Anybody gifting with pics this year?

[SteveM(PA)]

For "add-on" gifts, I'm gonna give my dad the steam engine pic in my gallery, and my mom is getting the "potatoes" pic. It usually takes me at least an hour to frame something, I'm so bad with the mat cutting and stuff. So it's not as much of a cop out as it may seem 😀

 

[rbiemer]

I just spent a while pitting pics of me and my siblings(there are 4 of us) together into one "photo" that I'm having put on coffeecups for the parents. Kind of cheesy but the four of us kids are toghether so rarely that I took four different shots and composited them into one B&W sepia toned group "mug shot". Not giving any prints this season. Haven't taken much I like well enough. Next year--the RFF book2 will likely get to be the gift of choice.
Rob

 

[jlw]

I don't usually give people copies of my photos, because it seems kind of egotistical.

What I do is design a calendar that has some of the past year's photos on it. I print out the calendar on panorama paper (which is a convenient size for a full-year calendar) and give it to people instead of a Christmas card.

That way I get the fun of seeing my pictures on other people's walls, and they get something useful even if they don't think my photos are especially wonderful.

 

[JMP]

For "add-on" gifts, I'm gonna give my dad the steam engine pic in my gallery, and my mom is getting the "potatoes" pic. It usually takes me at least an hour to frame something, I'm so bad with the mat cutting and stuff. So it's not as much of a cop out as it may seem 😀

If the shot is well-chosen to suit the persons interests, I don't see it as a cop-out so much as a unique gift. I do think it's a good idea to mat and frame the piece as you're doing, since this finishes off the presentation; plus, many people will not go through the trouble or expense to have it done afterward. I'm planning to give my girlfriend's mom a shot of my girlfriend if I can get to the darkroom and print it successfully.

By the way, I do matting and framing as part of my business, so don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions in that regard 🙂

 

[sf]

yep. Pics from my trip. Black and white shots of europe in winter.

 

[andrew]

I tend to give photos as holiday gifts for budgetary reasons - I can print in the darkroom (I've spent about 4-5 hours printing fiber every Sunday for the past month and a half - I keep finding myself slow and often stupid in the darkroom) and matte them myself. I agree it may seem egotistical, but I try to choose images that will be both interesting and meaningful to the recipient. That said, my mother-in-law hasn't always seemed excited to get another image of her daughter or the Jersey Shore (though she does hang them in her home, so go figure).

I guess I'd rather attempt to make something flaws than just cop out with a gift certificate. I don't mean that as an insult to anyone else's gift giving choices, I just think it's more my style to make things for people (even if they'd rather the gift certificate). Maybe it's just resistance to the overcomercialization of the season, but that's another rant for another post.

In the end, I hope everyone at RFF has a very safe, happy, and healthy holiday and the very best of new year's.

 

[DougK]

I did, but only to close friends who expressed a desire for a print to me at some point. The hardest part was choosing an appropriate photo for the person. I think people honestly appreciate the effort that goes into making the gift, from the taking of the photo to the matting and framing; I don't look at it as egotistic at all.

 

[Bobbo]

Sounds like a nice present for my grandparents...especially my grandmother who shot a bunch of nature work when she was younger. She still shoots some (and get published in local flora and fauna pubs), and she likes my work.

I think an "add-on" for my mother as well. The whole photography was her influence anyway, and she should have to pay the price of less living room wall "real estate." 😀

Bob Clark

 

[RJBender]

Older family members might like photos. Others might think you're being egotistical as jlw stated. Sign it, number it and put it in a nice frame. 🙂

R.J.