A picture is worth a thousand words, but a photo book? Priceless. With Mother’s Day coming up on May 12, now’s the perfect time to delight your mom with a gift that she’ll cherish forever. Skip the flowers (except our eternal roses) and check out our five unique photo book ideas for Mom.
(Before we start, a little tip: consider making extra copies of your photo book to surprise all the mother figures in your life!)
1. Recipe Photo Book
Is she your favorite baker? The chef of all chefs? Collect Mom or Grandma’s homemade recipes inside a personalized cookbook. Whether the recipes have been passed down through multiple generations or they’re recent discoveries, give your day-one hero your family stories.
Each page spread should mention…
- Name of recipe
- Cooking time
- Serving size
- Introduction
- List of equipment
- Ingredients and measurements
- Instructions
- Anecdotes (what did you love about Grandma’s Christmas pudding?)
- Photographs (if you don’t have photos of the exact meals, use food-centric photos from family celebrations)
Top tip: Scan in Mom or Grandma’s handwritten recipes — nothing beats the extra personal touch.
2. Family History Photo Book
For a tears-of-joy reaction this Mother’s Day, tell your family story with photos, anecdotes, timelines and official records with a photo book. This photo book for Mom requires a bit of investigation — try reaching out to your cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents for photos and memorabilia to scan!
To really tell Mom’s story, dig deeper — seek out hidden treasures in her house like photos from her childhood, teenage years, wedding, and even mementos like postcards and ticket stubs.
Top tip: You can make a visual family tree chart with Canva. Simple, sentimental and effortless.
3. Baby Photo Book (Great For New Moms!)
Make story time with Mom and baby more interactive. Fill a photo book with photos and names of everyone in the family — from siblings to grandparents, even pets! It’s a great way for the little one to get to know their family circle and maybe even learn a few nicknames, like “dada” or “auntie”.
4. Reasons Why I Love Mom Photo Book
Show Mom just how much she means to you with this creative Mother’s Day gift idea. Dedicate each page of this photo book to a reason why she’s your entire world and couple it with a photo of the two of you.
Top tip: Get everyone in the family to write a letter for Mom and scan them in. Then pair each heartfelt note with a photo of the respective family member.
5. Pet Photo Book
For the mom whose heart belongs equally to her pets (understandably so), a photo book chronicling her bond with her fur baby is the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Capture the day they were brought home, naps on the sofa, days at the park and cute selfies!