Unique photo book gift ideas for your chosen family

Exchanging gifts with the people who know you best—those who have shared in the milestones and daily happenings in your life—can be profoundly emotional. We know that some of the most important names on your holiday shopping list might not be members of your family. They’re those who you consider your “chosen family.”

Maybe you pick out a nice scarf for your cousin, a fancy bottle of your uncle’s favorite beverage, or a gift card for your hard-to-buy-for brother. But your BFF, your favorite colleague (who’s also your No. 1 lunch buddy), the neighbor who always looks out for you, or the teacher who nurtures your kid with care… they deserve something more meaningful. Treat these special people to a memory-packed gift from Mixbook, such as one of the following chosen family gift ideas.

Related: “The Most Thoughtful Gift They’ve Ever Received”: Luan N.’s Yearbook for His Chosen Family

For your best friend

The relationship between two best friends can be closer than almost any family bond, so choosing a holiday gift for your BFF takes some thought. You want a gift idea that really honors how much you value your friendship. How about a unique photo book gift filled with photos of experiences you’ve shared? Or a book showcasing the highlights of your friend’s past year, or even lifetime?

Just a few of the customizable photo book themes we recommend for photo gifts for friends include the versatile and lovely Softly Painted book, and the BFF Friendship Book with bold colors and a playful design. The Instagram Book is ideal for grabbing the best photos from your friend’s social media reel. It’s like a pre-curated collection of photos you already know are favorites, complete with captions to guide you through the book project.

For your partner

Whether you call your romantic partner your boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, or sweetheart, they’re the epitome of chosen family. As such, your partner’s holiday gift calls for considerable brainstorming, and perhaps the kind of emotion-filled creativity that goes into crafting a unique photo book gift.

Gather photos of the best memories you’ve shared together and moments you know are important to them. Choose a photo book theme that suits their style, and perhaps one with helpful content prompts like 10 Reasons Why I Love You or the whimsical Love by Elizabeth Olwen. For a more versatile photo book theme you can customize around your own ideas, check out Hand Drawn Patterns and the Couple’s Story Coffee Table Book.

For your coworker or team

For better or worse, many of us spend a significant portion of our lives at work. You might see more of your coworkers than some family members. This means that the best colleagues and team members—those who have your total respect and whose company you genuinely enjoy—earn a spot on your holiday gift list. It can be tricky to come up with appropriate gifts for coworkers, but we think a thoughtfully designed photo book is a great idea.

If it’s been a big year for your workplace or career, marked by a series of achievements and points of pride, preserve the memories for the whole team in the Elegant Serif Seasonal Year in Review book. Was the holiday office party a blast this year? Put all the photos, along with a lighthearted end-of-year workplace review, into the Christmas Painted Patterns photo book. And for a coworker who really makes a difference in your work life, let them know how much they mean to you with the Why I’m Grateful For You photo book.

For your neighbor

If you have a really good neighbor—good enough to be considered a member of your chosen family—then let them know how much they mean to you this holiday season with a unique photo book gift. Think about the role your neighbor plays in your life, and how you can honor that.

Maybe you walk your dogs together and care for each other’s pets when you’re away. Then gather or snap tons of fun photos of their pet for a Minimal Everyday Pet Book. Show your green-thumbed neighbor how much you’re impressed by their garden by making them a From My Garden Gallery custom calendar. Do you get together for drinks and game nights? Why not author a Colorful Mod Cocktails Recipe Book accented with memories of those fun gatherings.

Related: Just in time for the holidays, celebrate your annual community cookie exchange with a custom cookbook.

For your kid’s teacher

Sometimes, there’s a very special teacher who does nothing less than transform a child’s life for the better. Sometimes, your kid’s teacher just stands out as being awesome at their job, and you want to show your appreciation. Why not do so this holiday season with a unique photo book gift?

This kind of project benefits from collaboration with other parents, school volunteers, or PTA reps, but you can also just handle it as a DIY gift project. Gather photos of the fun happenings in the classroom, sweet pics of the kids learning and being creative, and any awards or special events that the teacher has been involved in.

Consider customizing the School Spirit Yearbook theme (it’s too soon for a yearbook, but the design is perfect for personalization). Make a special, totally personalized classroom book she can read to students with the ABC Book by Ampersand Design Studio. Or just throw an assortment of memorable pics and appreciative words together in the cheerful Rainbow is My Favorite Color by Ampersand Design Studio book theme.

Create a unique gift for the important people in your life

When you start writing that annual list of the important people you’re going to buy holiday gifts for, put a little asterix next to your chosen family members. No matter how close you are with your factual family, these people are shining stars in your life.

Creating photo gifts for friends and chosen family shows how much they mean to you, and how dearly you hold the memories you’ve shared. Head over to Mixbook and get started today!