You’ve made your list and checked it twice…but you still can’t seem to figure out what you should get for your cousin Fred. Or your aunt Rosemary. Or your father-in-law. When in doubt, go with a photo gift. For one thing, they’re personalized, which shows you put in some effort. (Hey, it’s not like you can run to the mall and make gifts like these happen same-day.) Second, it’s thoughtful—and pulls at the heart strings, too. (Come on, not even the most ‘Bah humbug’ of family members can resist a family pic.)
In other words, cue the nostalgia: Here are six photo gifts the people in your life will cherish long-term.
A Brass Easel Calendar
From Artifact Uprising, this is the photo gift that keeps on giving—for all 12 months of the year, in fact. With a stand made from solid brass, it’s the perfect place to elegantly put a spotlight the memories you hold the most near and dear from over the past year. Not to mention, when you print pics at Artifact Uprising, the premium quality papers bring your digital images to life. Bonus: You can create the whole thing in under 10 minutes—just download the photo app for your smartphone.
An Instant Gallery
Who needs a gallery wall when you can send out for a mini version of one? This custom photo art from Minted allows you to select nine different pics, then give them the “instant” Polaroid treatment for a framed vignette of some well-edited highlights of the past year. Once you’ve selected your images, you can really up the ante on your gift by opting to have it framed.
An iPhone Case
Reality check: You—and the people you care about—look at their smartphones a lot. Since that’s the case, why not gift a case with a treasured photo on it so that every time your husband (or father-in-law who’s impossible to shop for!) places a call or opens up their email, they catch a glimpse of a treasured family photo or two? Zazzle has a range of designs to choose from and a range of iPhone makes and models they’ll fit.
A Mini Photo Book
No, your gorgeous Instagram pics aren’t only meant to live online. This mini photo book from Social Print Studio is tiny enough to tuck in your pocket and allows you to print 50 of your favorite IG moments so you can reference them without your phone anytime. Even better, the images will be printed back to back on cardstock with a glossy photo-finish. (There’s also an option to print 100 photos and receive two books.)
Book Collection in a Brass Stand
Now that you’ve taken the time to turn your beloved photos into physical books, don’t just shove them in a cabinet where they’ll never see the light of day. This modern book stand from Chatbooks can sit on top of a countertop or entry table, so that you can pick up a photo book of memories to flip through at any time. It also comes in a variety of cool colors ranging from copper to gold.
A Custom Photo Tee
That shot of the LA sunset you wish you could do more with than simply frame? Bring it to life on a t-shirt, custom-created by you via YoShirt, an app that allows you to make your own apparel and accessories using photos, patterns and more. Upload your image to design the t-shirt of your dreams, then purchase it and have it shipped straight to your door. (FYI, your image is infused into the fabric first and then cut to fit, so the quality of the final product remains in tact.)
