Pictures Make the Best Gifts — Donna Hopkins

Artifact Uprising is having a 30% off sale on calendars right now. I’ve been designing and ordering these calendars to give as Christmas gifts for years. I’ve always been pleased with the quality of the prints, and the gifts have been well-received.

It would be easy to spend hours deliberating on photo choices for calendars, especially if you’re into specific themes. But I take a simpler approach, mostly driven by the “does this spark joy” criterion. Generally, I look to photos from the current year— though I often have to go back a few years to find winter images since I tend to take fewer pictures during those months. I try to stick to a color palette so that the monthly photos flow smoothly. I don’t get too hung up on something specific for a given month like hearts for February with Valentine’s Day, but I do take a seasonal approach.

When I think of showing and sharing my work, this is one of my favorite ways. It’s not about approval-seeking or external validation of my photography skill. It’s simply sharing something I love to make in the same way I might make jars of granola, sugar cookies, or loaves of poppy seed bread as gifts. A joyful act of kindness.