How to Choose the Best Photo for a Personalised Gift

With any personalised gift, the photo does most of the work. The same product can look spectacular or merely fine depending on the picture you choose, and the difference is usually not about the camera - it comes down to a handful of small choices you can make in two minutes.

Use the original file, not a forwarded copy. Photos sent through WhatsApp and other messaging apps are compressed, and the sharpness that survives is often not enough for a large print. Pick the picture from your phone gallery, or ask whoever took it to send the original (in WhatsApp, "send as document" keeps it intact). A screenshot of a photo is the worst case.

Faces first, with room around them. Choose a photo where everyone is clearly visible and well lit, with a little space around the faces so nothing important sits right at the edge. A natural expression almost always beats a stiff, perfect pose.

Match the photo to the product. Frames and clocks such as the acrylic frame and the wall clock suit a well-composed photo with a clear subject. The wooden engraving frame renders your photo in a monochrome sketch style, so high-contrast pictures with clear outlines tend to come out best, while very dark or very busy ones lose detail.

For hand-made pieces, give the artist something to work with. The caricature and the 3D miniatures are made by hand from your reference photo, so a clear, well-lit picture where the face and outfit are visible gives our artist the most to work from.

For a magazine, choose a mix. The Personalised Story Magazine lets you add up to 20 story photos on the product page. Mix close-ups with group shots and candid moments from different years, and put your best photo on the cover.

Check the live preview. On the frame products, you can upload your photo on the product page and see it in place before you order. If it looks off, try a different crop or a different picture rather than settling.

Not sure about a photo? Message us on WhatsApp before you order. Once the gift arrives, our guide to caring for personalised gifts will help it stay looking new, and if you are still choosing a frame, start with the photo frame buying guide.