The best photo gifts for 2022

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
An array of photo gifts laid out on a table
(Image credit: Vistaprint)

Photo gifts come in all different shapes and sizes, from personalized t-shirts, mugs and mouse mats, to more traditional photo books.

Essentially you can take any photo on your camera, phone or social media profile, and turn it into a unique and thoughtful gift. From holidays to birthdays, work events to births, there's a photo gift suitable for every occasion. Since your smartphone and social media are likely already crammed with photos, why not put them to good use on a site that pulls them all in effortlessly and spits out a truly special present?

From mugs and t-shirts to photo cards and photo calendars, there are lots of options to pick from.

But there are also plenty of services offering them. Some are great while others might not produce the results you'd hope for. In this guide, we've got rid of the latter and left you with the very best photo gift services online. So you can find the ideal combination of features from the one that serves you best at the time of giving.

Mixbook is the #1 best photo gift service

Mixbook is the #1 best photo gift service
Mixbook tops our list for personalized photo gifts. It hits all the marks described above, delivering a quality product at rapid speed and all for a decent price. You can't go far wrong with photo gifts from Mixbook... Just choose a good pic!

Photo gifts: the best services for you in 2022

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Selection of Mixbook photo products

(Image credit: Mixbook)

1. Mixbook

The best for photo books and much more

Specifications

Gifts available: Photo books, photo cards, calendars, canvas prints, poster prints

Reasons to buy

+
High quality photo gifts
+
Easy to use building
+
Huge number of options
+
Reasonable pricing

Reasons to avoid

-
Could have more gift options

Mixbook already topped our list of the best photo books thanks to its perfect blend of quality, service and price. So good is it, that it's also topped our list as the best photo card service.

But its talents don't stop there, as this service also offers gifts in the form of photo calendars, canvas prints, posters, metal prints and acrylic prints. In short, it's a great option for the best photo gifts, too.

Mixbook offers a whole host of templates, whatever gift you go for, meaning it's super easy to get started. You can then customize and personalize as you see fit, letting you make a really unique offering, or quickly get that gift ticked off your list fast.

Either way, the print quality is high, with rich colors, wide range and balanced contrast. It does this while keeping the price reasonable for what you get. But you can save even more since Mixbook often has a 50% off introductory offer, meaning you can try this out without spending a bundle.

- Head to Mixbook's website to see its full range of photo gifts

Artifact Uprising photo gifts

(Image credit: Artifact Uprising)

2. Artifact Uprising

The best for something extra special

Specifications

Gifts available: Photo books, calendars, baby board books, framed photos

Reasons to buy

+
Premium quality
+
Luxurious designs
+
Great customer service

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricier than others

Artifact Uprising is a more premium service than most others out there. As such the printed end result is very impressive. The only downside, if you see it that way, is that there are fewer options, as the company favors quality over quantity. The point is, whatever gift you decide on, it's going to really stand out and leave a lasting impression.

Outside of the usual photo cards and (of which Artifcat Uprising boasts some of the best quality ones out there right now) other gifts include calendars, baby board books and framed photos. All good choices and each delivering a premium finish that allows you to send a personalized gift that's also got a professional feel.

All that means this is also one of the more expensive photo gift services. Despite that, you're not going to get a great deal of customization options. But that can actually be a positive for most as it means very easy creation of gifts that are going to look great no matter how much even the most uncreative person messes with the options.

- Head to Artifact Uprising's website to see its full range of photo gifts

Simply to Impress photo gifts

(Image credit: Simply to Impress)

3. Simply to Impress

The best for cards and stationery

Specifications

Gifts available: Photo cards, yard signs, napkins, invitations, stationery, ornaments, face masks

Reasons to buy

+
Great mix of gifts
+
Fast delivery times
+
Lovely looking prints

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs more customization options

Simply to Impress is, as the name suggests, a print service with impressive end results thanks to high-quality printers. These smart printers can pop your pics on a whole lot of options besides the popular photo cards. From invitations and custom yard signs to stationery and even personalized ornaments, this has a bunch of brilliant options to offer. You can even get custom-printed face masks. 

That said, Simply to Impress particularly offers cards and stationery to a very high standard with a wide selection of both, making it stand out as an offering if they're what you're after. 

One really appealing feature is the fast delivery times from this service. Unlike a lot of the competition this can get your photo gift delivered to the door in as little as two days time. Granted that's for photo cards and other options can take longer, but this is still going to be one of the quickest options out there – in case you're reading this in a rush to find a savior for a near-forgotten event gift.

If it's seasonal gifts you're after, this service also offers custom stockings and tree ornaments with lots of options to pick from. The point being you can rely on quality, whichever option you go for. Perhaps you just want a coaster with your face on for every guest at your next party – Simply to Impress has you and your ego covered there, too!

- Head to the Simply to Impress website to see its full range of photo gifts


Snapfish photo gifts

(Image credit: Snapfish)

4. Snapfish

The best for sheer choice

Specifications

Gifts available: Photo books, calendars, cards. mugs, pillows and blankets, calendars, face masks, shower curtains, yard signs, bags, t-shirts and more

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable
+
Huge selection of options
+
In store collection possible

Reasons to avoid

-
Delivery times
-
Needs more options

Snapfish is a huge company and as such has one of the most vast selections of photo gift options. It's also got some very useful partnerships with CVS and Walgreens meaning, for a lot of options, you can actually collect in store rather than rely on delivery if that suits you better.

Pricing is another big area of appeal here since Snapfish does well to undercut the competition. It also offers further savings for those that buy in bulk, when it comes to photos cards at least.

The customization options might not be as freeing as some but with over 2,000 templates on cards alone, there is a lot to pick from. So if you want yard signs, t-shirts, mugs, bags or even shower curtains or face masks, this is the place to go for choice.

- Head to Snapfish's website to see its full range of photo gifts


Vistaprint photo gifts

(Image credit: Vistaprint)

5. Vistaprint

The best for businesses

Specifications

Gifts available: Business cards, signs and banners, clothes and bags, promo products and more

Reasons to buy

+
Lots of templates
+
Easy to use
+
Lots of choice

Reasons to avoid

-
Print quality lower
-
Fixed templates

Vistaprint is the go to option for businesses as it specializes in products beyond the usual. From marketing materials, signs, banners, stationery, clothes, bags and promotional products – this has a huge bevy of options for businesses.

Templates are plentiful, even if customization isn't. Pricing is affordable, especially so if you order in bulk. Good customer service is also a big positive here for businesses wishing to work on large orders or get their branding just right across a host of promotional and marketing materials. This even helps you digitally with design and marketing online.

From labelling and stickers to bags and banners, there are now more options than ever and with a huge seasonal selection this is a great choice for businesses reaching out with Christmas promotions. 

- Head to Vistaprint's website to see its full range of photo gifts


How to make the perfect photo gift

Whichever photo service you settle on, you're going to need your own photos. Many will allow you to upload what you've got right there from your smartphone, as you use the service in a browser window or via an app. Lots also allow you to pull in pics from social media sites like Facebook.

That leaves you to decide which gift you want the pics on and a few key factors, like words, font types in some cases and the finish. 

All these services make it easy to send a personalized photo gifts. The main thing you need to do, if it's a present, is just make sure you get it there on time...

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Luke Edwards

Luke is a freelance writer and editor with over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others he writes across Future titles covering health tech, software and apps, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and plenty more. He also likes to climb mountains, swim outside and contort his body into silly positions while breathing as calmly as possible.