A Christmas gift from old family photos that actually moves people
For the parents who say they don't want anything, and the grandparents who have kept every print.
If you want a Christmas gift from old family photos that feels personal, pick one photo that matters to the family and have it gently animated, so a smile, a blink or a turn of the head comes back for a few seconds. For a bigger moment, combine several photos into a short film with music and a dedication. At zazsi the first photo is $19, and for Christmas we recommend ordering by December 15.
Why old photos make such a good Christmas gift
Most people over sixty already have what they need. What they rarely get is a quiet moment with the faces that built their life: a wedding portrait, a parent they lost young, the children as they were in 1985. An animated photo gives them that moment, and it is something the whole room watches together on Christmas Day.
It also works for the hardest people to buy for. Nobody returns it, nobody already owns it, and it doesn’t need wrapping paper or a shelf.
Three gift ideas, from small to big
- One photo, one face. A single portrait of a grandparent or a couple, gently animated. $19, and often the one that gets the biggest reaction.
- A handful of favourites. Three to five photos across the years, each animated on its own. Three photos are $37, five are $55.
- A short family film. Your animated photos woven into one film with licensed music, an opening title and a dedication in your words. Five photos with the montage are $104. You get landscape and vertical versions, so it plays on a TV or a phone.
How the timing works
Finished videos usually arrive in 2 to 4 business days, often sooner. They come to you, the buyer, through a private link where you can watch and download them. You then decide how to give them: play it on the TV after dinner, send the link in a card, or put it on a tablet wrapped under the tree.
We suggest ordering by December 15 so there is time for the one round of changes that is included with every order. A person checks every video before it reaches you.
Tips for choosing the photo
- Pick a photo where the face is clear and reasonably large. Portraits and wedding photos are ideal.
- A phone photo of the print is enough. Lay it flat near a window, avoid glare and fill the frame.
- Faded or creased? That’s fine. Restoration is part of the process. Our guide to restoring faded photos explains what’s possible.
- Think about who will be in the room. A photo of someone who has passed can be beautiful, but it can also be emotional on Christmas Day. If in doubt, show it privately first.
If you’re shopping for a grandparent in particular, we wrote about the gift for grandma who has everything and the gift for a dad who has everything. For a step-by-step overview of animation itself, read the main guide to animating old photos.
Be honest with yourself about the limits
Not every photo animates well. Faces turned fully sideways, very small faces in a crowd or prints with part of the face missing are harder. If a photo won’t give a natural result, we tell you rather than send something that doesn’t look like them. The movement is created with AI, so it’s a gentle impression of the person, not a recording of how they really moved.
Frequently asked questions
When should I order for Christmas?
By December 15. Delivery is usually 2 to 4 business days, often sooner, and ordering by then leaves room for a round of changes.
Can you send it straight to the person I’m gifting?
No. The finished videos always come to you first, so you can watch them and choose the moment to share. That also keeps the surprise in your hands.
How do I give a video as a present?
Play it on the TV on Christmas Day, send the private link in a message, or write the link inside a card. See the Christmas page for ideas.
What does it cost?
$19 for the first photo, $9 for each extra photo and +$49 to turn them into a film with music.