The Lens of Love

For Week 17 of 52 Love, immortalize your relationship in the form of a photo collage. Documenting your life through your camera’s lens preserves your memories as an expression of your love and allows your partner to relive these moments through your eyes. Considering that “collage” originates from the French word “coller”, meaning “to glue,” this gift is a perfect choice to make your partner secure in your affections. There’s no pressure to complete this within the same week you start. 52 Love is about the long game.

Feel free to start with existing photos. After that, snap new shots and choose ones deserving of preservation. Go the extra mile by capturing meaningful ordinary moments. As she’s reading to your child, when she’s gardening in the backyard and the glistening sun bathes her in golden light, while she sips wine from her favorite glass. Bonus points if you snap them without her notice. Different from the glamour of a destination photo shoot like in week 15, these are shots from everyday life, a candid glimpse at the daily beauty her presence creates.

Relive these loving moments as you assemble your creation. Select high quality images with sharp resolution. Print your shots on good paper. Once you have curated your photos, choose an interesting layout to display them. Find a frame with color and texture that complements your collection. Use the included background or take the time to personalize one.

You can arrange your photos by theme, location, or chronologically—use a multi-frame layout or a single board that you arrange on your own. Or instead of all the photos in one frame, choose two or three frames that hold three or four photos apiece. Your many options are limited only by your creativity and imagination. And if you’re crafty enough, when you present this thoughtful gift to your partner, use your camera to capture the expression on her face.

If you try this intimacy tip or have a better recommendation, let me know in the comments. For weekly suggestions on how to show your partner love, sign up for my blog, 52 Love, in the sidebar.