tcole1983 said:
I will mention again making a calendar. I don't really think you can go wrong with it as long as you put some pictures of something the person will like. It isn't permanent, but it is your pictures. They can put it in the house or at work. They change the picture each month, so at worst they have to deal with it for a month.

I just thought of an idea though with the gift certificate. You can give them one for a picture by you. Either one that you have already taken or one of something they want. Tell them it is good for one picture of a certain size and whatever they want it to be of within the limits of you being able to get the picture. Just a thought. It could then fit their style and be something unique from you.

Just be careful if you combine the calendar, which I think is a great idea, with family photos. I made a family photo calendar one year, and sent to all the family members. We all know that some subjects are easier to shoot, better subjects, or more cooperative at photo-op time. Guess what, I had more usable pictures of them for the calendar. And who complained the loudest because they didn't have an equal number of pictures? You guessed it.

DaveKona said:
Giving photographs to someone, in a way, implies that they should be displayed. Most people prefer to decorate their house by choosing what to hang on their walls (they live there and have to look at it). Putting people in the position of worrying what you would think if your photo was not hanging on their wall, or hanging it just to avoid that uncomfortable scenario, is something to think about. Do you hang other peoples photos regardless whether you like them? We received a wedding gift of hand made artwork by our closest friends. Hours had gone into the making of this. I think it is just fine, my wife does not like it at all. We have had this displayed in our home for years because our friends visit regularly and the person who made it always has a look at it and kind of admires it when they are here. Maybe ask yourself would you appreciate photos from others as gifts? Or, do you decorate your walls with art that you have carefully chosen. My $.02

This is a subject I am an expert on. I've been a picture framer for 35+ years.

If you gift one of your photo's:

1. Make sure the person would really wants it. I prefer that someone request a print and if willing to buy it then I'll give it to them.

2. If I give it to them, I frame it. For most photographers this is expensive, keep that in mind. I get folks in the shop all the time that feel they need to frame a photo that was a gift before their son in law, the photographer, visits. I normally ask do they like the photo. Half the time they say, "NO", but my son in law took it so they want it framed and hung. A frame will not make a bad photo or one you don't want on your wall look any better to you.

3. Giving someone a file for their computer I feel is better. If they really want a print they can have it printed and framed.

My2Cents

framer

Giving framed images as gifts can be a wonderful idea, provided that you keep the recipiants tastes in mind. I have created numerous DVD slideshows with inspirational music for ternimally ill cancer patients. The first was created for my father, he would watch them at night when he could not sleep. They were a means to relax and meditate. There is a joy in knowing that your work can bring comfort to someone.

I think its a very thoughtful idea to give a framed photograph as a gift. Especially with the Christmas season coming up so quickly. A nicely, matted and framed photograph can really make somebody happy I believe.

My parents live a couple of hundred miles from me so a few years ago I got them a digital picture frame loaded with pictures mostly of my son and things my family does throughout the year. Each year I send them flash card with the original pictures and new pictures from the most recent year. We have since done this with some my in-laws and other family members.

Cool idea.

I will mention again making a calendar. I don't really think you can go wrong with it as long as you put some pictures of something the person will like. It isn't permanent, but it is your pictures. They can put it in the house or at work. They change the picture each month, so at worst they have to deal with it for a month.

I just thought of an idea though with the gift certificate. You can give them one for a picture by you. Either one that you have already taken or one of something they want. Tell them it is good for one picture of a certain size and whatever they want it to be of within the limits of you being able to get the picture. Just a thought. It could then fit their style and be something unique from you.

I agree with those of you who say that it can be awkward, at best, just giving someone a photo as a gift without knowing whether it'll be someone's taste or not. You'd have to know the person very well, or it'd have to be something very specific to that person (like Mike's family portrait suggestion, or Monty's horse example).

On the other hand, if someone's seen a good number of your photos and has pointed out that they like some of them, it becomes a bit less of a dicey proposition. Well, as long as they're not the type who'll just compliment your work because they're too kind not to. ;)

Dave, while I like the DVD idea, I'd suggest a digital photo frame as an alternative. A bit more expensive, but it has a few advantages:

1. Doesn't tether someone to the computer
2. Displays the work
3. Also gives them a storage/display option for their own photos, assuming they take them (and these days, who doesn't).

Please use the forum search next time
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=910

Making it a surprise gift could prove to be counterproductive. But if you know what the person wants and if they really want it, then it is a totally different matter.
I've given 3 of my non-family pictures as a gift. One was of my mother in-laws three horses in a pretty evening light with the three of them perfectly aligned and munching on grass. I knew that the adores her horses and as two of them are quite old, then I was also certain that the photo would hit the spot and it did much more than that. Another was to my only colleague and translation manager after she liked one of my shots in particular and again it was the right call.

You have to be more than 100% certain when you make such a gift. You can't give something that you only like yourself (well I don't actually share photos that I don't like), the person on the receiving end must also adore it. I'm usually the kind of a person who would perfer something along the lines of a gift certificate and as many people are very particular about how they decorate their home, then you could also give them an open-ended gift certificate of one of your existing or future pictures which would relieve a lot of the pressure. Of course the gift certificate itself shouldn't be a slip of paper but a nicely designed one ;)

I am going to add to my previous post. An alternative idea would be to create a high quality slide show of your images on a DVD so the recipient could admire them whenever they wanted to. Lot's of programs out there to do this including Proshow gold etc.

Giving photographs to someone, in a way, implies that they should be displayed. Most people prefer to decorate their house by choosing what to hang on their walls (they live there and have to look at it). Putting people in the position of worrying what you would think if your photo was not hanging on their wall, or hanging it just to avoid that uncomfortable scenario, is something to think about. Do you hang other peoples photos regardless whether you like them? We received a wedding gift of hand made artwork by our closest friends. Hours had gone into the making of this. I think it is just fine, my wife does not like it at all. We have had this displayed in our home for years because our friends visit regularly and the person who made it always has a look at it and kind of admires it when they are here. Maybe ask yourself would you appreciate photos from others as gifts? Or, do you decorate your walls with art that you have carefully chosen. My $.02

Mike Gunter said:
Hi,

Every two to four years, instead of something else, we give framed pictures of our friends' kids to their parents or individual and/or group family pictures. We're doing it this year, and we've been planning it since January, taking some pictures at work and play all year long.

Since _most_ of our friends aren't stupid, I'm guessing they have an idea what's going on, especially when I gather up folks at our parties and fishing trips and separate them for pictures.

There's no question that our art form is appreciated. All of us have had the experience of visiting homes of others and, pictures of people are everywhere on walls and tables that get seen multiple times every day.

What better give can you give?

My best,

Mike

Hmm I didn't even think about family pictures. I usually just do scenic landscapes and things. My family is 1000 miles away so it makes it kind of hard to take people pictures.

Hi,

Every two to four years, instead of something else, we give framed pictures of our friends' kids to their parents or individual and/or group family pictures. We're doing it this year, and we've been planning it since January, taking some pictures at work and play all year long.

Since _most_ of our friends aren't stupid, I'm guessing they have an idea what's going on, especially when I gather up folks at our parties and fishing trips and separate them for pictures.

There's no question that our art form is appreciated. All of us have had the experience of visiting homes of others and, pictures of people are everywhere on walls and tables that get seen multiple times every day.

What better give can you give?

My best,

Mike

I have done it on many occasions. You just have to know what the people like. Obviously you can't give a nice picture of an elk to someone who would rather shop then be outside. I gave 2 pictures to my mother in law last Christmas and I made my mom a calendar. It can be a thoughtful gift and mean more then just buying something also. I have had pretty good responses from people when giving them out.

It can also be a tool to promote your photos as well. If people see them hanging in the house and ask about them. Almost all the pictures in our house are ones I took.

One thing that we have done that is a big hit with family and friends is photo greeting cards. A few years ago, my wife and I made up a bunch of photo greeting cards that we sold at a charity fund raising event. Needless to say we made several hundred more than we sold, but my wife has been send these cards ever since. People love to get them and we recieve many positive comments. We made the type of cards were you use 4x6 prints and the insert them into a preprinted card stock with an open window for the print. We got ours at Photographer's Edge, but other people offer the same type cards.
People appreciate that you took the time to send a personal note and it was something that you made. It is great for building relations.

Does anyone have any thoughts about giving photographs as gifts?
I am a new photographer and really enjoying my NikonD90!
I love to "receive" photographs as gifts, and during this year I have taken
many beautiful pictures! (Thank you Nikon D90!) I think giving photographs
as gifts are a wonderful idea. They can capture beautiful moment in the most
wonderful way! I want to give them to people for the holidays and think this
would be appreciated as I do. The gifts I have of pictures I have received,
I appreciate every time I look at them Any thoughts? Cheri7