Ask most grandparents what they would like for Christmas and you will hear some version of the same answer. "Nothing, really. Just to have everyone together."
It is not politeness. By the time people become grandparents they usually have the kitchen they want, the garden they want and more candles than anyone could burn. What they do not have enough of is the whole family in one place, and they know those days are getting harder to arrange.
So the best gift for grandparents who already have everything is usually not a thing. It is time with everyone, and a way to keep it.
Three gifts that land, whatever your budget
- A day with everyone, organised by someone else. Choose the date, book the table or bring the food, and do the chasing. The organising is as much the gift as the lunch.
- Words from the grandchildren. A letter from each one, or a few lines from the little ones written down by a parent, bound together or framed. It costs almost nothing.
- A portrait with every generation in it. This is the one I know best, so the rest of this page is about how to give it well.
Why a family portrait suits grandparents
Families change faster than anyone notices. Grandchildren stretch, a new partner joins, someone moves away. The photographs on everyone's phones rarely have all of you in them at once, and almost never with the grandparents in the middle.
A family portrait made with care, finished as artwork and hung where they sit every day, puts everyone in the same frame. One grandparent I have photographed several times put it better than I can:
Simon has taken family portraits for us on several occasions over the last few years. He has always captured a true image of our family and how we relate to each other.
Sharon B, from a review of Living Image
The same review mentions a young granddaughter who "seemed to be doing nothing but cry all day", and who still ended up smiling in the photographs. Small children are part of the deal, and the session is built around them.
How the Generations voucher works
The Generations voucher is made for exactly this.
- It covers a 90 minute session for up to 30 people and 4 pets, so nobody is left out, the dog included.
- It carries their name, and they choose the day, any time in the next three years.
- The session happens wherever suits them: at home, in a favourite park, on the beach, or somewhere in the Yarra Valley that already means something to the family.
- Afterwards there is a portrait reveal, online or in their home, where they see every portrait together.
- It includes a $100 credit towards the artwork they choose. Artwork begins at $255, and there is no obligation to buy more than they want.
The voucher is $295.
Small details that make the day easy for them
Most of the work of a family portrait falls on whoever organises it, usually one of the adult children. A few things make it easier for everyone, and especially for the grandparents.
- Pick a time for the oldest and the youngest. A late morning or a late afternoon usually suits both, and stays clear of nap time.
- Seat the grandparents. Nobody should have to stand for long. I plan the group around them, seated and comfortable, with the youngest free to be themselves.
- Tell me about anything that matters. A hip that does not like steps, a shy grandchild, a dog who is nervous with strangers. I would much rather know before the day.
- Choose colours, not matching outfits. Plain colours and soft textures photograph better than logos and busy patterns. Ask everyone to stay within a palette rather than wear the same thing. There is more on this in the FAQ.
- Bring the dog. The voucher allows up to four pets, and the family dog belongs in the picture as much as anyone.
Giving it at Christmas
The voucher arrives by email with their name on it, ready to print, forward or tuck into a card. A printed card can be posted if you would like one to wrap.
Give it on Christmas Day and let them choose their day in the new year. There is no rush once it is given: the voucher lasts three years. The reason to give it this Christmas is simpler than that. The grandchildren will not be this age again.