Although a gift can include a photo or two to complement its value, it is not necessarily the norm as the photo itself can be the gift.
As normal practice, guests invited to weddings come bearing gifts in all forms, shapes and sizes.
As a special gesture from the bridal couple to their guests, some decide to return the appreciation by placing instant cameras on the guests' dinner tables.
In addition to the customary slice of cake and perhaps a little token to remember the occasion, each guest also leaves with a camera laden with photos of the special occasion.
The thought of these photo gifts, unlikely yet so applicable, is certainly a most treasured act of appreciating one's guests.
Other than photo gifts of an occasion, other forms of personalized gifts can take on practical uses.
Perhaps the most common is the veritable mug.
Other than being a vessel to contain your java, it serves another purpose of reminding you to be human.
As you take a swig of your morning coffee, you are constantly reminded of an appreciative family who declares you as the world's best dad.
At times when the workload seems unbearable or your colleagues deserve a good shaking for jeopardizing your project, you take a good stare at the smiling faces.
Despite the mountain of paperwork, you then take a deep breath and choose to rise above the chaos.
If you are embarking on a new business, it is essential to introduce yourself into the market.
Since most entrepreneurs do not have a large advertising budget at their disposal, distributing a token to represent your business is a good option.
By adding your picture as well as other related pictures, the personalized gifts then serve their purpose as marketing gimmicks.
If you are starting a baking business, get people to taste your goodies by packaging your delicious cookies with a smiling and friendly picture of yourself.
As family, friends and strangers savor the cookies, they then associate you to delightful food.
Hopefully this also translates into patronage of your business.