3 tips for meaningful Mother's Day gifts

Thursday 9 May 2019, 11:42 by Michelle Peeters | 6,375 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

This coming Sunday, 12 May, it's Mother's Day again. The perfect time to tell your mother or the mother of your children how much she means to you and your family.

It's a generally accepted fact that mothers are superheroes who deserve to be celebrated every day of the year. That's why it's important to get things right on the only official holiday dedicated to mothers.

Family photo. Photo: Michelle Peeters
If the mother you're focusing on happens to be a photographer (the chances are fairly high...), we think she'll be more interested in a photographic gift than in a new set of decorative wine glasses.

Photos can help her treasure the (often) beautiful moments and help you remember the details.

The thing is, mothers are often behind the camera themselves, which means they aren't in the photos! Mother's Day could therefore be the ideal opportunity to get her in front of the camera for once and let her shine as the centre of attention.

We all know that a picture says more than a thousand words. So it's very important to carefully decide which photo you choose to increase the emotional value of your photographic gift. Choosing the wrong photo can unintentionally send the emotions in the wrong direction.

Below are some ideas for photos you can take or dig out of your archive to have a meaningful gift ready in time for Mother's Day.

The ideas aren't limited to mothers of young children. Mothers of adult children, grandmothers, aunts or other mother figures will no doubt be delighted with them too!

Photo: Michelle Peeters

1. Posed portrait photo

The classic family photo where everyone looks happy and presentable, and everything can be well coordinated and staged. These photos are often of high quality, especially when taken in the studio. Everyone is in focus and well lit.

These kinds of photos can often be found in your archive, provided Mum didn't take them herself and isn't in the photo, of course...

Many photographers offer "mini sessions" for occasions like this, or you can set up your own mini shoot or (mobile) photo studio for the occasion.

Just make sure that Mum is the central and shining focal point in these photos. She shouldn't be pushed into a corner somewhere in the background. Also take some photos of her on her own or with just her child or children.

Or make it a themed photo in which her interests or hobbies clearly come to the fore. A fun makeover or glamour photoshoot is also a lovely gift to give, of course. The possibilities are endless, just think about what she likes.

Give her the photo or photos printed and framed as a gift, not digitally.

Family photo. Photo: Michelle Peeters

2. Snapshot of how you see her

It's also nice to give her an unposed photo. A photo showing how she keeps things running smoothly (within the family), without even having to think about it. Keep your camera ready so you can capture a moment like that without her noticing.

It could be when she's pouring milk over the breakfast cereal, going through bills, reading bedtime stories to the children, helping with homework, waiting in line at the dentist, and so on.

Photo: Michelle Peeters
A collection of this kind of photo in a book or collage shows that you really "see" her, that the little things she does don't go unnoticed and are truly appreciated.

A printed photo book with this kind of photo is a lovely way for her to see herself through your eyes, and you can make it even more meaningful by turning it into an annual project she can look forward to every year.

3. Candid moments from her life

' A day in the life of...' photo projects are often done by mothers who (aware of how quickly their families grow and change) want to make sure they capture the daily rituals that are part of their lives. But why not do the same for her?

Candid moments from her life. Photo: Michelle Peeters
Choose an ordinary day and capture what she does, from relaxing with a cup of tea to putting the last child to bed and sitting on the sofa with a book or laptop on her lap to finish some work before bed.

The aim of this project is to be a photojournalist who captures an unedited view of what life looks like for her at this moment.

A series of personal photo projects like this can offer a special insight into the moments and details that make up her life.

Candid moments from her life. Photos: Karlijn Dijksterhuis
More importantly, Mum is included in your story, and from the moment you start, you can look back on the memories you've captured.

Dit artikel is voor het laatst bijgewerkt op 9 mei 2019.
De eerste publicatiedatum is maandag 7 mei 2018, 22:22.

You might also like

• 

  Children Without a Mask

  by Bernadette Boon

• 

  6 tips for telling stories with your photos

  by Huub Keulers

• 

  Tips for a beautiful Mother's Day portrait

  by Michelle Peeters

• 

  5 reasons to teach your child photography

  by Jerry van Es

• 

  Photographing children: Shoot at eye level

  by Elja Trum

• 

  Review: Discover the World of Fine Art Photography with Micky Hoogendijk

  by Michelle Peeters

0 comments

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.