Mobile Phone Photos: Good Enough for a Photo Gift?

These days, many of us have a camera built into our cell phone, making it easy to spontaneously capture special moments in our lives. And, since built-in cameras are getting more sophisticated, the pictures appear more vibrant than ever… at least, when they are on your cell phone screen.

So, can you use these photos to create the perfect personalized photo gift?

It depends. Even though an image might look great on your mobile phone screen, most mobile phone photos are still not high resolution, and therefore, appear pixilated or “fuzzy” when you enlarge and print them. If the camera in your mobile phone is 5mpx or less (which is often the case in older and more basic phones), your images will likely work on smaller custom photo gifts, such as a photo tin, photo mug, or photo desk clock.

If you have a newer phone with a higher resolution camera, as many smart phones do, these images can transfer well to our larger custom photo gifts. Certain photo gifts, such as our photo handbags and photo blankets, are made of high-quality material that requires a clear, crisp image, so it’s best to use photos from a digital camera or a high-quality mobile phone camera.

If you’re a bit confused, don’t worry! Our design team will evaluate your photo and work closely with you to make sure your personalized photo gift looks as beautiful as possible. Please don’t hesitate to call us anytime and ask us for guidance; we are always happy to help.



Make Your Custom Photo Gift Shine with the Perfect Photograph

Nowadays, taking photographs is more convenient than ever. Digital cameras enable us to take hundreds of photos and share them with family and friends, saving space without the hassle of getting the photographs developed. Even though we have better tools, however, it can still be challenging to take a good photograph.

Even if you’re not a professional photographer, your photographs can be vibrant, sharp, and poignant. Here are some tips to help you take better pictures:

1. Pay Attention to Natural Light. Light plays a central role in every photograph, and in how you use your camera. If the light source (i.e., the sun) is behind the subject, all you’ll see is a silhouette. When a subject is backlit, use a flash or make sure to position your subject so that the light source is in front of them, or to the side. When it’s overcast out, experiment a bit - take some pictures with a flash and some without. Both have different, pleasing results.

Tip: Use a flash with it’s sunny - it will even out the sunlight and create a flattering, smoothing effect on anyone’s face.

2. Loosen Them Up. This is especially true if you’re taking a portrait of a friend or family member. People can become very self-conscious when having their picture taken, resulting in unnatural poses and stiff smiles. If your subject seems nervous, get them to laugh, talk, anything that takes their mind off the camera; when you snap the photo, hold the camera at their eye level to fully engage them.

Tip: Catch them when they aren’t looking. Nothing captures the true spirit, personality, and emotion of a subject like a nicely framed candid shot. Make sure the picture you use for your custom photo gift is flattering - beware of double-chins or closed eyes. Have your camera ready to snap that perfect picture of Dad winking at Mom across the room, Grandma laughing and cuddling with the new baby, or your daughter’s beaming smile at the dinner table. You might just catch a special moment in time that will now be treasured forever.

3. Keep it Simple. Busy backgrounds look better in person than they do in photographs. Keep the focus on your subject by making sure the background is consistent with no distracting shapes. You don’t want a car coming out of your father’s nose or a tree growing out of mom’s head! 4. Get Closer. Most novice photographers (like you and me) are afraid of getting too close to their subject. But photographs can be much more interesting if you allow the subject to fill the picture. So go ahead - zoom in! Just don’t zoom in too far, it might get blurry.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Off-Center. It’s always tempting to place your subject in the center of the picture - that’s the right thing to do, right? Wrong. There are no rules, so play around a bit. Look at the surroundings and allow them to tell part of the story. If Grandpa is in his study, try framing the photo so he is to the side just a little so you can see his fabulous book collection.

6. Stay Focused. There’s nothing worse than a blurry photo - or, a photo where everything but your subject is focused and clear. Avoid this by using an auto-focus camera; most digital cameras have auto-focus. To use this feature, look through your viewfinder and hold the shutter (the button that takes the picture) down lightly - not hard enough to take a picture. You’ll see a small colored square in the viewfinder - this represents the area the lens will focus on once you take the picture. So make sure that the square surrounds your subject before you snap your photo.

7. Play with Angles. Next time you take a picture, play around with the angle. Tilt your camera a bit to the right or to the left, or experiment taking your pictures vertically rather than horizontally. Look at the landscape behind your subject and be sure to catch the right details. For instance, let’s say your subject is in front of the Eiffel Tower. You don’t want to cut off the top tower, right? So get down, close to the ground, and shoot directly up from below your subject. Be creative!

Be sure to follow these general guidelines, and most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process. By seeing your loved ones through the camera lens, you will begin to notice fleeting, poignant moments that tell the stories of our lives – the smiles, laughter, and joy that often slip by unnoticed. Take your camera to family gatherings, special events, and get-togethers with good friends. You never know when you will capture a special moment in time that can be celebrated and treasured forever.