I have been giving my resident villagers coconuts as gift for months now in order to obtain their photo and nothing happens. Could it be that coconuts do not count as excotic fruit?
The gifting is dependent on sale price. To receive a photo in exchange for coconuts, you must gift your villagers 3 wrapped coconuts. 2 wrapped non-native fruits will also work (the sell value of the gift must be 750 bells or more)
but as long as you gift the right amount, either works equally well!
it generally takes about a month of daily gifting from when your villager moves in unitl you receive a photo.