Help: I want to gift my girlfriend a Photo for her birthday.. What should I do?

[Exquise]

So it's around a month till my girlfriends birthday and I thought I'd get a photo for her.
I specifically do Conceptual photography, blending of images etc but most of my photos are very dark, and my creative juices are depleted when it comes to this.

I'd rather give her something special that a box of chocolates or something, which is where I got this idea from.. but the question is: What could I do?

 

[Chipper]

Hmm - has she raved about your photos? Not sure about this... My photos are on the wall and it would seem strange to us to give a photo when they are going to be up there anyway. Still! there you go! each to their own.

If you are interested, You might consider one of the classics: an item of jewellery, special bit of clothing, an experience, a spa day depending on your budget? Whatever you decide - good luck!

 

[andrewc]

Well, you should know her likes and tastes- her favourite place, book, painting, jewellery, flower, colour etc.,

 

[camerassassin]

OY - what's the title of the thread ?

Help: I want to gift my girlfriend a Photo for her birthday ..........

 

[Chipper]

well, I can't help but notice that nobody, as yet, has said it is a great idea….

 

[Gortch]

I would suggest you do a self portrait. Take a picture of yourself and frame it, get a really expensive frame too. Give her that. If she truly loves you then she will treasure it. If she doesn't love you, well, you'll soon find out and it's as well that you find out now and move on.

 

[MWHCVT]

Is there somewhere/something she love that you could buy a photo of if you've not shot something that she loves, to be honest though unless she loves pictures etc hanging on the wall it's likely that this is a present that's more special to you than it is to her so maybe worth considering alternatives if that is the case

 

[Pookeyhead]

I would suggest you do a self portrait. Take a picture of yourself and frame it, get a really expensive frame too. Give her that. If she truly loves you then she will treasure it. If she doesn't love you, well, you'll soon find out and it's as well that you find out now and move on.

Oh ohhhh....

 

[ACW]

Oh ohhhh....

Hahaha!

 

[ACW]

I'm going to answer this differently to the above. I think this can be a good idea.

Over past year I've had family and friends request my images as large prints or canvases for birthday and Christmas presents.

However, I have never given someone a print / canvas that they haven't expressly asked for. Every time they specify the photo they want and exactly how they want it printed. It might seem a little forward of them, but at least I'm happy that they are getting what they want.

My fiancée asked for two large canvases this Christmas (unfortunately this was among a request for many many other things!) so she could put them up in the new house. I'd never of thought of getting her them for a present but it's what she wanted so I was happy to oblige.

To give you an idea of the sort of thing people wanted, 90% were landscape shots of places the recipient had been and held sentimental value. The only non-landscape was a 'pet portrait' (that again I'd never personally have wanted to print it large) that when the individual concerned received it, they actually cried. (I hope they were tears of happiness... )

 

[Exquise]

I'm going to answer this differently to the above. I think this can be a good idea.

Over past year I've had family and friends request my images as large prints or canvases for birthday and Christmas presents.

However, I have never given someone a print / canvas that they haven't expressly asked for. Every time they specify the photo they want and exactly how they want it printed. It might seem a little forward of them, but at least I'm happy that they are getting what they want.

My fiancée asked for two large canvases this Christmas (unfortunately this was among a request for many many other things!) so she could put them up in the new house. I'd never of thought of getting her them for a present but it's what she wanted so I was happy to oblige.

To give you an idea of the sort of thing people wanted, 90% were landscape shots of places the recipient had been and held sentimental value. The only non-landscape was a 'pet portrait' (that again I'd never personally have wanted to print it large) that when the individual concerned received it, they actually cried. (I hope they were tears of happiness... )

Unfortunately most of the places she loves to go to are in other countries, and I can not afford to go to these places. If I did, the likelihood is she'd murder me for not taking her with me haha!

 

[pwhysall]

So it's around a month till my girlfriends birthday and I thought I'd get a photo for her.
I specifically do Conceptual photography, blending of images etc but most of my photos are very dark, and my creative juices are depleted when it comes to this.

I'd rather give her something special that a box of chocolates or something, which is where I got this idea from.. but the question is: What could I do?

If you go to my website, I have a large selection of landscapes that she will positively adore. Hint: bigger is better.

You're welcome.

 

[MWHCVT]

Unfortunately most of the places she loves to go to are in other countries, and I can not afford to go to these places. If I did, the likelihood is she'd murder me for not taking her with me haha!

But surely you can afford to buy a print of a location she loves, such as this year for Christmas I treated myself to large print of a photo by a favourite photographer of mine, all told it cost me about £120 with framing and that includes the cost of postage from California where it was printed...

Now that's not my most expensive print as an acrylic I had of one of my own images was actually marginally more expensive but it was really worth it as well I intend to visit this location in the future I don't know when that will be

 

[viv1969]

I agree with Matt. If you're sure she'd like a print, then go with one taken by someone else of a location she adores.

 

[big soft moose]

So it's around a month till my girlfriends birthday and I thought I'd get a photo for her.
...I'd rather give her something special that a box of chocolates or something, which is where I got this idea from.. but the question is: What could I do?

Seriously mate don't do it * - there's a very good chance that she'll see it as you being cheap and or ego driven - if you want to get her something special get her some jewellery , or take her somewhere she loves for a meal/night/ weekend ( *Unless she has previously expressed admiration for one of your shots of course and said "oh I'd love a big print of that it would look great in my front room")

and especially don't do this

I would suggest you do a self portrait. Take a picture of yourself and frame it, get a really expensive frame too. Give her that. .

as that doubles the potential for being seen as an narcissistic , ego driven, cheapskate

If its a month to her birthday there's a good chance she'll have been dropping hints about what she wants - so listen to them (and/or speak to her best friend) - the proviso to this is if she says she needs a new iron/washing machine/frying pan etc - that is not a hint on presents (as a mate of mine found out when he bought his now ex girlfriend a duvet cover for her birthday )