When you are looking for a personal gift, it is because you want to give something that means something. Not just a thing, but a memory. Something that makes the recipient stop, smile a little to themselves, perhaps feel a lump in the throat. It is the kind of gift we all dream of giving - and of receiving.
In this guide you get 12 concrete ideas for personal gifts that work. Some are classics, others are small surprises. What they all have in common is that they were chosen with the recipient in mind - not just plucked off a bargain shelf. Let us get started.
1. A hand-painted portrait from your favourite photo
If you are going to choose one gift that hits the mark every time, it is a hand-painted portrait painting. We take your photo - of your child, your mother, yourself as a little one - and turn it into genuine art on canvas. An oil painting made by hand, not a print, not a filter effect. It is the kind of gift that stays on the wall for 50 years.
With us a personal portrait starts from 495 CHF (60x40 cm) incl. floating frame and free shipping, and delivery is 2-3 weeks from when you have sent the photo. We have 1,689 reviews with 4.5 stars on Trustpilot - so you know the quality holds up.
2. Family painting - the whole family on one wall
A family painting brings everyone you care about together in one picture. It works perfectly for big birthdays, silver and golden wedding anniversaries, or simply as a gift to yourself when the children have left home. We can combine several photos into one - even if the family has never all stood together in front of a camera.
When several generations need to be included
Imagine a painting with your grandparents, your parents and your children on the same canvas. It is not a collage - it is one coherent portrait. That kind of gift becomes an heirloom.
3. A painting of the pet
For some people the dog or the cat is the most important member of the family. A pet painting is a personal gift that hits especially hard - particularly when the animal is no longer here. We have painted everything from Labradors to cockatoos.
4. A gift card, if you want to let them choose
Sometimes you know the other person would love a personal painting - but you do not dare choose the motif or size for them. Then a gift card for a personal painting is the solution. The recipient chooses the photo, motif and format themselves. You give the experience and the freedom.
5. A personal photo book with handwritten greetings
A photo book is a classic, but make it personal by letting the family write little greetings beneath the pictures. It takes time to make - and both the recipient and the giver can feel it.
6. A vinyl record with "your" song
Many services make custom-pressed vinyl records with a song of your choice, plus your own cover design. It is a personal gift for her or him who loves music - and it takes up less space on the wall than a painting.
7. Jewellery with coordinates or a date
A necklace with the coordinates of the place where you met - or the date your child was born - is discreet, beautiful and worn close to the body. Perfect as a personal gift for a girlfriend or partner.
8. An experience gift tailored to them
Wine tasting, fly fishing, glassblowing, a hot-air balloon - experiences often beat things, if you know the recipient's interests. What matters is that it is chosen specifically for them, not a generic gift card for "a spa day for two".
9. A bridal or wedding painting
If you have a wedding coming up - your own or one of someone you care about - order a wedding painting from one of the loveliest pictures of the day. It is a gift that becomes worth more with every year that passes.
10. A personal cookbook with family recipes
Collect grandma's, aunts' and grandpa's recipes in a book with pictures and little stories. It takes work - but that is exactly why it feels personal.
11. A memorial painting of someone who is no longer here
A memorial painting is a special type of personal gift. It is not sad - it is a way of holding on to a person when you can no longer take a new picture. Many of our customers order it for a parent or grandparent who has lost their husband or wife.
12. The very classic: a letter
Finally - a handwritten letter. It costs nothing, but it requires you to actually sit down and think about what you want to say. Put it in the envelope together with one of the 11 other gifts, and you have a combination that is hard to beat.
Which is the best personal gift?
It depends on the recipient and the occasion. But if we are being honest: a hand-painted painting wins most times. It fills a space, it lasts, and it captures something a photo never can - namely the hand behind the brushstrokes. It is art, not production.
Questions about personal gifts
What is a good personal gift for mum?
A family painting or a portrait of the grandchildren always hits the mark. It is the kind of gift she shows off every time guests come round.
What is a good personal gift for dad?
A painting of dad together with his dog, his car or his boat - something that ties in with his passion. It shows that you have seen what he loves.
What is a good personal gift for grandma?
A family painting with all the grandchildren, or a memorial painting of grandpa. She values connection and memories more than things.
How long does it take to have a personal painting made?
At fotoalsgemaelde.ch the delivery time is 2-3 weeks from when you have sent the photo. You can also order a gift card if you are short of time.
Ready to give a gift they will never forget? Order your personal painting here - or give a gift card if the recipient is to choose the motif themselves.