What do the experts recommend when it comes to meaningful holiday gifts? We took a look at what trusted voices are saying about personalized gifting, and Shutterfly consistently rises to the top. Fast Company and CNN Underscored love Shutterfly’s meaningful options in a sea of impersonal clutter, while BuzzFeed, The Pioneer Woman, and Everymom find Shutterfly solutions for the hardest people on your list. And our friends at The NY Post are chronicling the best deals still available at Shutterfly!

Here’s a roundup of expert-backed ideas to inspire your holiday shopping.

With all the holiday consumerism, where can I shop for meaningful gifts (read: that don’t end up in a landfill by February)?

In their Anti-Junk Gift Guide, Fast Company laments, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that all our favorite photographs are never framed and put up on the wall—especially since the invention of Instagram.”  They recommend Shutterfly as the best place to “create an entire photo book if you’d like to commemorate your relationship over the years,” creating a meaningful and personal gift.  

CNN Underscored shares that “a winning gift is always one that carries meaning beyond the present itself.” Shutterfly’s custom photo book is their top pick for “a thoughtful and beautifully designed way to preserve memories,” in their list of 25 Best Sentimental Gifts. Managing editor Rachel Quigley gifted her dad a photo journey through his 55 year relationship with his wife after her passing, which he loves and cherishes, and she found was “a breeze to put together.”

What do I get for someone who’s impossible to shop for?

The experts agree – Shutterfly’s personalized gift options are the best for those on your list hardest to shop for.

Fox News highlights Shutterfly as the best place to create a personalized family calendar, that “can be packed with family photos” that are sure to make grandparents and other family members smile, in their list of 14 thoughtful gifts for those who are impossible to shop for.

The Pioneer Woman gathered “gifts that sit right in the sweet spot: practical enough to use all the time, a little indulgent, and universally appealing without feeling generic” in their 25 Foolproof Gift Ideas.  They recommend Shutterfly’s customizable photo book as “a thoughtful way to turn favorite memories into something you can hold on to,” calling it “a gift that feels personal no matter the occasion.”

What’s the best gift for couples this Holiday season?

The Everymom recommends making your favorite picture of the couple into a puzzle that “they’ll enjoy putting together on rainy days and date nights on the couch” in their Best Couple Gift Ideas of 2025.  It’s “equal parts special, thoughtful, and enjoyable.”

What do I get for my travel-obsessed friend?

BuzzFeed recommends a Shutterfly gift card that your friend “can use in a variety of ways to remind themselves of one of their trips of a lifetime!” in their Perfect Travel Gifts For Your Wanderlust Friend.

Where are the best deals still going this Holiday season?

The NY Post said it best: “Shutterfly’s deals are running Cyber Week like it’s the Super Bowl of sentimentality!” When it comes to gifting, “nothing – truly nothing – beats a personalize gift.  It’s intimate without being weird, emotional without being cringe, and it makes you look like you planned ahead, even if you’re panic-ordering at 1a.m.” Check out Half the price, all the heart: Shutterfly’s Cyber Monday deals up to 50% off!

Check out all these expert recommended products at great holiday savings at Shutterfly.com.