Christmas seems to come around more and more quickly each year. And the struggle can be real trying to figure out what to get the people in your life. What if, instead of a trinket, bottle of lotion, or candle, you gave the gift of memories? These projects do take some time to pull together, which is why I’m bringing them up now—even though we’re still firmly in popsicle and pool weather.
Here are some ideas for creative and thoughtful gifts for the people you love:
1. Digitizing and Organizing Printed Photos
Boxes and albums of printed photos are one of the most common “I’ll deal with that someday” items in family homes. Someday makes a wonderful gift. Scanning loose prints or full albums into organized digital collections preserves them from fading and damage, makes them easy to share, and opens the door to everything else on this list. Organized by year, by person, or by event, however the family thinks about their memories, a completed digital photo library is the kind of gift that quietly keeps giving.
(By Leslie Callison)
2. A Classic Photo Book
Photo books come in an array of sizes, and the options are numerous. You can commemorate the past year (I make one each year for my own family), a specific event like a wedding, graduation, or special trip, or a special relationship—including pets. One of the best things about photo books is how easy it is to include text, so you can weave in stories, captions, and quotes to bring the photos to life.
(By Leslie Callison)
3. A Photo Book with a Twist
While still designed and printed like a traditional photo book, these go beyond the standard snapshot collection. Scan or type out Grandma’s old recipes, add photos of the finished dishes or of her in the kitchen, and include a memory or two from family members, and you have a keepsake that will be pulled off the shelf for generations. Scan the love letters your parents or grandparents exchanged and pair them with photos from that era. Or take all of that children’s artwork that’s too precious to throw away but has nowhere to live, scan it and turn it into an artbook. The format is familiar; the content is one of a kind.
(By Leslie Callison)
4. Don’t Forget the Video
Many wonderful memories are sitting on old, obsolete video formats—VHS tapes, Hi8 cassettes, MiniDV—just waiting to be rediscovered. Getting those converted to digital files not only preserves them but makes them accessible again. For families who still enjoy a DVD, those digital files can be used to create one; just note that DVDs can potentially degrade more quickly than their analog counterparts, so don’t rely on a DVD as your only backup.
(By Leslie Callison)
One of the longstanding challenges with home video is sharing it. There’s an app called Projector that was built specifically for this. Think of it as a Netflix for home movies. The person uploading the video holds a paid account (an annual subscription runs $80 at the time of this writing), while viewers simply sign up for free with their email and connect to that account. You can control who sees what, making it easy to share relevant videos with the right people. Note that Projector is designed for sharing and accessibility, not as a storage backup, and the company states that no one at Projector has access to your content.
If any of these projects sound appealing but feel overwhelming—or you simply don’t have the time—I can help. From scanning and organizing photos to converting video and creating finished products to share, Unburdened offers a range of services to bring your vision to life. Reach out anytime; conversations are always free.
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