10 Tips for Turning Memorable Photos into Fun Photo Mugs

By Leanne Tremblay

Some people are just difficult to buy for. While you can usually find something adequate at the last minute, what you really want is a personalized gift that can only be given by you. A gift that fits the bill and is both inexpensive and versatile is the photo coffee mug.

Sound a little boring? No way! These days mugs come in different sizes and styles too so you can find one to fit the person you’re buying for perfectly.

These special "hot chocolate" mugs I ordered for my boys featuring their beloved guinea pigs.

In general, the basic 12 oz coffee mug suits most folks, but for serious java junkies, try a huge 22 oz jumbo size. The commuter mug fits in most car cup holders and the latte style mug adds a bit of style.

Here are two web sites that deserve my "Best" rating:

Snapfish – best value mug at only $10
Kodak Gallery – best selection of sizes and styles

Photo mugs are a popular because they’re practical, and there’s a good chance will be used every day EXCEPT when the photo itself is, well, boring or poor quality.

So, a little time spent choosing the best shot makes all the difference. Here are ten tips to help you choose a great photo.

Photo Selection Tips and Ideas

• Photos should be a minimum resolution of 1024x768. Smaller resolution pictures may look okay when viewed online, but will appear blurry or jagged printed.

• Baby or child photos should be close-ups and cropped tightly to the face. Cropping removes all other distractions in the photo so that the focus is on the face.

• Old black and white or antique family photos can be scanned and saved as JPEG image files and then imported as the image for a mug. Use the online tools to available on the photo mug web site to choose distressed photo edges or add old-fashioned photo corners.

• Kids art, like paintings and coloring, can be scanned and saved as JPEG files and then imported as an image.

• Pet photos should be close-ups and cropped tightly.
  Summer cottages, cabins, or any outdoor scene should be framed with the surrounding landscape to give a sense of place. Take your best outdoor nature shots when the seasons are most dramatic. For example, snowy covered trees,  fall colors, and bright palette of spring gardens.

• Family portraits should be cropped so as to remove other distracting elements. The focus should be on the group.

• Funny faces. Everyone mugs for the camera now and then (pun intended) so put those funny face photos to good use! Crop these faces tightly.

• Finally, create a set of mugs, each with a different face. Presto, a set of 2, 4, 6 or more mugs for the grandparents, featuring each one of their grandchildren. They’ll love it!