How to Select the Perfect Photo for a Photo Gift

Thanks to digital technology, you don't need to run to the store and get your film developed. Gone are the days of storing photos in dusty photo albums or forgotten envelopes. We can snap pictures anytime, any place and share them to our heart's content. We can post them to websites and social media sites, and store thousands of them on our hard drives.

Taking a photograph is easier than ever, as is storing them; but still, our images are often forgotten - on our computers rather than in albums. Thankfully, there are companies that can take your most precious photos and use them to create custom photo gifts that can be kept for a lifetime, allowing your photos to be celebrated rather than shelved. Photos can be featured on countless items, and don't just think mugs and t-shirts: family heirlooms, photo blankets, jewelry, clocks, and many other items can be transformed into a personalized gift with your favorite photo. These gifts can be given for any occasion and are a unique way to show someone how much you care.

Quality Counts

So with all these choices, which images work best on a personalized gift? "It depends," says Brian Cash, Founder of Printable Memories, a company that manufactures custom photo gifts. "Some photos work well on large-format printed items such as blankets; others work better on smaller pieces like pendants or rings. A lot has to do with the overall image quality - our designers can work with photos of lower quality, but there's only so much we can do to bring clarity to a blurry or pixilated photo." Cash recommends using higher quality images for blankets, pillows, and other larger items. "Phone pictures can work, particularly those taken with the newer smart phones since the camera tends to take better photos than previous generations. But these photos taken with phones are still best on jewelry, our small boxes, wall clocks, and other medium to small photo gifts." Photos taken using traditional digital cameras tend to be the best choice for large-format gifts.

Choose the Right Theme

Beyond quality, the theme and content of the photo is also an important factor to consider when giving a photo gift. You should choose a photo that captures a special moment in time and reflects a given holiday or occasion. The following are some ideas for choosing the perfect photo for someone in your life:

Birthdays: If someone you know is celebrating a birthday and you want to give them a truly unique gift, give them a photo gift that reminds them of those who love them or a special time in their lives. You can give them a photo from a get-together with friends, or a photo of a recent vacation. You can even choose two different photos - perhaps a baby photo and a recent photo - to showcase side by side.

Weddings: Photo gifts are a thoughtful and fun wedding gift that your loved ones will treasure for years to come. Once the wedding photos are available for purchase, you can use one to feature on a blanket, pendant, or pillow. You can also go through your own photos and see if you have any candid photos of the happy couple as a special surprise.

Anniversaries: For couples celebrating a benchmark anniversary, consider giving them a photo gift to commemorate the occasion. Wedding photos are a good choice; you could also give each person their own gift featuring a portrait or candid photo of their partner. You can also choose a photo from a memorable vacation.

Graduation: For the graduate in your life, give them a photo gift to celebrate their greatest accomplishment. Choose a photo that will remind them of their time in school, perhaps a photo with friends, a class photo, or a graduation portrait.

Pet Adoption: This is a wonderful occasion that's often overlooked when it comes to gift-giving. A new furry friend is the ultimate present! But it's a wonderful opportunity to surprise the proud new owners with a gift that captures the moment. Take a photo of their new pet - do it on the sly if you can - and give them a gift showcasing the photo.

The Perfect Gift

With a wide variety of custom gifts to choose from, there's room to have fun and be creative with the process. Be sure to take plenty of photos so you have many to choose from for each occasion. Whether it's a birthday, a holiday, or "just because", a photo gift or photo blanket is the perfect way to share memories with someone you love.

Brian K Cash is the founder of a boutique custom photo gifts business located in the SF Bay area.