Framing Holiday Gifts?

December 17, 2004 6:13 PM

Being sick of Christmas consumerism, I'm trying to create as many of my holiday presents as I can. A semester-long photography course has allowed me to make a bunch of nice-sized prints for friends. I saved the best for my girlfriend, a portrait of a swan from our recent trip tp Strasbourg, France.

What I'm wondering is if it's presumptuous/precocious/obnoxious to have it framed for her.
posted by themadjuggler to home & garden (20 comments total)

Not at all!

And make the frame nice.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:14 PM on December 17, 2004

I mean, I want it to look great and give it more use for her than something to keep in a drawer, but I don't want her to feel like I'm just stroking my ego. Or, maybe she wouldn't even want to hang it up?
posted by themadjuggler at 6:15 PM on December 17, 2004

(that was quick, thanks! :)
posted by themadjuggler at 6:16 PM on December 17, 2004

themadjuggler don't worry so much about looking egotistical. Your photo is more than just a swan in a picture- it has a personal text behind it worthy of framing and hanging.
posted by oflinkey at 6:21 PM on December 17, 2004

I've given out lots and lots of photos over the years. Some of them random good pictures from trips, some of them having some significance to the recipient (for example, I took a very touching impromptu photograph of my sister and her toddler daughter at her wedding). They were always enthusiastically received and prominently displayed in the house. I've received photographs from people over the years also and in general I've been happy to get them. Most people will not think you're pretentious for this, I would not think. Do try to get it nicely framed. I've gotten prints matted and framed cheaply (but well) by finding a student or a photography supply store employee who does mat cutting on the side. I did my own for a few years but cutting mats is a real pain without a good mat cutter, which I don't have.

I've gotten more into woodworking in the last few years so now I tend to make my own frames. Oddly enough I gave out someone ELSE'S art this year with my frame, instead of the other way 'round ;)
posted by RustyBrooks at 6:36 PM on December 17, 2004

It sounds like a great idea. If you honestly think it's a good photo and you have it framed in a manner that will suit her decor, then she'll probably love it.
posted by orange swan at 7:13 PM on December 17, 2004

I give people art I've made for christmas every once in awhile. For awhile, I thought it was pretentious, or cheap, but they really seem to enjoy it.

I'd definitely frame it, though. And if it's from a trip to lovely Strassbourg that you had together, it's that much more special.
posted by interrobang at 7:16 PM on December 17, 2004

A picture of yourself would be pretentious, a picture of a trip you took together is thoughtful.
posted by LarryC at 7:41 PM on December 17, 2004

Make/get someone to make a custom frame... it'll look better than anything bought in a store.
posted by strikhedonia at 7:48 PM on December 17, 2004

To second interrobang, I too used to worry giving prints I'd made and framed was pretentious or egotistical but folks have always enthused about how much they appreciate having something really personal and special, especially if it's something pertaining to them (like a trip you took together) that you made for them.
posted by fandango_matt at 8:16 PM on December 17, 2004

A picture of yourself would be pretentious, a picture of a trip you took together is thoughtful. (LarryC)

A picture of yourself while on a trip you took together would be ambiguous.

Seriously, a present for near-unknowns must obey the law of consumerism (IMHO). A present for a lover/GF/SO can, and this is refreshing, sincere. So go for it!
posted by Non Serviam at 8:56 PM on December 17, 2004

Another vote for "go for it." (No real experience here, except that I've received a random photo from a photographer friend and was very grateful -- I felt like she was giving something of herself, not showing off.)
posted by occhiblu at 9:01 PM on December 17, 2004

Another vote for "not pretentious." My wife and I are trying to do the same thing, create as many gifts ourselves as we can in contrast to buying. My parents are firmly on the consumer/quantity over quality side, and it's really been difficult over the years to change this. Add to this the fact that our house gets cluttered all to easily, and my parents' house could easily be featured on a TV program where they come in and clean it up, and you can see another reason we're trying to scale down.

There are people who don't think as much of homemade gifts. That's their choice, but it seems to me that a good friend wouldn't be one of those people.

A picture of yourself would be pretentious

For the OP's situation, yes. Parents and grandparents sometimes like this, though.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 9:16 PM on December 17, 2004

Voice of dissent here: I don't give photographs away as gifts, unless someone specifically expressed that they liked it (such as seeing the piece at my place or if they saw it in my gallery, etc). Why? It's not an issue of pretentiousness, but because there's no accounting for taste differences. It's also particularly awkward when people feel obliged to make compliments about a photo they might not particularly like (and this is also true for other types of "art" or "creative" gifts made specifically by the gift-giver).

Then again, I strongly dislike giving people photos as gifts in person even if they do like it, so you can probably take all this as a grain of salt. Usually I ask them to open it later--away from my presence--so as not to impose myself upon their private reactions to the piece.

Has your girlfriend seen the photo in question yet?
posted by DaShiv at 12:22 AM on December 18, 2004

A picture of yourself would be pretentious

A picture of me, on the other hand, would be delightful ... but would probably sour your relationship.
posted by red cell at 12:52 AM on December 18, 2004

i gave my partner a framed print of something i'd made and she loved it. normally she's not that keen on my "art", but she'd commented on that particular image. so as long as you think she'll like the picture and the frame style, go for it.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:11 AM on December 18, 2004

Everyone on my list this year is getting framed photographs from and by me. I anticipate it going pretty well. I say go for it.
posted by sinical at 7:05 AM on December 18, 2004

It sounds like a great idea. If you honestly think it's a good photo and you have it framed in a manner that will suit her decor, then she'll probably love it.
posted by orange swan

Yes, well, you would think that, wouldn't you?

Me? I think it's a great idea too.
posted by languagehat at 7:27 AM on December 18, 2004

As someone who's been on both the giving and receiving ends of this kind of thing, do it, it's so damn worth it.
posted by spaghetti at 8:19 AM on December 18, 2004

Thanks to everyone for the great advice-- I'm gonna look for a way to get a nice frame for this-- I have an art school friend who mattes all sorts of things and a woodworking dad who can help me out. I appreciate the advice, and happy holidays!
posted by themadjuggler at 8:30 AM on December 18, 2004