A Father’s Day Gift That Hit Home: Robin J.’s Mixbook for His Dad

Finding the right Father’s Day gift can be tricky—especially when you want to give something that feels meaningful and lasting. For Robin J., Mixbook’s Senior Product Manager, a recent gift to his father served not only as a heartfelt gesture, but as a reminder of just how powerful photo books can be.

Robin’s father recently turned 77. Over the past year, he had begun experiencing memory loss from a form of dementia. That reality shaped Robin’s decision to create a Mixbook filled with old family photos.

"It was my Dad’s birthday—he’s 77. His memory has degraded over the past year with a form of dementia,” Robin shared. “And so to help him remember, and to help all of us celebrate him, I made him a Mixbook with as many old family photos as I could get my hands on.”

Robin created the photo book with a specific purpose: not just to commemorate, but to connect.

“People with dementia tend to be able to tell long stories about the past, but sometimes can’t remember what happened moments ago,” he said. “I wanted this Mixbook to be a storytelling starting point for all of my Dad’s memories from his youth—to bring him the joy of reminiscing, but also to learn more about who he is from who he was.”

When it came time to give the gift, Robin took an intentional and quiet approach.

“Knowing how emotionally powerful this gift had the potential to be, I gave it to him in secret,” he said. “Yup, I simply left it on his bed for him to find after I left. I wanted him to fully take in the gift without any external pressure to respond or express.”

The response came later, in a way that felt deeply meaningful.

“It took him a few weeks to finally put into words what this gift meant to him—he did so in the form of a wonderful handwritten note with words that flowed from his heart,” Robin said. “To me, ‘mission accomplished’—I was thrilled the book ‘hit home’ in all the right ways.”

Robin chose a design approach that emphasized simplicity and emotion.

“I wanted the book to celebrate his life, with big bold full-bleed pages featuring just 1 or 2 photos in order for the meaning of each photo to have a chance to shine,” he explained. “So to me, the seamless experience of Mixbook’s lay flat photo book was the obvious choice.”

Reflecting on the experience, Robin shared:

“Memories are precious, fleeting, and tough to ‘give,’ yet Mixbook’s templates, tools, and high quality form factor make it possible, and the results are truly

Ideas to Inspire Your Own Father’s Day Gift

Whether you're celebrating your dad’s legacy, favorite moments, or shared laughs, a custom photo gift is a way to connect—and to make Father’s Day feel genuinely personal. Here are a few ways to get started:

Memory Book Themes That Hit Home:

“Dad Through the Decades” – A look back at his life in photos, from childhood to fatherhood.

“Lessons from Dad” – Highlight his advice or life mottos alongside meaningful images.

“The Everyday Hero” – Capture the quiet moments: breakfast routines, coaching, weekend projects.

“Our Adventures Together” – A book dedicated to road trips, camping, or shared hobbies.

Personal Touches That Make a Difference

• Scan in old handwritten notes or recipes
• Use “dad-isms” as page titles
• Add short reflections from kids or grandkids

Not Sure What to Include? Start Here

• Childhood and family photos
• Holiday traditions and milestone moments
• Sports, hobbies, or "dad on the job" photos
• Wedding day and grandparent memories

Mixbook Pro Tips for Making It Meaningful

• Pick the right format: For big moments, a lay flat photo book gives you space to let each image shine. For simpler gifts, a softcover or Everyday Photo Book works beautifully.
• Let photos lead the story: One or two per page, clean layouts, and bold full-bleed images can say more than you think.
• Design with intention: Don’t worry about writing perfect captions. A few words—or none at all—can still be powerful.
• Think about the delivery: Whether you give it in person or leave it behind like Robin did, how your dad receives the book can add meaning.

Other Mixbook Gifts Dad Will Love

Looking for more ways to make it personal? Try one of these:

• Photo Calendars with your favorite snapshots and meaningful dates
• Custom Wall Art for his office, den, or garage
• Desktop Metal Prints or an Acrylic Block for his work desk or home office

Want help getting started? Try browsing Mixbook’s Father’s Day photo books for easy-to-create templates and ideas built just for dad.