Our photography exists in a social world where instant sharing and feedback are the norms. The time needed to appreciate a photo truly has mostly been missed as people quickly view, like, and move on to the next thing. Today, the standard way for most people (probably including you and me) to view photos is online via Instagram or Twitter, as it’s the most convenient way to view someone’s work. But how does a physical representation of your work differ from simply having your content on social media or a website? How does that influence the perception and purpose of the photo? Let’s look at how printing and displaying your work can greatly benefit your appreciation, satisfaction, and progression of your photography.

Why Printing is Good for Progress

So why is printing your photos so important? First, it can help you perceive your work differently. When you take your work from a digital presence to a physical one, you create a tangible piece of art. Suppose that piece is intended to be displayed in your home. In that case, you will see it daily, and each time you view your work, you will remember the intention behind the photo, the memories of where and when you had taken the photo, and perhaps why you chose to display it amongst all your other work. You will either grow to appreciate the photo more or learn to identify where you could have improved. When you finally have your photos printed, you can see what works and what doesn’t in your photography and how they work as both standalone pieces or with others as a potential series. Viewing them on the computer or phone tends to be confined to your device and can affect how they are perceived. Your perception is influenced by the size, colours, surrounding elements, and the time taken to appreciate what you are looking at.

Currently, I have five photos printed and framed in my home. The biggest one is a 12x18” black and white taken from the top of the Milan Cathedral. With the addition of a mat and the frame, it’s a fair size. The following two are from my photographs from Iceland (below), and they are displayed in a hallway that separates my office from the rest of the house. The final two are from our time in Venice and Florence in 2018 and are printed and framed, but we are still waiting for a spot that works best for the photos. With the current three I have displayed, I find that each time I view these photos, I think of the trip and what we were doing and thinking, and enjoy the time at that exact moment. Experiences are about the memories and times you share with others, and a printed and displayed photograph is a strong way to conjure those memories and share them with the ones who helped create them.

How it is Displayed is Important

Your perception is not limited to the photo; it also includes how you frame and display your art. Printing is relatively inexpensive, depending on what vendor you use to print your photos. Smaller and more standard print sizes are usually quite affordable, although larger photos (as well as shipping if needed) can increase your cost quickly. I’m not going to recommend how you should print and who you should go with, as it will come down to what you think of the print quality and how much you want to spend. Some are happy with the cheapest option; some may wish to search for a local and reputable print provider.

Also, frames can be expensive and finding the perfect frame is a task. What if your photo is cropped or is in a different orientation than the frame? What if you can’t find a mat for your frame? (mats can be oddly expensive on their own) As I found this challenging, I resorted to printing my photos with their own mat. This process involves creating a document in Photoshop with dimensions that match your frame choice, placing the image in the middle of your document, and creating a faux mat around the photo. You may have to order a print bigger than your frame and cut it to fit, as there may not be a print option for your exact frame size. This will take some planning and double-checking as you will need to visualize how it will look in the frame, but this allows you to place any photo’s orientation into any frame without needing a custom mat.

Here are a few recommendations I would like to share:

• If you plan on framing your print, I’d recommend a matte finish if your print is behind glass. A glossy print behind glass can be overly reflective, in my opinion.

• Buy your frame before ordering the print. Ordering a print based on standard sizes is simple, but finding a perfect frame is not. If you plan to display your art, I’d recommend finding the perfect frame first. This is especially important if you print a series, as you may want matching frames.

• Borders work wonders - A matted framed print looks fantastic and, in my opinion, much better than a photo without one. It’s the “gallery” presentation and is used for a reason.

• Frames typically come with either a stock photo or a paper backing. Keep this and use it to make measurements on your print before cutting. Also, triple-check and ensure the photo is centred in the frame before cutting.

• Although your photo must be centred in the frame, your mat does not need to be the same width. For example, you can have 1.5” on the top and bottom and 2” on the left and right. Just make sure it’s centred.

• Consider black or white frames. They are universal and look good anywhere.

• Custom framing pricing is like ordering a “seasonal” item from a menu. It could be any price, and it’s usually very high. The option is there for something custom if you choose, but you don’t need to go that route to have great-looking framed photos in your home or as a gift, for example.

Conclusion

Displaying and framing your art can greatly benefit the appreciation of your work and your progression as a photographer. It’s also a satisfying conclusion for your photo. In addition, printing and framing do not have to be expensive, although they can easily climb in price based on your requests. Find the perfect place in your home and a nice frame you would like on your wall, then start looking at your work to see what you feel would work best in the frame and how it would complement the area.