The best Christmas photo gifts (and when to order them)

I know, I know – it's October and I'm saying the C-word. But if you want a photo gift under the tree this year, now is the time to think about it. Prints, albums and anything personalised take time to make, and the good labs get very busy from mid-November. So here's my honest guide to the photo gifts that actually get loved, plus the one rule that stops it all going wrong.

My favourite photo gifts, from big to small

1. A framed print for the grandparentsThe number one gift I get asked about, and for good reason. Grandparents don't want another candle – they want a photo of the baby they can see every day. A 10x8 or 12x10 in a simple frame is the sweet spot: big enough to enjoy, small enough for any wall or shelf.
2. A photo book of baby's first yearIf you had a newborn session, this is the perfect way to use the whole gallery. Layflat books (where the pages open completely flat) are worth the extra – the photos aren't lost in the middle fold. Keep it simple: one or two images per page and let them breathe.
3. A folio boxA little wooden or linen box of loose mounted prints. It's the gift I'd choose for myself – prop one on the mantelpiece, swap it next week, and keep the rest safely tucked away. It also gets round the "which photo do we frame?" argument.
4. A wall canvas or fine art print for your own homeDon't forget yourself. The image you love most from your session deserves a proper spot on the wall, not just a phone screen. Landscape images work beautifully above a sofa; a portrait crop suits a hallway or the nursery.
5. A personalised calendarTwelve months, twelve photos, and everyone gets to see a new one on the first of the month. Perfect for the relative who lives a long way away.
6. A photo baubleA small glass or wooden bauble with baby's face on it becomes an instant tradition – I still hang the ones from my daughters' first Christmases every year, and they're my favourite decorations in the house.
7. Something they'll actually useA mug, a phone case, a cushion or a fleece blanket. Not "art", but these are the gifts that get used every single day, and there's something lovely about a grandad drinking his morning tea out of a mug with his grandchild's face on it.
8. A gift voucher for a sessionIf you're buying for a pregnant friend or a family with a new baby, a maternity or newborn session voucher is the gift they'll never think to buy for themselves. They get the experience and the images, and you get to feel very smug in January when the photos arrive.

Which photos to use

A few tips from someone who looks at photos all day:

• Choose the photos with faces. Details are gorgeous in an album, but a gift on its own should be a face people love.
• Match the crop to the product. A square Instagram crop will look odd on a landscape mug. Check the preview before you order.
• Use the highest-resolution version you have. If you had a professional session, use the full-size downloads, not the ones you saved from Facebook. They'll print sharp, not fuzzy.
• Keep the same style. If you're giving three framed prints to three sets of grandparents, use images from the same session so they match.

And if you're reading this on 20 December – it's fine. Print a photo at home, pop it in a frame, and put the "proper" one on your list for the new year.

Heather x