With the onset of the holiday season just a few weeks away, it’s time to check your list twice and decide on the perfect gift for family and friends. Did you know that with your own arsenal of photos, a little help from your computer, and some creative ideas online or from your local custom photo lab, you can easily design imaginative and one of a kind gifts that will be enjoyed for years to come? You can, and it is easier than you think!

The list of possibilities for unique and personalized gifts is almost endless: greeting cards, calendars, pendants, charm bracelets, buttons, key chains, license plates, photo frames , mugs, car flags, stadium seats, coasters, cutting boards, jigsaw puzzles, t-shirts, blankets, quilt squares, ceramic tiles, ornaments, clip boards, tote bags, baseball hats, mouse pads, sports balls, dry erase boards and more. If you can dream it, your local custom photo lab can most likely produce it and at a price that is extremely reasonable.

One of the newest gifts you can create is your own personalized photo book. Did you and your family enjoy a vacation in the past year? Did you attend a family reunion? Do your children play sports or participate in the church choir? If so, then you probably have the main ingredient to provide a memorable holiday gift photos. Are you an amateur chef? What about a collection of your family’s favorite recipes compiled into a recipe book? Is your passion poetry like Robert Frost or Longfellow? Why not put those poems into a book with your own scenic photos and share them? Are you a talented genealogist? What about a book about your family’s own roots? Really, the possibilities are endless! The best part is you can duplicate your book as many or as few times as you wish.

So, what do you need to create a perfect photo gift? Here are a few tips to help you before you search the web or visit your local custom photo lab:

1. Organize your photos ahead of time. If you’re like me, your photos tend to be in a chaotic state and organizing before you start will save you a lot of time and energy.

2. Rename your photo files in a way that will make it easy for you to locate them. The last thing you want to do is waste time looking for a particular photo when a little work ahead of time will lead you quickly to the right photos.

3. If you plan to use a larger format book or calendar, or if you are creating other photo items, it is best to use high resolution files. If you fail to use high resolution files, your photo will become pixilated and the quality of your finished product will not be what you expected.

4. Start with a smaller book and use it to help you learn. You will be surprised by what you learn the first time you attempt one of these projects.

5. Lastly, have fun. Enjoy the time you have to create your unique photo gifts. The more fun you have, the more it will show in your finished product.

Here are some tips to help avoid embarrassing moments with photo gifts. Again, these tips are especially important when creating photo books and calendars for gifts to family members and friends.

1. Make sure you include everyone. Leaving out a family member can hurt feelings and is sure to cause problems at the family get together.

2. Include pictures of children. Children’s pictures are very popular.

3. Include deceased family members. Although they are not with you anymore, they are still a very important part of your memories.

4. Make sure to get everyone’s name right and spelled correctly as well.

5. Avoid embarrassing photos. Not everyone will find them humorous.

Now that you have some background knowledge, as well as some ideas for holiday gifts, go out and create the most creative gift you have ever given. Gifts which incorporate photos will leave a lasting impression and show the ones you love how much you care. As the old saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts,” and giving a customized photo gift will show everyone that you really took the time and effort in thinking of the perfect gift just for them.

Scott A. Lewis is the Director of Marketing and Development at the Shutterbug Photo Mall in Bowling Green; the only stand alone photography lab in South Central Kentucky. Although he’d like to take all of the credit, he must say thank you to Carol and Terri in his office for their contributions to this article. Scott can be reached with questions or photo-related story ideas via telephone at 270-781-3315 or email at scott@sbphotomall.com.