Are you overwhelmed with 1000s of photos, from professional shots to candid cell phone photos, and struggling to decide which ones to frame or how to display them all?
You're definitely not alone in this!
Many of my clients love digital files from their sessions with me, in Gilbert Arizona along with their personal cell phone pictures! But let's face it, this often means a bunch of memories are just floating in the cloud, leaving our homes a bit empty of these printed moments.
Did you know that research consistently shows the importance of printed images in the home? It helps fosters connection, boosts self esteem, enhances memory AND EVEN boosts emotional engagement. Pretty crazy right?
Plus we know those digital files aren’t truly safe in the cloud + there’s no real way for your children to take them out and look at them (I'm reminding myself how important this is for my kids as I type this!) While I do my best to back up my images in multiple places, sometimes hard drives just simply fail! Or the usb cords change making older tech completely obsolete.
Don’t worry I’m here to help! Below you’ll find some really cool and versatile ways to showcase your photos, fitting any style you have at home!
1 Loose Leaf Prints
This is one people don’t often consider now that everything is digital!
You can get images printed on normal paper, thicker paper (like a canvas), or even fancy paper with rough edges that look really cool. Display the loose leaf prints in a frame, on a little stand, or just lean them against something on a shelf. My kids love flipping through the little polaroid we have sitting around the house and talking about the memories contained in them.
If you love changing things up in your house, these are perfect. Plus, if you move a lot, they're easy to pack and take with you. The best part is you don’t have to think about layout or story telling, just print some favorites and jot a few notes on the back if you need help remembering what its about. It’s a modern day throwback to the shoe boxes of printed images my grandma had from getting her film developed.
A digitized print (oh the irony) of one of the aforementioned prints from grandmas shoe box!
2. Photo Album
They're not just for weddings anymore! They’re great for everything from the every day to special trips.
Albums are fantastic for birth photos, vacation snaps, and lifestyle family sessions. They tell a story, don't take up much space, and are perfect for those of us who prefer a cleaner look without too many photos on display.
My favorite thing about using albums to display family photos is they can double as interactive decor pieces. Sure they can go in a drawer for safe keeping, but if you display them open or on a coffee table this invites family and guests to flip through and relive those special moments.
And the best part? Kids love looking through them, and it's a fantastic way for them to connect with family history and stories.
I love to print mini albums of momentous trips especially when it involves our family that lives far away. This helps keep the memories fresh and our hearts close.
3. Statement Wall Prints
Did you know that a large, statement wall portrait can actually make a room look bigger? It's true! When you choose one large portrait instead of many smaller ones, it creates a focal point and gives the illusion of more space.
Pro tip: If you hang it a little lower than usual, around eye level, it makes the room feel cozier and more connected to the photo. If you want to make the room seem taller, hang it higher.
Imagine having a print like this of your family to display as artwork in your home!
For bedrooms, I prefer a collage of images! Both of my kids have these in their rooms and love falling asleep looking at them. We selected small squares and octagons to make it easy to add to the wall as we go.
Some of my favorite places for these pieces are:
Small woods - inexpensive large statement pieces/or gallery walls for your living spaces
Woodsnap - artistic wooden prints
Mpix- Great for regular prints OR metal statement pieces
4. Social Media Albums (like Chatbooks)
Let’s be honest, creating a full professional album for every single life event can be a LOT. Not to mention, sometimes you just want photos in an album from your day to day life.
That’s why I love services like Chatbooks to print life in between professional photography sessions!
Basically, Chatbooks takes your social media or phone photos and allows you to print them into small albums plus add captions (or use captions from social media.)
If you value your day to day photos but want to print them for your walls, this is the perfect solution.
For an album for special events or a little more flare try Artifact Uprising
Want an easy way to remember your fun day at the river? Make a little album the kids can carry around!
5. Digital frame
I like to think of digital frames as digital albums. They’re so versatile and work with any decor or set of photos!
If you’re like me, the grandparent are CONSTANTLY asking for copies of this image or that of your children. We’ve found Digital frames to be a handy way to send the images to them. They get surprise images showing up in their frame and the grandkids are regularly prompted to tell them stories about the images in the frame. It’s a great way to stay connected and keep the stories alive.
Pro tip: This might seem random, but you could even have a digital frame dedicated to showing off your kid’s artwork! If you’ve ever tossed a piece of art your kid made because you didn’t have the space to hang or store it, this is a great way to keep it alive and make your kids feel special, too.
I hope this gives you some fresh ideas on how to print and display photos from Gilbert Arizona Family Photography Session as well as those cherished day-to-day cell phone photos!
I make this process even easier for you by offer prints directly in your gallery. I even offer custom albums for those special sessions you want to keep out on display. Ready to get your session on the books so we can create some art for your home? Click here to learn more about my upcoming mini sessions in Gilbert or Here to begin booking your custom session.
Want to learn more about Keeping your images organized so that printint them is easier? Click here.
