Photos make thoughtful gifts for any occasion and they make especially thoughtful Father's Day gifts. I'm not talking about the school year photos that come in cardboard frames, although personally I have nothing against those. 'm talking about are photo gifts that are meant just for Dad.
Thoughtful Father's Day photo gifts can be purchased in many places, in stores and on the internet. If you go to your local photo store, chain pharmacy you, or a multitude of internet websites you can find photo gift ideas in abundance. Mugs, special frames for Dad, photos printed on t-shirts, photo paper weights, digital photo frames for the computer savvy Dad, cuff link photo lockets, wallets that hold digital photo albums, photo mouse pads and many other photo gift items that Dad will certainly appreciate.
The most thoughtful Fahter's Day photo gifts are the ones you plan and make yourself. They are probably the least expensive as well, but they will show your Dad that you put your heart into his gift in a way few other gifts can. So dig out the shoe boxes and albums of family photos and get started.
FAMILY PHOTO COLLAGE
One of the easiest to accomplish in little time is a family collage. You can purchase frames that will have multiple spots for photos at little cost, or you can make your montage of photos and have it professionally framed beautifully enough for Dad's office or any special location. Choose a dozen photos from your collection and then make the decision, to purchase the frame or not because this will determine if you are limited to six, ten or more photos. A nice idea is to choose vacation photos from different years that have one or more of Dad's children in them. If you choose to have the collage framed professionally you can have the freedom to arrange them the way you prefer, but trust me, Dad will love this thoughtful gift no matter what you decide.
PHOTO SCRAPBOOK
Purchase a blank scrapbook. Today there are stores that carry scrapbook accessories that will add a special touch to the scrapbook or you can make your own. Besides photos use words that trigger memories are a nice idea, postcards from vacations or small things and mementos from places you've been together. Gather up photos that are significant for some of your family's memorable events: christenings, vacations, graduation from pre-school or college, special birthdays, Dad teaching you to ride a two-wheeler. This is a heartfelt and thoughtful photo gift that will last for many years and one that Dad will really enjoy.
ARRANGE A FAMILY PORTRAIT
You'll need an appointment with a photographer or a service in a mall that takes portraits. Inform all your immediate family members including Dad that you have made these arrangements in advance or get them together to choose the day and time. This gift won't be a surprise but you can make a beautiful frame or have the photo framed professionally. This is thoughtful because it is something that people don't always make the time to do unless someone takes the lead.
BABY FEET OR HAND PHOTO IN A FRAME
A new mom can make a simple and thoughtful Father's Day photo gift for her baby's new Dad. It's simple, quick and he'll love it. Choose a store bought photo frame with a large mat and smaller photo spot. Something like an 8x10 frame with a 5x7 photo spot, or a 5x7 frame with a wallet size photo spot. Carefully press baby's little feet and/or hands on a washable ink pad and press them on to the blank mat strategically. Add you new baby's photo and close up the frame. Instantly, or almost, you have a memorable gift for Father's Day.
These are only a few of the things you can do with family photos to create thoughtful Father's Day photo gifts. People make their own photo jigsaw puzzles, buy kits to press photos onto t-shirts and on and on. With today's digital cameras and photo programs you can do special things like put names right on the photos and make collages that will print out to the photo paper as one. The ideas are almost limitless and these gifts are not only thoughtful, but they will be special to Dad in a way that other gifts can't be.