovered Jillian Spencer Studios last year, and ever since, her work has become part of our family tradition. Jillian created such a relaxed, comfortable environment for the kids and for us! Emilia and Nicholas were so cooperative, and Jillian captured the beautifully posed shots we look forward to each year. It is the one time we are all dressed in coordinated outfits and can get everyone looking at the camera, smiling, and together in one frame. We also enjoy the beautiful candids!

Jillian has a talent for reading the room, knowing when to guide and when to simply let the magic happen. She works quickly (a blessing with little ones and a “why do we have to do this” husband) but never rushes the process. Every session feels intentional and personal. The snow machine was a big hit and captured amazing smiles!

This particular shoot gave us timeless, soft, joyful photos…the kind that instantly felt “frame-worthy” and perfect for our annual holiday card.

Jillian offers so much more than family portraits. She does studio shoots, outdoor sessions, sports photography, and more, making her a versatile choice for all your photography needs. Jillian has so much to offer, so make sure you check out her Instagram and website.

🎄 Turning Our Favorites into Holiday Magic with Basic Invite

Once we got our final gallery back from Jillian, we knew immediately which images would headline our Basic Invite Christmas card. This is our fourth year designing cards through Basic Invite, and the loyalty is well earned as their customization options are unmatched, their quality is consistently beautiful, and the process is always seamless.

What We Chose This Year

We created our most elevated card yet:

✨ Raised Foil
We upgraded to raised foil again and WOW. The card has a gorgeous, tactile shimmer that adds a luxe finish without feeling over-the-top. It made the card feel extra festive.

✨ Full Customization
One of the reasons we keep returning to Basic Invite is the level of control. We could adjust fonts, spacing, colors, foil placement, and photo layout. It allowed us to truly match the design to Jillian’s warm, neutral-toned images.

✨ A Recap on the Back
This year, we added a mini “year in review” on the back of the card. It included a short update on each family member which is something personal, something fun, and something memorable. It turned our card into more of a keepsake than a greeting.

Why We Keep Coming Back

Basic Invite continues to impress us year after year. The paper quality is thick and substantial, the printing is crisp, and the designs feel both modern and classic. The templates are there for support, but the customization options let you make each card completely your own.

Between Jillian’s stunning photography and Basic Invite’s thoughtful design tools, our 2025 Christmas card came together beautifully heartfelt, polished, and uniquely us.

❤️ A Tradition We’re Proud Of

It’s become a yearly rhythm:
Book Jillian Spencer Studios → Capture the season → Build our holiday card with Basic Invite → Share our joy.

These two partners in our holiday process — Jillian Spencer Studios and Basic Invite — continue to help us document and celebrate our family as we grow, change, and make new memories.

If you’re in New Jersey and local to Morris County, we can’t recommend Jillian Spencer Studios enough for family photography. And if you’re building holiday cards that feel personal, high-quality, and timeless, Basic Invite is always a win.

Another year, another card, and another set of memories we’ll look back on with full hearts.

Save 30% with Code HOLI30: Perfect Holiday Cards from Basic Invite

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Sponsored Post: all opinions are my own

Our Christmas card and New Year’s Eve party invitations are absolutely perfect, thanks to Basic Invite!

What do I love about using Basic Invite?

  • Unlimited Color Options: Basic Invite is one of the few websites that offers almost unlimited color options with instant online previews. Once you select a design, you can customize the color of each element on the card. With over 180 colors to choose from, your invitation will be exactly how you want it. This unique feature sets Basic Invite apart from other online stationery companies.
  • Customized Printed Samples: Basic Invite allows you to order a customized printed sample of your actual invitation before you place your final order. This way, you can see the paper quality, how it will print, and ensure that the card is perfect before sending it to your family and friends.
  • Wide Range of Envelope Colors: With over 40 different envelope colors to choose from, you can make your envelope match the invitation. All envelopes are “peel and seal” so they can be closed quickly and securely. This year, I upgraded to the “Desert Shimmer” envelope to make our mail truly stand out!
  • Address-Capturing Service: Basic Invite offers an address-capturing service that allows you to share a link on social media to request your friends and family’s addresses. These addresses are stored in your account and can be selected during the design process. Basic Invite even offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders. For an additional fee, they will even send your cards for you.

Foil Cards: Available in gold, silver, and rose gold, you can choose between flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs. This year we decided to get gold-raised foil on our Christmas card. It adds a touch of elegance and beauty.

[Our Christmas Card for 2024 made on Basic Invite, Photographed by Jillian Spencer Studios]

Basic Invite makes it so easy to design cards and envelopes and add addresses. I love all the different templates and options. Creating cards shouldn’t be difficult, and I appreciate their website is user-friendly.

Tell me in the comments – have you ordered your Christmas cards yet? Do you need to order New Year’s Eve party invitations?

What do you think of our Christmas card? We were blessed to have Jillian of Jillian Spencer Studios in Roxbury, NJ capture our family this year. Support this local New Jersey mom by visiting her website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Then, once you get your photos from Jillian, be sure to visit Basic Invite here and check out their social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and X.

Use code HOLI30 for 30% off your Basic Invite cards!