Quick answer: A photo locket is a small heart- or oval-shaped pendant that holds a personal picture. The best choice is a sharp, well-lit close-up where the face fills most of the frame. You upload your photo directly in the configurator and see a live preview before you buy; on the back, we can engrave a name or date for free (up to about 25 characters). It's a popular keepsake gift — especially for new mums after birth. Updated July 4, 2026.
A photo locket keeps someone close to your heart, quite literally. Because the surface is so small, choosing the right photo matters more here than with any large frame. We're a small family workshop in the EU — founded by a husband-and-wife team — and we craft every locket ourselves. Here's which photo works best, how it gets onto the pendant, and which occasions suit a locket.
Good to know: ✓ Free back engraving · ✓ Live preview of your photo before ordering · ✓ Free replacement if we make a mistake · ✓ Gift box included · ✓ EU shipping with tracking (1–5 business days)
Which photo works in a locket?
In general, any photo that stays clear even at a small size will work. In practice, that means:
- A close-up shot. The face should fill most of the frame — at locket size (usually about 1–2 cm), anything wide-angle gets lost.
- Sharp and bright. Blurry, dark, or backlit photos lose detail when shrunk down; a high-contrast photo holds up.
- One subject, not a group. Group photos, screenshots, or busy backgrounds look cluttered in a pendant — a single face against a calm background works best.
- Cropped in tight. Crop closely around the face before uploading so it fills the heart or oval shape completely.
How does the photo get onto the locket?
You don't need to do any editing yourself: you upload your photo directly in the configurator, move and crop it to fit the inner shape, and see an instant live preview — so you know exactly how the finished piece will look before you buy. We only craft the locket with your image after you place the order. On the back, we also engrave a name, date, or short initials — the engraving is worked into the metal, not printed on, so it never wears off.
Which locket — and for what?
This table shows which option suits which occasion:
| Piece | Typical personalization | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Heart locket (titanium steel, gold-plated) | Photo + name/date engraved | Birth, Mother's Day, keepsake |
| Engraved bracelet (stainless steel) | Name, date, coordinates | Anniversary, christening, friendship |
Which photos don't work?
Because the surface is only about 1–2 cm, some images reliably fail — better to know in advance:
- Group photos. Four faces on 2 cm shrink to unrecognizable dots. Pick a single subject, or crop one person out.
- Wide-angle and full-body shots. The head becomes just a speck. Choose a photo where the face is already large in frame.
- Dark or backlit photos. They lose all definition when shrunk down.
- Screenshots and heavily filtered photos. Compression and soft-focus effects blur details; an original photo holds up better.
When in doubt: crop in tight on a smiling face against a calm background. The live preview in the configurator shows you right away whether your image will hold up.
Material & care
Our photo lockets are made from gold-plated titanium steel — lightweight, tarnish-resistant, and comfortable to wear. The back engraving is a fine, permanent line worked into the metal. It needs almost no care: wipe occasionally with a soft, dry cloth, and as with any jewelry, avoid direct contact with perfume and lotions on the surface — put jewelry on last. That keeps it looking good for years.
Locket as a keepsake gift — especially for new mums
A photo locket is a classic gift for new mums after birth or for a first birthday: the baby's photo inside the pendant, the birth date or name engraved on the back. Grandparents love it too — the grandchildren always close by — and it also serves as a quiet, dignified keepsake in memory of a loved one. It's a gift that lasts, not just another object. For a christening gift, our christening gift guide can help; if you'd rather engrave something else, our engraved gift guide covers all the options.
Shipping & guarantee
Every locket is made after you order. We craft it in 1–3 business days and ship from the EU with tracking; delivery within the EU takes 1–5 business days (about 4–8 days total). Because personalized items are made to order, they're excluded from returns — but if there's a manufacturing fault or a personalization error on our part, we'll replace the piece for free or issue a full refund. A gift box is always included. Explore our personalized lockets and engraved jewelry.
Frequently asked questions
Which photo works best in a locket?
In general, a bright, sharp close-up where the face fills the frame. Wide-angle, dark, or blurry photos lose all detail at locket size. The configurator shows your image in a live preview beforehand.
How big does a photo need to be for a locket?
As big as the inner shape — usually about 1–2 cm. You upload a larger photo and crop it to fit in the configurator; what matters is that the face is cropped in tight.
Can you engrave the back?
Yes. Typically a name, date, or short initials fit, up to about 25 characters. The engraving is free and worked into the metal, so it never wears off.
What's a good gift for a new mum?
A photo locket with the baby's picture and the engraved birth date or name — personal, wearable, and lasting. A classic among keepsake gifts.
Written by Dmitry and the family behind The Craft House Gift — a small, husband-and-wife-run business making engraved leather and jewelry gifts, crafted in the EU. Questions? support@thecrafthousegift.eu — every message is read personally. Last updated: July 4, 2026.
