Custom AI Portraits: Personalised Gifts from Photos โ No Studio Required
People are looking for unique gifts for couples and families โ an AI portrait from a photo gives them a bespoke illustration without needing to find an artist.
The business rests on three pillars: AI image generation from the customer's photograph, printing via a print-on-demand partner, and selling through your own online shop. The customer uploads a photo, selects a style (caricature, watercolour illustration, comic-book), pays, and receives either a physical print or a digital file. The operator sets up prompt templates, checks output quality, and passes orders to the printer. The key to profitability is correctly pricing each unit, keeping API costs low, and working with a reliable POD partner that offers a healthy margin.
Traditional portrait photography studios are expensive and require a physical visit. Off-the-shelf gifts from high street shops feel impersonal and forgettable. A customer who wants a truly original gift currently has no easy route to a personalised result at a reasonable price.
๐Personalised gifts market is growing steadily in the UK
The UK personalised gifts sector is well-established and the online channel drives most of its growth. British consumers are willing to pay a premium for something original and unrepeatable โ especially around key gifting occasions.
