Family photos: the number one way to personalize your home, and the number one request I receive from clients – how to incorporate family photos in a stylish way. Personal photos add to the story of your home, and they can be great conversation starters with visitors.
Did you also know that displaying your family photos has certain benefits for you and your kids? I asked Breanne from Heima Photography to contribute her opinion on the importance of printing and displaying your family photos – read on for more and for ways to display photos in a chic, tangible way in your home.
You just had your family photos taken...now what?
Let’s talk about that family session you’ve just had. You know, the one you bought those new outfits for, that you had such incredible weather for, and that captured the most beautiful moments with the ones you love the most? You’ve reviewed and enjoyed a first look with your digital portrait gallery, but you’re not done yet. What’s next?
You need to experience your portraits tangibly. (and I don’t just say that because I am a photographer!).
Think about those times when you find an old box of photos. What happens? You become lost in memory-land. In fact, you might sit for an hour before you realize how much time has passed – reliving those old memories. Experiencing your memories tangibly is extremely powerful. Seeing your family in print, day in and day out, will change you + your children.
What the research says about displaying family photos...
Research shows that children who see family portraits around their home feel more belonging and confidence. When you are surrounded with beautiful memories of those you love most, it reinforces that you have a place and story. It reminds your children how loved and celebrated they are. It emphasizes how meaningful family is.
Best Advice from a Photographer:
Make a plan for printing your portraits. Be intentional about it. Start thinking about how you want your memories to live in your space BEFORE you even have the photos.
- Get your portraits into print ASAP. The longer you wait, the more of a chance it won’t happen (or they will be so out of date by the time you get around to it!)
- Most importantly: Don’t be afraid to outsource the task. If you know that your life is busy, if you know you have the best intentions but either know you won’t be able to do it, or would like to have it done for you – ask your photographer about what products they offer and outsource! A professional photographer not only has access to heirloom-quality, gorgeous print products that are unavailable to the general consumer, but that’s literally what they are here for – to capture beautiful memories and get them into your hands and home.
A great starting place...
- Albums are powerful at storytelling. As opposed to a few images on your wall, an album features all the big moments, strung together with the little, more subtle details. Albums are also a great way to have many portraits printed without having to choose between a few. They are also irresistible – how can you not pick it up and flip through again and again.
- Wall Art – there are endless options when it comes to getting your portraits on the walls of your home. Framed, matted. prints to canvasses… there are so many walls to bring your beautiful memories to right into the heart of your home. My wall art orders are all custom-made and planned out with my clients to match their vision and home style
- Keepsake box: having all your prints encased in a beautiful heirloom box enables you to have all of your memories printed, and ready to flip through without hunting for that tub in your storage room. Simple and subtle, you can store on your coffee table or bookshelf without decision making, nails or a hammer.
Stylish Ways to Display Your Family Photos
Ok, so now that you know WHY you should print your photos (thank you SO much for that, Breanne), here are a few ways you can display them in your home, in a stylish, modern way!
The Modern Grid Wall
Do you have a large blank wall? A grid of family photos can be the perfect solution to fill in that empty space. For the perfect size grid wall, take your wall length and height, and divide it by 2/3. This will give you the ideal height x width you have to use for frames. Then take how many rows/frames you want, and divide it to get your ideal frame size!
A Photo Ledge
Photo ledges are a fantastic way to display family photos. You can mix in pieces of art, and you can vary the heights and sizes of the frames for more of a laid-back, casual feeling. The trick to keeping a photo ledge feeling effortless is to stick to similar style frames.
As Wall Art
If you have a talented photographer like, Breanne, your family photos ARE art! And so what better what to display your favourite portrait then as an enlarged print! They make a statement, are more minimalist than a gallery wall, and let you add that personal touch to your home. As Breanne mentioned, your photographer has amazing access to printing resources – ask how they can help you!
We hope we convinced you on why it’s a good idea to display your family photos, and how to do so in a modern way! And thanks to Breanne for sharing her knowledge on the topic – if you need or are looking for an absolutely wonderful photographer, reach out to Breanne at Heima Photography. (ps. she always does branding photos for my small biz friends out there!)
If you have a space that needs a little facelift or a full makeover, I’d love to give you a hand. Send me an email or check out my services page.
