Bring a single tear to their eye (in a good way, ofc).
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When it comes to buying gifts, there are always a few people on your list who are impossible to shop for. Usually they're the type of person who buys everything they want (I love this energy, but plz, it makes buying gifts so hard). And then, even when you find something that's perfect for them, you're like, “Wait, do they already have this?!” But one thing you can't go wrong with is a cool photo gift that's sweet, sentimental, or funny. They def don’t already have it AND you know they’ll appreciate the thought.
These photo gift ideas take a little bit of thought, but don’t worry, they can still arrive before Christmas—just set aside an hour to select the perfect present and collect all the pictures you’ll need. Once you’re armed with your favorite mems, you’ll be able to customize anything from a cozy throw blanket to a goofy golf ball covered with pictures of their dog (yes, that's a thing).
If it's been an especially big year for someone in your life—like if they moved to a new city, traveled a bunch, got married, or had a baby—then these keepsake photo gifts will be an especially nice thing for them to look back on in the future. Anyway, let me wipe my sentimental tears away and show you these 44 thoughtful photo gift ideas that will win you alllllll the brownie points with your loved ones.
SHOP EVEN MORE GIFT IDEAS HERE
If you know someone who loves to decorate their home with sentimental decor, they'll gush over this statuette made out of E-surface paper.
Okay, crafty people, it's your time to shine. This photo explosion gift box lets you tape your own photos into the folds and decorate them with stickers. It all folds together, and when your recipient opens the gift, the whole photo display fans out. There's a little spot in the middle where you could put a small gift, but the box itself is cool enough to be a gift all on its own.
If you ~play your cards right~, you might just win the Current Favorite Child award thanks to this custom playing cards set. This deck can be customized with tons of your favorite pictures.
Okay, dad will definitely get a kick out of this. You can pull together photos of your favorite family memories and add them to this reel, and then he can look at them in this retro-inspired viewer.
This shop will print your photo on this teeny-tiny charm and then you can project the photo onto a wall using your phone light (or you can open the camera on your phone and bring the "projection stone" up close to look at it).
Take fridge photos to the next level with these custom die-cut photo magnets. I’m partial to the idea of plastering the fridge with pictures of the family dog, lol.
At less than $9 a pop, you can order a couple of these cute bookmarks (and perhaps even pair ‘em with a book they’ve been meaning to snag!)
Being able to say that you own a commissioned house portrait is only the most fancy-schmancy thing in the entire world!!! This is especially cute as a gift for anyone who did major renovations on their house or bought a new home this year.
This retro-inspired keychain is custom-made using your photos. You can add up to 10 cute pics, turning the keychain into your own little highlight reel.
Let's be real, your goofball brother would totally wear socks with his own face on them.
That person in your life who's totally obsessed with their pet will be so happy to receive one of these personalized pillows. I guarantee it.
This customized photo art would be such a thoughtful gift for a friend, or it could be a sweet addition to your home.
Did two of your favorite people just tie the knot? They might legitimately weep at the sight of their professional wedding pics and first dance song displayed on this gorgeous glass.
Stumped on what to get grandma this year? I got you. You can fill up these acrylic photo cubes with pics of the whole fam, and she'll totally love it.
For a fresh take on the classic family portrait, you can send in one of your favorite family photos, and get back a customized colorful illustration.
An enthusiastic reaction to these custom golf balls would be totally par for the course.
You know how your dad keeps pictures of the fam in his wallet? Give him an upgrade with this little leather keychain photo book so he can show you all off in style.
A locket is kind of the original photo gift, TBH. Carry sweet pics of the ones you love the most in a gorgeous gold necklace that’s close to the heart. I’m not crying, you are!
Okay, this is cute. You can upload a photo of your choice (and text, if you want) on this ornament. And at $15, this is basically the perfect gift for anyone in your life.
Cue all the awww's! This shop will print a photo strip of your pictures with a personal message on the back and put it in this dainty little bottle for you to give to your bestie.
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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