Restored Photo Gift Ideas: 15 Ways to Give Old Memories New Life

A restored family photo is one of the few gifts that can make someone cry in a good way. It costs little, takes an evening, and gives back something people thought was lost: a clear view of a parent's wedding day, a grandparent's childhood face, the house where they grew up. Here are ideas for turning restored photos into gifts, and links to occasion-specific guides.

Getting the photos

1. Borrow albums discreetly, or ask a sibling who has them. For a surprise, scan a few prints while you visit (see scanning photos with iPhone).
2. Choose meaningful photos: weddings, the recipient as a child, their parents, a place they loved.
3. Restore them: with Refixo, scratches, tears, fading and blur are repaired in seconds, and black and white photos can be colorized.
4. Check faces carefully, since the recipient will know every detail (see is AI photo restoration accurate?).

15 gift ideas

Framed

1. Before-and-after frame: original and restored side by side in a double frame. The contrast is part of the gift.
2. Colorized portrait: a black and white parent or grandparent portrait, colorized and framed.
3. Generations frame: one photo per generation at the same age.
4. Then-and-now: an old photo of a house or street next to a recent one (see colorizing landscape photos).

Printed

1. Photo book of a restored album (see family photo book ideas).
2. Calendar with a restored photo for each month, ideally matched to birthdays and anniversaries.
3. Canvas print of a wedding photo for a milestone anniversary.
4. Recipe book combining family recipes with restored photos of the cooks.
5. Postcard set of restored photos to send to relatives.

Personal and small

1. Locket or keychain with a tiny restored portrait.
2. Wallet print of a restored photo of a late parent.
3. Memorial card for anniversaries of a loss (see memorial photo restoration).

Experiences

1. A photo evening: restore photos live on an iPad with grandparents and record their stories (see interviewing grandparents about old photos).
2. Reunion slideshow of restored photos (see family reunion photo slideshow).
3. Shared family album: a digital album everyone can access, with restored photos and captions.

Occasion guides

• Christmas: restored family photos as gifts
• Mother's Day restored photo gift
• Father's Day old photo gift
• Anniversary gift: restoring an old wedding photo
• Valentine's Day old photo gift

Printing tips

Check resolution before printing large (see restoring photos for printing) and order a small test print first.

Frequently asked questions

What's a good gift using old photos?

A framed before-and-after of a restored family photo, a photo book of a restored album, or a colorized portrait of a parent or grandparent.

How long does it take to make a restored photo gift?

Restoring takes seconds per photo; most of the time goes into choosing, scanning and printing. Allow a week for print delivery.

Can I restore photos without the recipient knowing?

Yes. Photograph a few prints with your phone during a visit, then restore them at home.

Is it okay to give AI-colorized photos?

Yes, most people love them. Include the original too, since some prefer the black and white version.