Imagine a world with no photos. Imagine people hundreds of years ago never drew artwork, painted portraits, or even etched on the walls of caves. We would lose so much history because of the lack of physical pictures! It’s actually pretty crazy to think about, right?  

Now in this day of everything being digital, it’s becoming more and more normal to keep every photo, video and ultimately keepsakes on our phones! We take hundreds of photos a month on our phones and usually just let them sit there. Sure, maybe they get posted on Facebook or Instagram but then get forgotten!

I’m a busy mom and I bet you are too! You know how easy it is to let things like printing pictures sit at the very end of your to-do list– or probably not even make the cut on your to-do list in the first place!  In fact, I’m guilty of it too and I’ve been a photographer for over a decade!*

The thing is, even when we value something, if we don’t have incentive (or a deadline) we just don’t prioritize something. All the other pieces of our day to day life take over and before we know it, it’s been five years and those photos on the wall are extremely outdated. You may have even had a kid or two since then!

The Value of Printed Photos For Your Children’s Self-Esteem

When I first started in photography, I was primarily a wedding photographer and I often included albums in packages. Of course I saw the value in having a wedding album because that’s a special, once in a lifetime (hopefully) kind of day! I didn’t fully see the value of printed photos and albums around my house until I had my kids.

When I became a mom myself, that was when I really saw how wonderful it was to have printed photos for my daughters to see! Printing baby albums of my first daughter made me realize how much she loved thumbing through them and seeing herself or her sister as a baby. It not only shows our family history to her, but having something specially printed with HER photos in it is a great self-esteem boost!

According to an article from the Huffpost, Judy Weisera, a psychologist, art therapist and author based in Vancouver, says a printed family photo “lets children learn who they are and where they fit… When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.’”

When kids can prominently see photos of them on the walls of their home, they feel included, valued and loved. They shouldn’t have to go the extra step to view it on a phone or device; it should be proudly displayed!  There is also evidence that having tactile photos creates a different kind of sensory experience than simply seeing it on a computer. It is likened to a child being able to touch and feel a book vs. just seeing it over a shoulder

Printed Photos Are More than Pictures, They’re Heirlooms

These pictures are precious reminders of your kids and loved ones over the years. These are the treasures you can pass on to your kids and grandkids as memories. And as they grow older, these will be the keepsakes they hold onto when they want to see your smiling face after you’re gone. 

In a fast-paced society where moments blur together in a digital stream of posts on social media, printed pictures encourage mindful reflection and gratitude. Taking the time to actually look through printed photos allows us to slow down, pause and reminisce over past milestones and family traditions. They have the power to bring us back to a certain moment and remember the stories behind the picture or special day.

Even just the act of sharing printed pictures fosters intimate connections and shared experiences among loved ones. From flipping through family photo albums to exchanging prints with friends (much like a Christmas card), the physical exchange of photographs strengthens bonds and connects you to others.

How I Can Help You Make Printing Photos Easy

I’m a busy mom of 2 and totally understand how easy it is let months (or years) go by without updating our gallery wall or always say “I’ll get to printing that baby album soon”!

I’m a photographer for crying out loud, but sometimes it just doesn’t get done in a timely manner! But where I lack, I can make up for it by helping YOU get your photos printed and in your hands within a month of receiving your gallery. 

How? By giving you incentive and a time limit!  Isn’t that what we all need to get tasks done?

With any and every one of my collections, you’ll get a generous amount of print credit to use within your personal online store. Depending on the collection, you’ll get anywhere from $150-$450 worth of credit to use on any item! Consider it a gift certificate from me to you to not only ensure you’ll walk away with physical prints, but right after the shoot– not a year later when you finally get around to it!

Within each gallery, you’ll see a shop button where you can find all the products I have to offer. PicTime is the gallery service I currently use, and I really love how they layout the galleries and the store. It’s a smart gallery, so it will autofill photos from your own session into the product previews to see what your photos will look like! 

My Favorite Print Products

Some of my favorite products in the store include the matted frames and the albums! I personally have an album, frame, linen keepsake box of prints and some prints in my own frames as well. I appreciate all the forms and uses for each.

I personally love having a symmetrical gallery wall of family photos near the entrance of our home. I pass it all on the time to go up and down the stairs and it always makes me smile when I take a moment to gaze at the memories on the wall. Sometimes it starts to blend in and that’s when you know it’s time to update with some photos!

One fun thing I’d suggest doing with your photos is make a calendar! It’s a great way to get 12 of your favorite photos printed and it’s also practical. Not to mention, a fun gift for Mother’s Day, a parent's birthday or Christmas present.  

 How to Choose Which Products to Buy for your Home

Before diving into print options, take a moment to assess your space and existing décor. Consider the color scheme, furniture style, and overall ambiance of the room where you intend to display your prints. Is this for your living room, hallway or nursery? By aligning your print choices with your existing décor, you can create a cohesive look in your home. 

There are black, white and natural and dark wood options for frames. If you’re looking for a sleek presentation, I just introduced acrylic prints!  These have a thin, modern look and offer a cool way to display your photos. Or maybe you’re more traditional and would love a canvas print to add to an existing gallery wall.  

But maybe you recently got new photos printed for your walls in your living room and don’t intend to change them annually!  First, consider if there is a room that needs a refresh or a hallway that has been bare for a while. This would be a chance to update there!

Or perhaps, you’d rather get something more low profile, like a keepsake box for loose prints or a coffee table album (or shelf album for those with really young kids)! My top pick is choosing  an album so you can get ALL your favorite photos from your session in a book and it’s easy to store. Then you can look back each year at a sort of family yearbook! 

When you Print Photos, Size Does Matter

What you really need to consider first is where this print is going. Will it be over your sofa or on a desk? Furthermore, think about the orientation of the photo you are getting. If it’s a vertical photo you want over your sofa, you’ll probably want to get 2-3 side by side to really fill the space. There’s nothing worse than getting a print and hanging it up only to see it swallowed up by the room around it!  I’ve done this before– learn from me!

I understand it’s most cost effective to opt for the smaller size prints, like 5x7 or 8x10, but when you actually put that size on a wall, it really does look pretty small on its own!  Unless you are adding or creating a gallery wall of multiple prints, I recommend getting AT LEAST 11x14 sizes and up.  Take note that some items I sell (or that you may find elsewhere) will say an 11x14 frame, but the print size will be smaller because there will be a mat around it. 

I’m always available for questions or to offer help choosing what’s going to be the perfect fit for your family! If you’re thinking about finally committing to family heirlooms, please get in touch! 

Let’s make it happen!

* Feature from Adrian Harrison Photography