Delivered to your address of choice

Free message card with every gift

All gifts personalised with photo/text

Delivered to your address of choice

We have various shipping options available. You can find the expected delivery date for each gift next to the green tick.

Free message card with every gift

Would you like to surprise someone with a beautiful gift? All of our gifts are shipped without including an invoice, so that the gift can be shipped straight to the recipient.

All gifts personalised with photo/text

Each and every gift we create can be personalised with the photo and/or text of your choice, making it truly unique every time, for any occasion.

Tips voor het perfecte Kerst plaatje

How to take great photos

A photo is an image capturing a special moment or feeling. A beautiful keepsake for now and forever. It’s such great fun to flick through old photo albums and travel back in time to that fantastic holiday, that party with grandma and grandpa or another fun moment. That’s why it’s great to have a photo placed on personalised YourSurprise gift. There are many gifts to choose from. Just keep in mind that they vary in size and shape, when decided which photo to add. How to take the perfect photo, you ask? We’ll explain how to take the best possible photos using an iPhone or Android phone in no time at all.

Canvas

Before taking the photo(s)

  • Make sure your lens is clean. Your photos will be sharper if the lens is free of dust and marks, which is what you want.
  • Think about which gift you want to personalise. A duvet cover, or cushion for the settee? In this case, a collage would be great. If you’re thinking of a smaller gift (such as a snow globe), a collage can be too busy, so one photo would suit better.
  • If you choose to create a collage, we have the following tips:
    1. A collage using 9 photos looks fantastic and is a fun way to combine both busy and calm images, as well as a detailed photo or atmospheric photo. Another option is to create a collage using 4 or 6 photos. It’s up to you! There are several apps available in which you can create collages.
    2. If you have decided to create a collage, keep this in mind when taking your photos. Don’t just focus on portraits, but add detail shots too. A collage is a great idea for a canvas.

While taking the photos

  • If you’re taking photos using your phone, don’t use the zoom, as the photos will be less sharp.
  • Keep your phone as still as possible for the sharpest result. The trick is to press your elbows against your body. Your arms and hands will be more stable and you will be less likely to shake. Breathe in, take the photo, breathe out!
  • Think about the light. The results will be less good if you’re in a darker place. If you’re outside, try to avoid taking photos in direct sunlight, as your photos will become overexposed and create shadows in people’s faces. Find a shadowy spot or take photos in the woods, where the light shines through the leaves. Another way to create a beautiful effect is to take photos at sunrise or sunset, as the light is great and creates a romantic effect. If you are taking photos inside, it is important to take them with the light coming from behind you.
  • If you have taken a great photo but find that it is overexposed or very dark, you can edit the photo to make it black and white. This hides the ‘bad lighting’ in the photo. You can do this using Photoshop or apps on your phone.

Selecting a great location

  • Experiment with fun backgrounds. Have people stand in front of an old door, a flowery tree or a cool wallpaper. A photo with a cool background will make your gift even lovelier. Have your photo printed on a water bottle, so that it’s not just a boring old bottle.
  • Another great effect can be created by taking a photo from just behind a tree or bush, as it creates depth and a playful look.
  • Below are five more ideas for great photography locations.
    1. The beach. Take photos in the grass, the dunes, or near the water. The perfect day for a beach photography session is a day on which the sun just manages to shine through the clouds, creating lovely light.
    2. While walking through cute town or city streets. Stop at an old door, a nice wall or a canal.
    3. If you’d like to take photos at home, move some things to create a blank wall to use as your background and take the photos with the light coming from behind the camera.
    4. The woods make a beautiful location with endless opportunities for great photos.
    5. If you’re planning to take photos of a baby, iron your bedsheets, make your bed and use this as your location. White sheets create a great effect.