Can I tell you a secret? I am so bad about having my pictures printed and displayed. We actually had a photography session while we were up in Vermont last summer and we haven’t even had any of those printed yet.
So, since it’s snowing and we’re stuck inside anyway, let’s talk about prints and frames. I am on a mission this year, to print and display more of my work – and I want to encourage you to do the same. Photos don’t serve any purpose just sitting on a DVD or hard drive – get your favorites printed so they can be enjoyed!!
Most of my paid sessions are all-inclusive, meaning I include a USB with the final images and a print release. But I also send my clients an online gallery from which they can order professional products. Why, you ask? A quick Google search of store prints vs professional prints will bring up hundreds of comparisons, but I have also done a quick one for you. On the top is the digital file; on the left, an example of a print from one of my trusted lab partners (Miller’s on their gorgeous ‘True Black and White’ paper) and on the right, Target. What stands out to me the most in the Target print is how overly sharp it appears to be, as well as a bluish color cast.
What you can’t see, is there is also a different in the feel of the paper – store prints are thin and flimsy while professional prints are not. I agree those one-hour print places serve a purpose, but I always recommend purchasing professional prints for display pieces or as gifts. When you invest so much into your session, you should also invest in the prints so they can be viewed how they are meant to be. It’s like…
- buying a $1500 pedigree dog and feeding it Beneful. (me)
- ordering a filet mignon well done. (Ruthie S)
- going to Disney but not paying the entrance fee to the parks. (Jessica B)
- buying a formal gown at Neiman Marcus and letting your girl scout daughter hem it for you. (Lisa S)
- making a nice meal or beautiful dessert and serving it on a flimsy paper plate with a plastic fork. (Amelia S)
- getting your hair professionally highlighted and then spray painting it. (Angie K)
- buying a bottle of Cristal and drinking it warm and flat. (Jolene W)
- buying Champagne and drinking it in plastic glasses. (Juliette F)
Thank you to my fellow ClickinMoms for the analogy help! I also guarantee results when you order professional products from my trusted labs, for contrast, color, and longevity – archival paper is intended to last 150+ years! So have your favorites professionally printed so the next generations can enjoy them for years to come.
After you’ve decided on prints, you need to consider frames. Save the square corners for Instagram! Most know Second Ave Photography is an authorized retailer for The Organic Bloom. You do not need to be a Second Ave Photography client or even local to purchase these frames from me. Made out of Trupan MDF, they use a CNC Router to cut the frames, which helps keep up with the demand so most orders are shipped within a week. They offer 17 different frame shapes & 3 different styles (Single, Double & Twin). After the frames are cut, they are sent over to our paint shop where they are hand painted by a great team of painters. There are 53 Organic Bloom colors and they can custom paint any frame in any Benjamin Moore color. My personal favorite Organic Bloom product is their beautiful ornaments; the twine is stapled to the back, so they can actually be hung on the wall and displayed all year round and are perfect even if you don’t have a Christmas tree.
These in-stock frames are on sale for $25 each (regularly $45) and can hold either a 2×3 or 3×3 picture.
An example of how lovely the frame looks on a Christmas tree.
For collages, I like Poppy Tree Frames. They are all 100% wood and hand made to order, so processing does take a significant amount of time, but you can order from them directly as opposed to through a retailer. It took about a month from when I placed my order for this to ship to me – but it was well worth the wait, because I am so in love! The color (Robin’s Nest) is lovely and the design is perfect for these monthly images of my girls. The center photo here is 11×14 and the surrounding photos are 5×7, so not hard-to-find or particularly large sizes, but the frame still makes a big statement.
I also have a dedicated Pinterest board to wall display inspiration. I hope this post encourages you to print some of your pictures this year! Happy printing 🙂
