How should I print my photos? The best product ideas and advice from professional photographers.

There was once a time when the idea of walking away from your professional photography session with a USB of digital photos was the dream. Yes! We would take that little memory stick straight down to our local department store and order cheap and cheerful prints for every grandparent who wanted one (and even those who didn’t). Heck, while we’re there we might even whip up a budget canvas too. Even better? The day we worked out we could order them ONLINE and have them shipped straight to our mailbox. Praise be.

 

 

For those of us who couldn’t zip down to Big W or Kmart that week, the job was put on our gonna-gonna list. You know the one … the list that you’re gonna get to one day. You may recognise it as the one that features tasks along the lines of  “Call other insurance companies for a cheaper price.” and “Deep clean the oven.” Yeah, the one-day-I’m-gonna-print-my-photos promise. Unfortunately we all know what happens to the tasks that are put on that list. Yeah, they’re not gonna-gonna happen any time soon.

 

The sad reality is that so many of us have had beautiful images taken over the years that have never seen the light of day. Or if we did get around to ordering them at our local department store (while grabbing a pair of new undies, more towels we don’t need, 3 candles, a yoga mat, unicorn slippers and a present for that kid’s birthday party this weekend), your prints may have turned out little green, grey, red, overexposed or chopped weirdly by the 17 year old casual on the guillotine.

 

There is something that we can all agree on though, right?

We all WANT our images printed some way or another.

 

In today’s digital age where we often view photographs on screens, there’s something undeniably special about holding a physical print in your hands or hanging a beautifully framed piece on your wall. That’s usually the whole point of having a professional photo session. To actually look at the photos in real life – somewhere. It just seems to be the printing-them part that most of us either don’t do, don’t do right, or don’t quite know how and where to do it.

You know who CAN help you? Yeah, you know.

 

Your photographer!

 

 

There’s a lot of great reasons why asking your photographer to help you create wall art or print items for your images is a solid idea.

1. They have access to the Pro Labs. The ones who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on fancy printing equipment and spend every day printing beautiful photographs in exactly the way they were intended to be viewed.
2. They know all of the amazing products available. There’s more to professional printing these days than just canvases and lustre prints!
3. They will guarantee the quality! Your products are going to be next-level gorgeous. No wonky cuts or dodgy colours. 
4. They can help you decide what to print. They know what images will look good at what size, on what wall of your home, in what coloured frame and more.

 

The cons?

Well, of course you’re gonna-gonna be paying more … and that decision is up to you. There’s no right or wrong answer to this bit. You get what you pay for and we all know that. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the decision to print at your local department store, heck we’ve done it at times too (when image quality wasn’t the priority). But there’s no point getting sad about the look and longevity of your products when you’ve paid peanuts for them.

So what kind of products can you expect your professional photographer to recommend?

Take a moment to look through this collection of stunning wall art and print products that some of our featured photographers have on offer. You might find something you’ve never seen before or come across the exact style you’ve been wanting to hang on your walls for years!

Oh, and don’t put it on your gonna-gonna list. Because we all know how that works out. Click on the website link of your favourite photographer below and book that shoot, order those prints and hang them on your walls – today!

 

ACRYLIC BLOCKS

Have you seen these before? You might find them in your photographer’s product guide as Acrylic Blocks or Lumi Tiles. They have been such a popular choice in recent years due to their stunning glass-look finish without the fragility. We love them printed in sets and displayed on a hallway table or shelf. The best part is that they are stand alone products so no wall mounting or easels required. If you’re after a gift with a bit of wow-factor, acrylic blocks are a great option. Display them in front of a window for extra sparkle.

MATTED PRINTS & HEIRLOOM BOXES

Classic and beautiful. A crisp, white, matted print is always a winner. What we love the most about these stunning print options is the versatility. We’ve seen them displayed in frames, on mini easels, pegged to display lines and more. Many photographers provide a set of matted prints in an heirloom box which we absolutely adore. We’re a sucker for the beautiful natural wood options but you can also find them in leather, linen and other fabrics.

FINE ART ALBUMS

When you can’t decide what images to print from your professional photography session, the very best solution is of course a fine art heirloom album! The quality of these beautiful albums are beyond words, with images printed across the entire page on stunning matte fine art paper. What we love about albums is that you can relive every moment of your session, page by page. Many photographers even offer these adorable matching mini albums too! Grandma’s gonna love it!

GLASS FRONT PRINT REVEAL BOXES

If you love the idea of a collection of matted prints that you can display in a safe and stunning way in your home, these glass front reveal boxes are a gorgeous option. Available in a variety of colours, fabrics and sizes, you can store between 10 and 30 matted prints inside and switch the image on display whenever you’re in the mood for a new look. We love a stand alone print product that you can display anywhere around the house.

GLASSLESS FRAMED CANVAS PRINTS

Glassless frames are such a great print product! If you love the look and feel of canvas but are also partial to the classic design of a framed print, this combination could very well be the answer to all of your prayers. These beautiful products are lightweight and non reflective like canvas prints that are then displayed in the more formal presentation of a framed print. Yes please! It’s basically a combination of the best features of canvas and framed prints in one.

OTHER FRAMED PRINTS

While we are on the topic of framing, you may not be aware of the variety of ways your images can be printed and displayed in this traditional form. Of course, a straight up classic lustre print with matting is always a great option. If you are interested in something different with a bit more wow-factor, your photographer may offer a variety of paper types, floated images, torn edge features and more. Oh and different timbers or frame materials too!

 

PRO PRINT & USB COLLECTION

Now remember when we started this article, we implied that the days of the USB were numbered. But don’t get us wrong – while we definitely don’t suggest printing your images yourself at your local department store, we know that there are so many other ways that you might like to use your digital files (even if it is just to update your Facebook profile image). The great news is that lots of photographers off this luster prints + USB combo. Often a gorgeous display like the one featured below houses all of your prints (unmatted) with a special spot to secure your memory stick.

 

HOW TO CHOOSE?

It’s not going to be easy. Who knew there were so many gorgeous professional products out there?! The great news is that you don’t have to be the one making all of the decisions. That’s why you hire a professional. Your photographer is not just there to take the photos! You will find that most photographers these days offer a full service experience, which includes helping you design the artwork for your home!

If you’re having trouble working out what image will look great at what size, in what type of moulding or on what paper, just ask! Should you have a stand alone print or a collection? Just ask! Maybe you’re better off going with an album but how many pages will you need? Just ask! Your photographer will have a signature collection of products that they offer and will help you make the best decisions.

Professional photography is an investment! We often spend so much time perfecting the outfits and the photos – don’t let it stop there. Take home the print products of your dreams that will make you smile every time you look at them.