I really like the idea of giving handmade gifts to loved ones.
The problem with handmade gifts is that first, you need to have the time to make them. Second, you need to be fairly creative or good at something to come up with something that will look really stylish and not looking as if it has been done by a five years old.

I’ve made a few scented candles this month but they are more like little tokens of love rather than proper gifts. I didn’t have time to craft anything so I decided to offer my friend Perrine, one of the photos I took of her when we did this photoshoot.

Now… I don’t have the presumption to assume that anyone receiving one of my photos is going to say “wow” out of excitement but last time I saw Perrine, she told me that the photoshoot really boosted her confidence and made her re-connect with the person she was a few years ago.

This really strokes a chord with me.

I have know Perrine since we were sixteen. I was there when her dad died and she was only a teen, she was there when mine left last year.

I have known her as a teen, as a Student and then as a transformed (physically and emotionally) woman when she discovered her true calling as a Singer, Dancer and Choregrapher.
I’ve known her in a relationship, pregnant, grieving, happy, hurt, as a single mother, as the amazing woman she is and no longer can see and I thought if just one photoshoot can help her to boost her confidence, then I want her to look at this photo of her where she stands tall, confident and beautiful and tell herself “this is who I am”.

I got the photo below printed in 50 x 70 cm when I attended the HP Printed Interiors forum in Barcelona, just before I flew to Marrakech last month. It is printed with a beautiful, quality glossy finish, using Latex Printing Technology, which is not only eco-friendly but incredibly versatile. This technology is really transforming digital printing.
You can basically create your own wallpaper, canvas or self-adhesive vinyls to create and make your home more personal and unique. If you are in London, your can get your photos printed in poster size like me (or even bigger!) at Clicks in east London while you wait. If you’re out of London, just leave a comment below with your city & country and I will get the info for you.

Seeing my photos on a big size like this was quite a wow moment for me but knowing that it is going to boost Perrine’s confidence is making me really happy and I know she will appreciate this kind of personal gift.How about you? Have you managed to make any handmade gifts this year?

// Photography by Karine Köng | Posted in partnership with HP; all views my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help support BODIE and FOU