How to Display your photos

Now that you have your CD and know where to print your photos, what size and how to hang them? 

The first thing you need to think about is where you want to display your photos.  Once you decide that you need to decide on your size.  Yes an 8x10 or 11x14 sounds big but in reality they are actually pretty small when you put them up on a wall.  See example below.

Now you have your location and an idea about size, now you need to decide if you want just one large photo or several photos to show off your entire photo session.  Here are a few layouts to consider.

Just remember to display your photos so you can enjoy them and do not print them too small.  Bigger is always better!

Feel free to share you wall displays with us or ask any questions you may have.  Enjoy!

What to Wear for Fall Mini Session

Ok you have booked your Fall Mini Session, now the task of picking out the wardrobe.  Don't worry.  Remember to dress like your normal selves so everyone is comfortable.

Here are a few tips to help you decide what to wear:

1. Decide on a Color Scheme
The first thing I ask when someone seeks advice on colors to wear, I ask where they plan to hang the portraits in their home, and what colors are in that room. For some people, this doesn’t make a difference. But for others, if they plan to hang the prints in their family room that is painted red and black, and you plan to wear orange and brown, it won’t work very well. If your room is neutral (like mine) and you’d like some color pop from the portraits, and you just need help deciding on colors, here are a few thoughts.

2. Select one focal piece
If you have a color palette in mind, or even if you don’t…shop around to find one patterned piece that you love. It can be a little girls floral dress or a boys plaid shirt, but if you find one central piece, it helps to plan everything around that. Since us moms like our kids to be the focal point, I’d suggest this focus piece to be on one of the children (not an adult). That doesn’t mean that they will stand out the most, after accessorizing (my next  point) it will all flow together.

3. Pick 3
It’s a good idea to pick 3 colors to work with as your main colors, then consider grays, whites, blacks, or browns as freebie’s. Not necessarily all of them together, but one or two that work with the 3 colors you chose.

4. Layers & Accessories
Cardigan, necklace, headband, scarf, button up shirt, tights, hats, ties. Layers & accessories add dimension, pizazz, fun, texture and therefore richness to the overall look. In the past, I have had the problem of purchasing all of these in my color palette (while keeping the receipts very close by) and once I have the clothing planned out, start throwing in accessories to see what works. If I have 2 girls, they don’t both get yellow headbands, but one yellow and  one blue to spread out the colors. If you notice on my boys in the image above, they both have undershirts to provide another layer. Boys have fever options when it comes to layers (and seem more difficult to dress). I often try to put my 2 boys in two types of shirts and layer them differently. One a button up with t-shirt underneath, the other a polo type with T underneath and maybe sleeves rolled up into each other. Below, I found a vest that fit.

5. Mom’s, don’t give yourself the leftovers
You know how some moms will go around the dinner table and make sure everyone has all of their food situated before they sit down, and then their food is cold? Don’t be that mom when it comes to clothing for your family portraits. Don’t pick everyone else’s out, then just grab something from your closet that only looks “ok” on you, but matches the color scheme. You need to feel AWESOME in your family pictures! If anything, I’d pick something that you think looks fabulous on you, then plan around THAT!  It’s tough enough to get mothers IN pictures, so when you are in them, you want to feel and look good!

6. Split up the colors
If I’ve got 6 people in my family, and have selected 3 main colors, I don’t want all of those colors on top, nor to the people that are close in age–I want to split them up. I want to weigh some color towards the bottom in one or two of them as well.  I do this with shoes, skirts, and pants. There are so many more options now with those fun colorful jeans. I did also purchase a pair of red converse for my son for our pictures last December that hasn’t been worn much since–but darn-it they looked awesome in the picture!  You aren’t just investing in a photographer, but in the clothing to enhance your awesome family.

7. Lay it on the floor
Once you have gathered items in the colors you’ve picked, I try to find a spot in my home that I can keep it all out. I like to lay the pieces on the floor, and look at it from afar, take a picture of it.

8. Split up the pairs
If you have natural pairs in the family: mom and dad, Brothers, sisters, Mom and baby, try to split up the colors, as they will often be standing near each other. When I have babies, I know I will want to be holding them (helps me look thinner) so I see my baby as my “pair” and aim to not dress us alike. My husband is my obvious other pair, and as the two tallest, I have to make sure he and I are also not “matchy-matchy.” This part can get complicated, so do your best, then let it go!  Hopefully the photographer will notice this and split everyone according to the colors. But ultimately, the natural/candid shots that I like to take won’t be so planned out.

10. Plan ahead
Make sure you start this planning when you book your session (hopefully a few weeks before it takes place). Be thinking of it, look around in your home/closets, shop well in advance so you aren’t stressing at the last minute.

Here are a few samples wardrobes:

 

 

Just remember to be comfortable and have fun!!!

 

 

So you've had your photo session; now what do you do with your images.

Before you view the images from your session you should think about how you would like to display them and where you want to display them. Those two things will determine what you should tell your photographer you are looking for at your viewing session.

Are you looking for a print to put on your desk at work, hang on the wall in your home, an album to set out or tote around or would you like a collection of prints. Do you want to hang images at work, family room, bedroom, grandma house, etc. All of these things will play into your decision.

Once you have an idea of how and where you would like to display your photos, be sure to go over with your photographer at your viewing session so they can help you choose images to best fit your needs. A nice way to show off images and fill up that empty wall you have in your home is to do a wall display. This can be a couple pictures to a whole wall of pictures.

Here are a few different layout ideas.

 

 

 

For your wall display you can use framed prints, canvases, gallery wraps or stand-out images.  Each will provide a different look/feel to your display.

 

Another thing to consider is image size.  The above templates have sizes listed but you need to visualize a size in your home.  When you say 16x20 people think that is huge, but when you put it on a wall behind a sofa it doesn't seem quite so big anymore.  Here is an image that shows how the different sizes look on a wall.

 

 



Just remember, these are your memories for years to come.  It is an investment and will be one of the very few purchases that you will still have in 15, 20 years, or even a lifetime.  Choose wisely and be proud of the images of your family and share them with everyone who comes into your home.

Size Does Matter

If like many people you struggle to know what image size would be good for a wall presentation then this blog post is for you.

A 8x10 image is typically seen as a standard enlargement size for most people however if you look at the image below, you will start to get a sense of just how small a 8x10 image is, particularly if you intend to purchase this size print for a wall presentation. 8x10 images work well for framed desk prints but you have to start thinking a whole lot bigger if you intend to display images on your wall to create a visual impact.

Choosing the right size portrait for your wall will be dependant upon the available wall space you have to fill & obviously it also depends on what image configuration you would like & the end result you are aiming to achieve. If you are choosing 3 images to be presented together for instance then you may be able to go with 3 slightly smaller images. Of course if you are are going for a single image above a fireplace or sofa then you really need to be looking at the bigger enlargements as explained.

I am happy to offer any of my clients advice regarding image presentation, so if you are unsure of how to present images from your session please let me know.  I offer a range of beautifully selected products which are carefully created by skilled craftsmen using high quality materials, so you can rest assured that you will be receiving a quality product that will last for years to come.

Here are some example layouts as well: