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If there is one thing that seems to get trickier every year: it’s buying Christmas presents.
Granted, some people are easier than others (my daughter is just about 4 years old and is the easiest person I have ever bought gifts for), but there are always those people on your list that you simply cannot figure out what to get them. They have everything. They don’t need anything.
- Food is always an option – who doesn’t love chocolate covered pretzels and Oreos? (I’m raising my hand over here, I love that kind of gift!)
- Gift cards are nice – but lack that personal touch. I personally love getting gift cards, but whenever I buy them for someone else I always feel like they come with an extra large blinking neon sign that says: “I don’t know what to get you.”
- And nicknacks are just that – another cutesy item to gather dust.
If you’ve had professional photos taken at some point in the year (especially if you are newly engaged or newly married) you have a priceless gift already in your hands. Give the gift of photos!
Trust me (and I promise, you can take my word on this): Grandma loves to receive photo-gifts. Mom & Dad love to receive photo-gifts. Your Great Aunt, who always hosts Christmas dinner & you always take a little gift to, loves to receive photo-gifts! It’s a no-brainer!
And to make matters even easier, I’ve rounded up the top 5 photo-gifts that anyone would love to receive.
PRINTS
Believe it or not, having your photos printed & framed is one of the most inexpensive gifts you can give someone. It might be inexpensive, but its sentimental value way exceeds almost any other gift. Everyone loves a gorgeous photo that they can display (and let’s be honest: show off) – grandparents & parents especially.
PRO TIP: before you run out & have a bunch of prints made, be sure to double check your crop! I wrote a whole post explaining that 4x6s, 5x7s, and 8x10s are all cropped differently – so double check!
CALENDARS
I know, calendars are more and more becoming a thing of the past. Everyone uses the calendar on their phones nowadays. But I bet that most people still have at least one physical calendar hanging in their home somewhere (I do). Why not create a personalized calendar that has so much more meaning than just another cute puppy calendar?
ORNAMENTS
I don’t know about you, but for me, decorating the Christmas Tree is a highlight of the Christmas season. I love pulling out all of my ornaments & remembering what each one means. I mean, sure, some people have a perfectly curated tree straight out of a magazine, but I prefer my tree to be full of memories. Why not add a new memory to someone’s Christmas Tree decorating tradition by getting them a personalized ornament?
PRO TIP: when creating your ornament, make sure the year goes on the ornament somewhere! It doesn’t have to overtake the whole thing, but putting the year “2018” down in the corner will help everyone remember exactly when those photos were taken!
WALL ART
This encompasses so many things – canvases, metals, wood (yes! you can get a print on a block of wood – it’s actually super cool). It takes the photo printed & framed to a whole new level. Plus, it’s ready to go as soon as you receive it – no matting or framing required! It’s an incredible way to really up the wow-factor (and almost guaranteed to produce a few happy tears). Trust me on this, we’ve given my Grandparents a nice big canvas of our most recent family photo several times over the last few years, and it always produces glorious, happy tears.
ALBUMS
If you haven’t ordered a wedding album yet, whether you got married this year or a year or two (or three) ago, Christmas time is the perfect time to do so! As an adult, you likely just go out & buy the things you want instead of waiting for Santa to put them under the tree (although, wow would it be nice if he’d drop a few goodies under my tree!) – so why not do something extra special & out of the ordinary this Christmas & order a gorgeous leather wedding album? Sure, you can get books made from other companies, but an album from me will be unlike anything you can have made yourself!
Do you already have an incredible wedding album from me? How about “Parent Albums”? Traditionally, they simply mirror your own album and are just smaller. If you are looking for a homerun gift that will cue the waterworks every time, a stunning Parent Album is the way to go!
BRIDES & GROOMS: if you got married this year, more than likely your grandparents and/or parents helped pay for your gorgeous wedding. Give them something they can tangibly hold on to, not only thank them, but that will allow them to show off the incredible event that made 2018 so much more memorable!
So, where do I suggest you get all of these goodies?
MPIX
As a company based here in the USA, their products are outstanding. They never disappoint! Mpix is the “consumer” side of their company – they have a professional side as well & that’s where I order my products from (aside from albums, my albums come from a different, professional album company).
On top of it all: I have a $5 off coupon code for you!
Simply start your shopping experience HERE: $5 off coupon from Kara Abbey (once you click the link, a pop-up will appear at the bottom left corner of the screen with instructions to redeem your $5!)
So, what are you waiting for? Go get those Christmas gifts ordered & get ahead of the game! No standing in long lines on Black Friday and no panicking the week before Christmas! Let me know if there is any way that I can help! (and if you’d like to order an album, let me know ASAP – it does take a little bit of time to curate, design, and get a gorgeous leather album printed!)
