A Gift For His Mother

Ok, well it's that Christmahannukwanzica time of year and I need to provide a gift for my boyfriend's mom. I personally don't feel she'd really be upset about not getting a gift, but I like her a lot and she refuses to not get me anything so she gets something in return. Last year I drew her a picture since I was broke, but this year I can afford at least something cheap.

So, I wanted to see if anyone (especially a mom with kids old enough to have serious relationships, but input is welcome from others) thought this might be nice? I'm on a severe budget but I'm trying to make up for it in effort.

Part one of the gift is doing a photo shoot with Nate. Mostly of him, but a few shots of us together thrown in.

Part two involves gathering a few pieces of art and getting hi-res scans (if they aren't digital already).

Part three is uploading the desired images (20 total) and creating a "photo book" online to be printed somewhere local to be picked up before we head to Dallas. I've been playing with layouts and the one I like the most is just simple, 8.5X11 full page prints. No fancy designs, no text, just images. I'll decide on the flow of the imagery later, once I've finished the shoot, edited the pictures, and chosen the artwork to be included.

The book I want is also double sided, so that's a plus. I found a cheaper version with only one side of prints, but the double sided is only 5 bucks more and doubles the amount of prints you can add. The base price is only 20 bucks (severe budget, remember) and if I need more pages the price is still just a dollar a page, so that's nice.

I may shop around other print places to see if I can get a similar product for cheaper, but the convenience of being so close to the pick up spot may outweigh any savings if travel is involved. Public transit in this city is a joke. The USPS is also a joke, so I'm avoiding getting it shipped, especially due to the high volume of mail being sent this time of year.



Anyway...does this sound like a good gift? I don't like giving normal things...I like for gifts to mean something. Photos of people one cares about can be nice, and way more meaningful than a cd, I think...but it's still just a photo book. -I- would be extremely pleased if someone gave me something similar (I think these things are so cool because they're actually printed in the book, not stuck on the pages), but I'd like other input on it in case I should save the energy and buy her something normal like perfume or something. lol

 

I think that is an excellent gift idea. Mums and Dads and such love gifts from the heart. I used to always try and get my Mum something she really would use and love but eventually realised anything she wants she buys herself and that it really is the thought that counts.

 

Great gift idea, i think she will love it.

 

Well depending on how long you two have been dating. I like this idea the best. There is a company that I use, very cheap but the reason why I use them is because they put the images in a speak grey and silver box. Call boutique packaging. The packing sometimes sets the entire thing off.

I wouldn't include too many pictures of yourself, if the two of you havn't been dating that long.

Got to www.mpix.com

If you know a photographer you can even use mpixpro which is WAY better.

 

I think she will love it dh.

 

I think it is a fantastic idea!!! Much better than anything store bought.

 

I love the photobook idea, too! I think his mom will appreciate it, and it's extremely thoughtful.

 

I think it sounds like a lovely thoughtful gift.

 

Thanks! I will definitely go forward with this idea.


ymra - though I appreciate the website, it is more expensive to get the same book that I want on there by 30 dollars. As i stated in the original post I'm on a severe budget and $20 is about maximum I can use. Also, I didn't post multiple ideas. All things I mentioned were for the same project. And i don't need a photographer, I am one. But I do appreciate civility.

And we've been together for over a year and half and his mom says I'm part of the family, which is the only reason I even entertained the idea of adding myself to any of the pictures at all.





Oh, and ladies! I'm planning on actually making the book into a story book of sorts. I'm just not sure of the story yet. something that can be told with interesting poses and facial expressions. I may do it outside and tell a story that way, though my original idea was to do a simple interior shoot with a white bg.

I'm having fun with this gift, so she better like it! lol