Having professional photos taken means all these special moments have been beautifully documented.

But what happens after that?

Too often, you’re left with the added mental load of figuring out how to keep them safe, how to display them, and where to have them printed. Or worse, the pictures are left unviewed on a hard drive somewhere.

As your family photographer in Huntsville, we believe that leaving you with all those decisions is a disservice not only to you, but to the photos and memories they hold.

However, preserving and enjoying your photos is not a one size fits all process, and it’s our job to accommodate whatever serves our client best.

We are the experts on the art, but you are the expert on your own life and family. We’ll guide you through all those decisions, whether you want fully custom heirloom artwork, design assistance, or just reliably good quality prints to put in your scrapbook.

How Huntsville Families Should Print and Display Their Photos

What you’ll find in this guide:

1. The importance of printing your photos
   
2. 4 ways to display printed photographs
   
3. Full-service artwork design

The importance of printing your photos

01. Getting the most out of your investment

After investing so much time and money to prepare your family and take photos at your session, you should walk away with something tangible to show for it.

Digital files on their own are just pixels on a website, falling short as a final product. Without a physical format, they are almost completely unviewable.

Looking back on your portraits is the ultimate goal of any photoshoot. While you may intend to review digital images, printed photographs are the most reliable way to look back.

02. Consider future generations

When you think of the legacy you’ll leave behind, do you envision future grandchildren opening a Google Drive link? We didn’t think so.

Printed images give future generations tangible access to family history. Celebrate decades of marriage by leafing through a photo album, not just scrolling through your phone’s photos app.

Don’t let this digital age keep you from carrying on your family’s legacy.

03. Your children’s self-confidence

Displaying pictures of your children in your home gives them a sense of connection and belonging. It boosts self-esteem and improves their self-confidence.

Researchers have found that displaying family photos in the home teaches children they’re important and reinforces that they belong.

04. A safeguard for your memories

When it comes to safekeeping, we always advocate for digital files as backups in case anything happens to printed photos.

But the rule works both ways.

Keeping a copy of your photos in a physical form means you’ll still have access to them even if the digital files are lost. Hard drives break, memory cards freeze, and any electronics can glitch. With constantly changing technology, you might not even be able to view photos on certain types of digital media.

But no matter how technology evolves (or errors) your printed photos will remain as a safeguard.

05. Meaningful home decor

Framed family photos are the ultimate way to collect rare and valuable artwork. Though their value isn’t monetary. It comes from the unique emotion they evoke.

Framed family photos hold priceless sentimental value that can’t be replicated.

5 ways to display printed photographs

1. Custom albums

Offering Huntsville family photo albums has made us realize this is our own preferred way to enjoy our family’s photos. We love cuddling up with our loved ones and leafing through the pages together.

These days there are many ways to design and print custom photo albums! It takes time and effort to choose which images to include, lay out each page design, and design the cover of the book. But we strongly believe you’ll be glad you did it.

Check out our full guide on designing your own family photo album! We break down the process into 5 steps.

2. Custom framed prints or wall galleries

The most traditional way to enjoy family photos: displayed on the walls of your home. Choose a gallery wall or a statement piece. Or a mix of both!

Gallery walls are a great way to set the scene and tell the full story of a photo session. A statement piece can draw the eye and act more like a piece of art.

It can be difficult to know what images in what sizes would look best in your space. And choosing frames can be difficult. But here’s how we’d recommend you take on the project:

1. Choose a space in your home. Whether that’s an entryway, over the couch, or on the mantle, know where you’d like to install artwork.

2. Begin to narrow down the images you’d like to display. Try to pick less than 5.

3. Decide if you’d like to display multiple images in a gallery, or a single statement print.

4. Consider which color/material frame would work best with your home decor.

5. Research local framers or choose an online option. Order prints through your photographer or from mpix.

6. Make your final image selection(s) and place your orders.

3. Polaroids and loose prints

An underrated way to enjoy your images is through carefully stored loose prints. An heirloom box—glass or linen—of high quality 4×6 prints or original polaroids can be a great addition to a coffee table. Easily rotate the top print to switch which image is displayed.

Loose prints can also be used for DIY wall galleries.

Each of our collections includes an heirloom linen box of 4×6 proof prints of every image from our session. Read more about our collections here!

4. Scrapbooking

Perhaps the most casual way to enjoy your photos (but also the most whimsical??)— scrapbooking.

Both of us are regular scrapbookers / junk-journalers. We both keep a multiple scrapbooks and use 4×6 prints to commemorate all kinds of occasions. From simple day-to-day documentation to traveling and vacations, scrapbooks are such a fun way to record memories.

Bonus tip: save ephemera and include it alongside photos for another tangible memory!

We encourage anyone interested to start a scrapbook!

Professional artwork design: fine art print concierge service from a professional photographer

Many families are realizing that the process of getting their photos printed and into their homes requires much more time, effort, and skill than they anticipated. A single framed print requires…

• choosing the image
• deciding mat color and size
• frame style
• considering different qualities
• scaling
• spacing
• installation
  
  
  
  

These decisions can be overwhelming, and ultimately deter families from printing their photos. Which is why every collection we offer includes fine art print concierge service.

We remove all the guesswork and handle all the details. Our clients get digital mockups so they can see their photos in frames custom-designed to fit their space. Take peace in knowing all of our pieces are made with archival quality materials. We’ve done the research for you and will only provide your family with the highest quality frames made to last for generations.

We believe it’s a part of our job to make sure your photos are printed. Your job is to enjoy the artwork for a lifetime.

In conclusion, we know that printing your photographs can feel low on your priority list, but we encourage you to start! Whether that means DIYing a gallery wall, designing an album, scrapbooking, or commissioning custom pieces from a professional photographer. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re looking for a photographer who can help with printed photographs, we might be a great fit for you. You can read more about the Fauna & Film Experience here or reach out today to find out if we are a good fit.

If you’re an expecting mother with a little one on the way, check out these 3 reasons your whole family belongs in your maternity photos, or our maternity style guide. For Huntsville locals, you might want to check out our list of Activities To Do In Huntsville With Kids or Indoor Birthday Party Ideas For Kids In Huntsville.

Fauna & Film are photographers in Huntsville AL, specializing in analog portraits and nostalgic home movies for sentimental couples and families in Huntsville, Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. From bespoke heirloom albums to custom, museum-worthy framed artwork, their passion is to serve clients by designing artwork for them that will last generations. Your memories deserve to be seen.

Currently serving Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and beyond.