Why We Need to Print our Cherished Photos

Choosing prints can often be overwhelming- even when picking small prints. Which pictures should be printed? What size print is best? Where to put them? This can lead to a delayed decision and often no print at all. Here are just a few ways to make a better decision and a compelling reason why printing your favorite pictures should be a must.

• A print isn’t just a flash across your screen as you scroll, it’s a moment captured in tangible form.
• You are curating your favorite memories, gifting them, and sharing them as something tangible that will last.
• Digital files can get lost or corrupted over time. The quality can deteriorate, a print is the best way to create an archive. Even cloud storage can no longer be available and cost more than your prints over time.
• You get to enjoy your photos everyday and, when you are ready, you can change them out for a new memory.
• Older prints can easily be stored in an archival keepsake box to help record the legacy of your family.

What Size Print is Best for Family Portraits?

What size print you need largely depends on what you plan to do with your print. Do you want a statement piece on your wall? A small frame to add to others on the mantle or a group of photos in a gallery? Is this a close-up picture of your child’s face or perhaps a landscape of her running through a field, some pictures should be printed different sizes.

For a statement piece, your print should be 16×20, 20×30, 30×40 or larger. Add a frame and mat and you have  breathtaking artwork that will be admired for years to come. This should be a picture that makes you smile, a moment in time for your family and compliments your home. This is a great way to anchor your gallery wall with a signature piece.

Midsized prints, 11×14 or 8×10, can work on the wall if they are framed with a mat to make them look larger, or paired in a gallery. Several midsized framed prints can be a great way to add to a gallery wall over the years.

Smaller prints, 5×7 or 4×6 prints, are perfect as gifts to grandparents who are running out of wall space or to add to your office desk or bookshelf. It’s also a great way to archive your favorite images for a keepsake box.

Don’t hesitate to ask which picture should be printed at what size, often the aspect ratio of a photo can be best suited for a certain size print and you don’t want to have to eliminated a loved one or little hands from your final frame because of a difficult crop. If you are putting a smaller print on a wall, make sure it is a close-up picture. Wide landscapes require a larger print, otherwise the details can be lost to the viewer.

Although digital images are a great way to keep every moment of your photo session, make sure to print your favorites for prosperity. That’s why every collection offered with Twirl Photography includes a set of archival prints to hang on your wall, give as a gift or add to your keepsake box of memories.