Discover Creative Ways to Print and Display Your Photographs
Is your phone holding hundreds if not thousands of photos that you almost never look back at? Ok, there might be a bunch of identical ones with a bad focus and a dozen screenshots you forgot to delete, but somewhere in there are some true gems. And these precious moments deserve more than being stuck between your breakfast burrito picture and that screenshot of the chocolate chip cookie recipe you plan on making. So, why not have your photos printed and displayed instead of leaving them in digital purgatory?
Why Photo Printing Still Matters?
In today’s swipe-happy, cloud-storage society, photo printing can seem as necessary as having a fax machine. But that’s not really true. There’s something satisfying about holding an actual photo that scrolling cannot replicate. It’s real. It’s lasting. But more importantly, it doesn’t need 47% of the remaining battery life to appreciate it.
Printed pictures have staying power. They survive technology changes, app updates and the nightmare moment when you realise you haven’t backed up your cell phone before it decided to go for a swim. Moreover, there is actual scientific evidence that shows we remember physical pictures better than digital ones. Our brains are hardwired to appreciate the physical. Who knew that?
But besides the practical details, physical photography printings can create experiences. They lead to conversations when guests notice them in your house. They become family heirlooms instead of forgotten files. And let’s be honest: looking through a photo album with your grandchildren is different from browsing through Google Photos.
Creative Ways to Print Your Photos
The photo printing industry has gotten seriously creative, and your photos can now be placed on just about any surface that can sit still long enough.
Photo Books
Modern photo books are nothing like the clunky scrapbooks of the past. They are sleek, professional, and very easy to make online. You can pick a hardcover or a softcover photobook that you can customise yourself. Document your vacation, create your child’s year in review, or make a cookbook of your personal successes in the kitchen. They make wonderful gifts because they will actually be looked at, which, you know, isn’t the case with online albums.
Photo Calendars
Photo calendars are the gift that just keeps on giving, a whole year for twelve months. Assign your most prized images on corresponding dates (beach images for summer months, images of the fireplace for winter), and suddenly your artwork has a function.
Photo Tiles
These are an incredibly lightweight and trendy alternative to traditional framing. Made from a composite foamboard with a sleek black edge, these mounted photos are perfect for wall art or free-standing displays. They come with adhesive pads that will stick to almost any wall surface and can be easily swapped and rearranged when your interests or moods change. Photo tiles are perfect for renters or for those who just can’t commit.
Canvas Prints
If you want to bring that gallery-quality look to your living room, then go for canvas prints. The texture adds depth, and since they come in wrapped edge finishes, there’s no need to get that expensive frame. Go big with a statement piece above your couch or go for that trio that makes your visitors go “wow, is that from your travels?” Yes. Yes, it is.
And don’t forget metal prints for something really eye-catching, or acrylic prints if you’re aiming for that high-gloss modern feel, or even photo puzzles if you really want to make your friends earn the pleasure of viewing your holiday snaps.
Creative Displays of Your Masterworks
You have your photography prints. Now, what?
Gallery walls are always a good idea. Mix different sizes and frames for an artsy, curated look that says, “I totally did not spend three hours measuring and remeasuring using a painter’s tape.” Tip: include a few unexpected photos – that moody architectural detail or abstract close-up of a leaf can look shockingly good enlarged to poster size.
If you are in the mood for something less predictable, then you use a string or twine with mini clothespins for an effortless, fun arrangement. It’s like a highlight reel that you can update whenever you want. Photo ledges allow for overlapping photos that you can swap seasonally. Use clipboards mounted on the walls for an industrial-chic design.
Build a photo mobile as a way of making a three-dimensional display that can actually move. Roll up prints of your photos and store them in glass jars for coffee table intrigue. Create ornaments from your photos as decorations for your tree.
You can always go completely analogue and create an actual photo wall, where you can just print the photos out and tape them up on the wall in a grid or collage without any frames.
The Bottom Line
Your photographs capture moments worth keeping. Much like your memories, your pictures are records of experiences, people, and emotions that truly counted. They deserve better than an infinite scroll into oblivion. Turn them into hard copies, display them where you and your loved ones can cherish them, and relive the memories they bring.