So much has changed in the past 30 years since I started my career as a photographer, namely, digital images. We all love them, but a huge downside to those many digital pictures on our camera and computers is prints are now a rarity. It’s easy to forget the value of a tangible memory in our family’s lives. But as a New Orleans newborn and family photographer, there is nothing more rewarding than delivering not only the digital images, but a timeless work of art. There’s something so special about holding a photograph in your hands and it’s even better to see it in your home everyday. Yet, it can often feel overwhelming to figure out how to display family portraits in your home.
I recently celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. We had so many wonderful digital images from our wedding photographer, but after all these years, I couldn’t begin to tell you which dusty old hard drive they are on let alone if the drive would still work. BUT, we have a gorgeous album of the highlights from our wedding. Twenty years ago the last thing on my mind was how to share this time with my family to come. Time marches on however. Sitting with our two kids flipping through our wedding album recently, laughing about old memories and styles, was the best anniversary gift.
From the moment you bring home your baby, everything changes. Including the amount of photos you will start taking. Soon your phone and computer will be bursting with these memories, and although you don’t need to print each one, it’s a good idea to get a few of your favorites as a tangible product so you can look back with your growing child someday. There is nothing better than family photo art work in your home. Not only will these beautiful photos remind you during the hard days of parenting (we all have them!) how much you love your children, but kids love looking at themselves as they grow up.
Research has shown that kids that grow up with lots of pictures of their family in their home are more self-assured and confident. Not only do children remember a happy time looking at old photos, but they feel linked to others. “By displaying photographs of our children at different stages of their lives, we are making a very public statement that we are proud of them,” according to Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of the School of Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester. Read two articles here about how family photographs can help develop a child’s positive self image and the health benefits of displaying family photos at home.
So how do you start displaying some of these fabulous family photos? Here are some easy steps to take those digital photos off of your phone and old hard drives and turn them into priceless heirlooms passed down for generations. From albums and print boxes to framed print for your home, there is something for every home.
Table of Contents
Albums & Print Boxes
Albums
Albums are perfect for telling the story of your family with multiple photos, preserving special moments in a keepsake that can be shared together for years to come. They look beautiful on a coffee table or in a bookshelf and as mentioned above, they are a great way to share pictures over the years with your growing child.
Photographer’s Tip: The best part is an album can match your design atheistic with the array of cover materials including neutral linens, warm and rich leathers, pastel and airy linens and rich velvets. Or you can do a modern soft-cover book with a photo cover. With a professional photo lob, your photos are archival prints on thick, lay-flat-pages and can hold multiple photos from your family session!
Print Boxes
If you like alternating your photos in your home and having flexibility in how you display your portraits, a print box might be perfect for you. A beautiful linen box filled with your matted or loose prints is a great way to keep your favorite family photos in a tangible way if you don’t have a lot of wall space. It’s also easy to place on a grandparent or child’s lap and let them smile through the memories.
My family has several print boxes where we can grab a photo for whatever comes up like a school event. The glass box that shows off our latest prints sits proudly on our coffee table.
Framed Single Prints & Gallery Walls
Framed Single Prints
There is nothing more timeless, elegant and versatile as a framed single print. It can be a striking focal point to any room. A large framed print can make an entrance pop where a small framed print can invite a guest to step up and take in a memory. Frames can be elegant, modern, whimsical or even bolts through acrylic. Whatever your home aesthetic, this is an easy way to get family photos up on your wall.
Gallery Walls
This is by far my favorite photo trend, designing your walls with art of your family over the years. There are so many ways to start small and build it over time, whether it’s in a stairway or a hallway, your kids will love looking at themselves grow up. It’s also possible to build a gallery wall that includes older family photos and art work that fit with your home aesthetic.
Some of the most beautiful gallery walls mix frame sizes and shapes for a more curated, personal feel. And even if you run out of room on your wall, more recent photos can be added by changing out an older photo and keeping the frame and placement. And don’t be afraid to mix your canvas photos in with your classically framed print for your home.
Check out this great article about How to Create a Gallery Wall Guide by Crate and Barrel
Framed Canvas Prints & Other Unique Displays
Framed Canvas Prints
What a show stopper a framed canvas print can be in your home. Float framed in wood or metal, a canvas print can add rich texture in your home in any size. A large framed canvas can feel contemporary and artistic in your front entry way or in the nursery. Where a smaller petite framed canvas is gorgeous on a bookshelf or nightstand and a great way to display family photo art work.
Framed Acrylic Prints
If you love a glossy and vibrant work of art that feels modern, the framed acrylic prints are perfect for your home. These come in smaller size for a bookshelf or to add into your gallery wall, but at any size this is a fun way to keep your family photo art work modern. Sitting under crystal clear acrylic, your favorite photo sits in a float frame of wood or metal. It’s beyond gorgeous and as a New Orleans family photographer, I find the mix of modern with the architecture of older New Orleans homes a great mix.
Holiday, Senior and Announcement Cards
Do you love receiving cards in the mail? Something tangible with a photo and sweet note either announcing a family’s new baby, the milestone of a senior or an updated family photo is a great gift to the ones you love and yourself. I’ve been in homes where the baby announcement from a loved one is still proudly displayed on a refrigerator for years. And many families love to take out old holiday cards each year and frame them on their mantel for decoration. Check out my guide for the best places to order your photo holiday cards!
With the customer to print options online, it’s become even easier to have fun with your family photos. Create memory games and story books for your children at one of my favorite online print companies Pinhole Press. You can also create custom wallpaper at Rebel Walls. And don’t forget how amazing a digital frame can be, you can even select them to update to your iPhone and stay current.
How to Display Family Portraits in Your Home
Proudly displaying your favorite family photos in your home is a wonderful way to give your children a sense of belonging and pride, and will remind them they are loved and celebrated. Not to mention that every time you walk by their cute, laughing chubby cheeks you will be reminded of why you do the hard work of parenting everyday.
Making sure your family photo art work is a part of your design atheistic is easier than you think with the many ways you can create a moment in your home with your photos. From a gorgeous frame print for your home to albums and print boxes perfect for your coffee table or bookshelf.
If you’re ready to add new family portraits to your existing gallery wall or get that first beautiful piece of art work of your family to proudly display as you welcome a newborn, reach out and let’s talk about what you want to remember about who your child is today!
