How To: Display Your Photos

Okay, so you paid for a professional photographer to take your photo. You figured out a time that works for everyone’s schedule, you dressed up, put your face on, organized the kids, dragged your husband along, and… it was TOTALLY worth it. You love the pictures and really want to show them off. So what do you do? Do you buy the digital files, upload them to Facebook and then forget about them? Do you buy a couple prints and send them off to grandma and grandpa? Or do you really make them a part of your home? Maybe you want to make them a part of your home decor, but don’t know how. If that’s the case, then today is your lucky day! In this post I’m going to show you some neat ways you can show off your favorite family photos.

I love my photos and I treat them like art in my house. You’re probably thinking “Of course you do, YOU’RE A PHOTOGRAPHER!” Well, yes, that’s true. However, I also REALLY love my friends and family and love being able to show them off. Being a photographer, I also know that there are tons of different photo products you can buy to show off your favorite pictures. Here at OMG, I sell framed photos, canvases, bamboo wall mounts, fabric wall clings, and custom albums to my clients. I also have all of these photo products in various places throughout my home and studio. (You can see pictures of these displays below.) Figuring out where and how to display your photos can be a daunting task. So, to help you out, I’ve listed some things for you to think about the next time you want to share your photos:

Think about how you’d like to display your photos BEFORE booking a photographer. This can be a huge time (and money) saver. Do you have a big empty wall you’d like to fill up? Are you looking to invest in a big statement making piece? Are you a scrap-booker and really want to purchase a lot of smaller prints to keep you busy for those evenings spent scrapping? Do you want a keepsake book you can pass down to your grandchildren? I can pretty much guarantee you that there is a photo product out there that will fill your needs… whatever they are!

Think about WHERE you’d like to display the photos too! Is the room more traditional or kind of funky? Would color photos work better or black and white? (This will also help you in deciding what to wear on your photo shoot… but that’s for a later blog post.)

Don’t be afraid to go BIG! In other words, get out of your 8×10 cell! Little prints are great. They are nice gifts to send to the grandparents or to put on your desk at work. But when it comes to displaying them in your home, don’t be afraid to get a BIG photo! In my studio, for instance, I invested in a 60×80 wall cling of one of my wedding couples for behind my couch. (You can see the photo below.) It’s always a conversation starter and it makes a huge impact on the rest of the room. Every time I have people over they always want to know about it and how to order one for themselves! Here’s another photographer that did a GREAT post on why bigger is better!

You should view your photograph purchase as you’d view an investment in a bold painting or a solid piece of craftsman-built furniture. It’s always tempting to be timid – to spend less on an innocuous little 8” x 10” print that most people won’t notice and that you’ll probably take down in a year. But don’t think small: Seize the opportunity to use your photo session to create a piece of home décor that celebrates your family the way they deserve to be celebrated.

And, finally, don’t be afraid to ask. I know I’ve said it before, but don’t be afraid to ask your photographer what they would recommend. As a photographer, we’re the professionals and should know how to help you get a product that you are thrilled to show off! I’ve even been known to go to a client’s house and check out the space they’d like to decorate with photos.

In the end I really just want my clients to be happy. I want them to show off their photos and be proud of their new art… maybe even proud enough to share them beyond their Facebook wall.

Happy Monday, everyone! Now go decorate!