Every year, women in the US try to come up with thoughtful and meaningful gifts for their husbands and dads for Father’s Day. Typical presents might include golf or other sports equipment, a tie, alcohol related items, or grill stuff. But what if the perfect Father’s Day gift was something a bit more special?

In this post, you’ll find out why a headshot is the perfect gift this Father’s Day, and why it’s both distinctive and very much needed for today’s dad.

1. Almost everyone needs an updated headshot

I would say something like 90% of people out there probably need to update their headshot right now. Typically you’ll want to have a headshot taken every 1-2 years, or any time your hair style changes or there is a shift in weight (either up or down). This guarantees that the people you meet professionally will be able to recognize you. So unless Dad has had a professional headshot session in the past 2 years, it’s probably a pretty safe bet that he can use a new one!

2. It’s the perfect gift for a man who has everything

Scheduling a professional headshot session is probably not something Dad is spending a lot of time thinking about. Just because he might NEED it, doesn’t mean it’s at the top of his priority list. With work, kids, and hopefully helping around the house, none of us have much time for anything else.. which is why a headshot gift certificate makes the perfect gift. It’s something that’s needed but not something he will think of getting himself.. And we all know how capable Dads are at buying themselves gear and toys that they’re interested in. He definitely doesn’t need YOU to do that for him.

3. It won’t create clutter

How many past year’s gifts are currently lying around in the back of the closet, never to be used again? Most of us go through various hobby phases and end up with tennis balls, fly fishing rods, and golf clubs, not to mention numerous bicycles, that simply sit around taking up space. There’s nothing wrong with transitioning hobbies and taking up new ones, but the reason why gifting an experience versus a “thing” is a great idea is that it won’t end up in a pile of discarded stuff in a few months, creating more stuff for you to clean or get rid of down the line.

4. You’ll be supporting a small local business

One of the best things you can do as a consumer is to shop locally. This is why I always try to purchase gifts from local stores. It allows your money to do double-duty, not only providing a living wage for local workers but also keeping downtowns and commercial districts (and farmer’s markets!) full of thriving storefronts. We often don’t realize how much a local small business provides for others by employing local workers, working with vendors, and shopping at other local businesses. I know that personally my business supports a handful of other small business who I rely on for my print products, Studio space, hair and makeup services, and food and beverage products I provide for my clients. It’s like an interconnected web of support that we all provide for each other. And it’s absolutely amazing to be able to encourage that as a consumer! You will probably recognize how grateful a small business owner is for your business, and that’s 100% due to the fact that we all count on your support and really do appreciate it with all our hearts!

5. It’s a really thoughtful gift

My definition of a gift that is thoughtful is something that the person needs but wouldn’t really buy for themselves. And a professional headshot definitely fits into that category. First of all, definitely make sure that you’re not buying just any random headshot session for Dad, because a lot of the time these photoshoots can be tedious, frustrating, and too much work (there’s a reason why most people don’t get a headshot done until they absolutely need it).

This is why I make sure to structure my sessions to be easy, quick, and totally painless. By taking care of wardrobe selection, guiding Dad on how to pose and look relaxed in front of the camera, and sitting down together to review the images right after, we make sure to be super efficient with our time together and guarantee that he will love the result. It’s not complicated, but it’s amazing how many photographers simply don’t have a nailed down process for this sort of thing.. and if there’s one thing a busy Dad isn’t going to want, it’s a laborious headshot session that takes too long and leaves him feeling frustrated.

So yes, a thoughtful gift should show that you care enough to do your research, to know what he needs before he does himself, and to give something meaningful that will be appreciated and useful for many years!