THE ULTIMATE FAMILY PHOTO WALL ART GUIDE
The only art that goes up on my walls is pictures that I have taken of my own family. I like every wall in my home to tell the story of our family and to act as a conversation piece when guests come over. What else is art good for, besides connecting with other humans in deep and meaningful ways? Naturally, one of the most common questions that I get as a photographer is “what is the best way to display our family pictures?” So I decided to make a guide just for you. The good news is that great wall art doesn’t have to be complicated or inconvenient. I’ve broken it down into a few simple steps to make this as easy as possible for you.
1. Colors: What to consider
The creation of your art begins with the photoshoot and the planning leading up to it. The colors you choose to wear at the location you choose to have photos done at. Different wardrobe colors will drastically change the look and feel of your photos. Take a look around the room you plan to display your photos in. What are the tones? Are they warm (yellow scale) or cool (blue scale)? Bright or muted? Is there an accent color? This is the starting place. You will want to dress in colors that compliment the room and maybe use your accent color paired with plenty of complimentary neutrals as the start of your color palette for your photo wardrobe.
The second thing to consider when thinking of colors is the location of the photos. If your room is full of colors, a lush, green forest might look really nice. If your living room is full of neutrals and tans, choose a dry field instead. If your room has neutrals and grays, a winter or waterfront scene may be the way to go. It’s all up to you and your taste. There is no wrong answer, but I want you to consider these things as you're planning your photoshoot so that it all flows together at the end. When selecting photos to have turned into wall art, choose a cohesive color palette.
Pro-Tip: Discuss your plans with your photographer, she or he may be able to help you make location, wardrobe, and print product (medium) selections that will compliment the room. We are artists and have an eye for color and feel, we want to help!
2. Which photos to print
If you are choosing only one photo to print and display, I recommend selecting a photo that has all family members within it. I like photos that include more of the scenery from the session and where no one is looking at the camera. Photos where no one is looking tend to be warmer in feeling, causing your space to feel more “home-y”
If you are printing more than one of the pictures, I recommend selecting one of each of the following:
The whole family with no one looking at the camera, taken at a wider angle for more scenery
The whole family interacting with each other up close, without as much scenery
Mom and dad together without the kids
All the kids together
Each child individually
If you still have space to fill, then you can expand and choose more images, usually I’d recommend more group or movement images to keep everyone equally displayed
One final note: Pay attention to the orientation of the photos vs how you play to display them. Some photos are taken in a landscape format (the long side is top and bottom) while others are taken in a portrait format (the long side is on the sides). If a photo was taken in landscape, it may not look great if it has to be cropped to fit into a portrait frame. Just be mindful of how you plan to display and ask your photographer if you have doubts.
3. Where to order prints
I recommend having your photos printed by the photographer who took them, if they offer prints. If they don’t offer prints, ask them to refer you to a friend photographer who does. And before you roll your eyes and tell me how expensive that is, hear me out for a minute, because this is important. If you print something and it does not come out right, it will cost you twice as much to have it done again or you’ll look at it every day and feel upset that it’s not quite right.
Yes the price may be a little higher to buy through your photographer than some of the big-box print shops, but your photographer is going to care a whole lot more that your prints are done correctly and look amazing. You’re also gaining valuable time back by not doing the printing work on your own. There is a whole lot of thought that goes into ordering prints so that they come out just right. Here’s a little secret, it is marketing for us, so we want every piece to be gorgeous.
Things your photographer will do that the public printers won’t
Double, triple check that the image will print correctly
Resize and check resolution for optimal, clear printing
Adjust for standard and digital stretch on canvases and other items- an option not available through public printers
Customize to almost any size or product
Calibrate our screens to our print labs so the colors, blacks, and brightness print flawlessly (every print lab will print differently)
Ensure we are only working with labs that use quality supplies so that your art lasts (warping and discoloration is a buzz kill)
Support your local economy
I understand prints can seem like an extra expense when they are not included in your session fee, but if you budget for them and expect to be buying them it takes the edge off of the expense. Most photographers will share their print pricing with you if you ask. You might be surprised to find that your photographer sells you custom art made with a lot of love at a price lower than you could buy wall art for at Target. I’m always in favor of supporting your local artist, which in turn supports your local economy.
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your pictures done, I guarantee your photographer will jump for joy if you reach out asking them to print your photos. Tell them you have your jpeg files and would love to have them print it for you.
4. Print MEDIUMS
There are endless options for materials to have your photos printed on. I’m going to cover the most popular ones paper, canvas, and my personal favorite- metal. Please know, there are many options like wood, acrylic, albums and a lot of others in all kinds of shapes, so please ask if you’re looking for something specific.
Paper Prints
Require frames
Sustainable, best for frequent photo updates and repurposing
Vintage appearance
Works in any space
Most customizable- paper textures and frame options
Economical
Crisp and clear visually
Canvas
Frame is optional- but popular these days!
Classic, traditional appearance- works in any space
Limited texture options
More expensive
Best for larger, lower traffic spaces
Softer, muted look
May distort images if ordered incorrectly
Metal Prints
No frames required
Sleek, modern appearance
Gloss or matte options
Great for small or large displays
Most expensive print option
Vibrant and crystal clear appearance
Sits flat against wall, great for tighter spaces
Damage resistant- for high traffic areas
5. Wall Art PATTERNS
Patterns and media can be a little interchangeable when choosing how to display your art. Some do best with choosing medium first, some prefer pattern first. I find that for me medium dictates pattern, so that’s how I chose to write this guide.
Grid:
A grid will look much like an instagram feed. It is tidy, organized and geometric. Much easier to put together. A great option for a busy mom who doesn’t want to think too hard about wall art or spend time collecting and curating pieces. Grids are typically my preference and can be as simple as just one image.
Example:
Gallery:
I like to think of galleries as organized and curated chaos. They can be much trickier to get right and sometimes take time to collect pieces to put together.
I personally struggle with galleries, because I like a clean and minimalist look. I did scour the Internet for the best tips to get it right and here’s what I found:
Galleries are meant to fill a big wall, so space out the art. Don’t hang pieces too close together.
Don’t use too few pieces
Vary the sizes of your pieces
Use pieces that are 8in x 10in or larger
Hang both in vertical and horizontal orientations
Avoid commercial (mass produced) art pieces
Example:
Something in between:
Sometimes I like to opt for something in the middle. There is no wrong answer in art.
Example:
Pro Tip: Use painters tape to outline on the wall when measuring size to see what looks right.
Lay out the gallery or grid on the floor before hanging on the wall to make sure your pieces are arranged perfectly prior to applying hardware.
6. ART Size
Sizing is relatively simple. You can use a single piece or multiple pieces to make up the space filling the follow guidelines.
Choose art that is 1/2 to 3/4 the width of the wall or furniture it’s being displayed over.
Art over fireplaces should be as wide as the opening of the fireplace regardless of mantel width
Blank walls, use the three eighths rule. If you have a 9 ft (or 108 inch) wall, you will multiply 108 inches x 0.57 = an art piece that is about 60 inches wide.
Choose art that is 1/2 to 3/4 the width of the wall or furniture being displayed over.
Art over fireplaces should be as wide as the opening of the fireplace regardless of mantel width
Blank walls, 3/8s rule. 9 ft wall= 108 inches x 0.57 = an art piece that is about 60 inches wide.
7. Height
Always hang art by it’s center, never alight by tops or bottoms (unless It’s on a shelf)
57 inch rule. Center of the art should be 57-60 inches high, or eye height of an average person.
6-8 inches above furniture pieces
When hanging multiple pieces, each should be spaced 3-4 inches apart and fill 2/3 width of furniture it is displayed over or the wall it is displayed on.
For very large art, over 120inches, you do not need to follow the 57inch rule, just hang your piece so that the bottom edge is about a foot above the floor.
That should just about cover everything you need to know and consider when turning your Spokane family portraits into wall art. And by the way, I am booking sessions for fall and I’d love to make your wall art dreams come true. Click the button below to secure your spot and I’ll help you plan it from start to finish.
How to pose: Tips for mom FROM A FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
I believe that being photographed is highly vulnerable. Almost everyone feels self-conscious in front of the camera. And I also believe everyone worries about how to pose much more than they should when having their pictures taken. For this blog post, I’m going to focus on mom and offer some fool proof options for posing to help mom look her very best and to feel confident.
Wear your hair down and let it fall in your face.
Some of my best photos are of mothers with their hair in their face, now I’m not saying to do this for every photo, but hear me out for a minute. Typically when we tilt our head down towards out children, our hair does fall down in our face. When the hair falls, our false double chin is concealed. The hair falling causes the photo to look natural and it also conceals something that we all have, but don’t want the world to see. Please wear your hair down for your photos, pulling it back almost always is unflattering in lifestyle photography, because we take squishy, love-y pictures. Just trust me on this one.
Pick up your kiddos.
Pick up your kids and hold them close, snuggle in, breathe them in. We all love the smell of our children’s heads, it’s just being a mom. Picking up your kids shows the intimacy that is the mother-child bond and allows your photographer to see into your world. Your kid will naturally melt into you, creating a natural pose. Holding children can also be concealing if there are some curves you’d prefer to hide. I believe God gave us hips, to hold our babies.
Relax your shoulders, lengthen the neck.
This sounds simple, but it’s everything in photography posing. If your shoulders are up to your ears and your neck is hunched over, you will look tense. Releasing and relaxing will always make better pictures.
The biggest thing about posing is to not stress. Your photographer has your back and is there to do the legwork for you on this. Family photos are a team effort. As photographers, we want you to look and feel great, so just know we will lead the way.
The Angsty Teenager and Family Photos.
My best tips for getting your teen to happily participate in family photos. Continue reading to find out.
This teen was an absolute pleasure to work with during this newborn session in Spokane, Wa.
This is a great question that I was recently asked by one of my instagram followers. I believe there are so many ways to approach teenage angst at photoshoots, much of which should be handled on the front end before the photo shoot happens. I have quite a bit of experience with teen photos, when I began my photography business I photographed a lot of senior photos and now occasionally take photos of teens at schools in the Spokane area. Here is what I have found to help immensely.
Have a conversation with your teen
First off, I encourage parents have a conversation with the teen prior to the session just talking to them about why the photos are important, what the significance is, and that they are so glad the teen is participating. Higher sense of meaning goes far. So for example, maternity photos are celebrating the new life we're welcoming into the family and one last memory of just the three of us. That sort of approach.
Tell me about your teen
I send out a questionnaire to those who book with me, asking about each family member, so that I know a little about the teen. Basic interests, sensitivities, personality that sort of thing. I'm mindful of not being an overly touchy photographer because it makes teens uncomfortable, I always try to exhaust all of my words before I touch a teen. This is something I learned as a yoga instructor as a way to work with those who have trauma, particularly body and touch traumas.
Let them have choices in what to wear
I recommend allowing the teen have some say in what they wear. Choose a color pallet that compliments what your teen likes to wear. So for example, if your teen refuses to wear anything that isn’t black. Allow her to pick from a couple of options of black dresses, then compliment with creams, whites, tans and grays, then add a couple black accents to other family members outfits. Going shopping together helps. Just try to get the level of formality to match best you can.
Let me encourage the posing
I ask parents to let me be the "bad" guy asking the teen to pose. I will never be mean or disrespectful, so I use to term “bad guy” loosely. I'd rather the angst be toward me than the parents, and usually the opposite happens and the teens are more willing to go along with what I ask of them. I like to prompt more than I pose that way they feel like they are in control of their own body. I never force anyone to smile, usually I can get it to happen organically.
Choose a private location
I try to choose more private locations when teens are involved and I’ve been warned about angst or low levels of self confidence, because they don't like having more eyes on them when having photos done and bystanders tend to stare. I also try to be extra cognizant of what I say, and to be sure to compliment the teen a little extra to help ensure they’re feeling good.
Focus on connection
I focus heavily on connection between parents and child in every session regardless of age. So that the teen is able to just be with the parents and not feel like the attention is all on them. I find there's two types of teens out there, those that ham it up for the camera and those who are extremely uncomfortable in front of the camera. So I do offer to the teen a solo photo that they can use for social media if that's their thing- sometimes it helps. I call out the awkward things I may ask of a teen and often it makes the teen feel seen and connected with and sometimes gets me a smile.
Spokane Lifestyle Photographer: What to do if dad is grumpy about photo shoot?
Spokane Dad caresses his wife’s pregnant belly at maternity photo shoot.
Thankfully, I don’t encounter grumpy dads too often at my photoshoots. I believe this is because I work hard to attract clients with very strong family bonds. My families are usually lovey, cuddly and affectionate. I do on occasion get asked how I would handle dads who are not so thrilled to have their photos taken, and this is how I handle it.
If it is prior to the session and a wife is concerned that her husband may not be so excited, I recommend having a heart to heart conversation with her husband. Sit down after the kids have gone to bed and look your husband in his eyes, and tell him how important the photos are to you and why. We’re not just out taking cheesy pictures to put on our Christmas cards. We’re documenting a fleeting moment in time where out kids are only this age once. Capturing the family dynamic and making a memory. Talk to him about our why.
Photos are an investment, an expensive one. I know some dads aren’t thrilled about the investment, but quality photos are important. I usually recommend that families save up for their once a year family photo session to get updated photos of everyone in the family and document the season of life. Saving up and ear marking the money for the photos ahead of time, over a period of time makes the expense seem less burdensome. Those dollars have been given a name, and this often makes dads feel better about the investment.
The next step is on me, and that is during the photoshoot. I work hard to make sure every family member feels welcomed. I am intentional about starting a conversation with dad to make him feel more at ease with me. Cameras make people nervous and I think that’s natural. It is very vulnerable allowing another person to take your photo, and I’m sensitive to that. Many men do not like to feel vulnerable in that way. One of the best remedies for that is to have dad play with the kids, this is the beauty of lifestyle photography.
I think another reason dads don’t love having photos done is that they may be self conscious. I’m always careful with my posing to make dad look broad and strong in all the right ways. I keep posing loose so that there is a level of freedom of movement, which usually makes dad less nervous.
A grumpy dad can really mess up a photoshoot, honestly it’s one of the biggest things that can go wrong. I highly recommend having a conversation with dad prior to if he isn’t a fan of photos. I think most dads think of traditional family photography which is stiff and uncomfortable when they are approached about family photos. I keep my photoshoots light and fun to help combat that. My poses look and feel natural, which helps dad to relax. Usually at the end of my sessions dads are commenting on how it wasn’t as bad as they thought and they actually really had fun doing the pictures.
The dad in this photo was not a grumpy dad, he enjoys having photos taken with his family and is a huge part of why this family has successful photoshoots.
I’m always happy to discuss concerns dad may have about photos. Even if it’s something he’s self conscious about. Please just reach out, I want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome, because I believe family photos matter so much. Everyone deserves to have their family documented.
Let your kids be wild at your photoshoot
I think many of us are conditioned to think of family photography as a stressful chore, because we all have memories of our moms snapping at us to smile while dad grumbles in a JC Penny’s photography studio with our hair combed perfectly while a photographer with big lights makes corny jokes that aren’t funny. Photography is not like this anymore if you hire a lifestyle photographer.
Family Photography is an experience! An opportunity to make a fun memory!
My sessions are typically planned in-home or outdoors in a big nature park. I want your family photos to be a fun and memorable experience. You only have so many years with your kiddos under your roof and once they move out and go to college, all you’ll have left is the pictures. So let’s take pictures worth keeping! You tossing your toddler up over your head to get giggles, cuddling with your spouse on a blanket while your kids play around you. My photos are a romanticized version of who your family actually is- snuggly, warm, giggling, intense love! We don’t need to make things look anything except for how they are in your family.
Children don’t like to be told what to do and how to act.
Anyone who’s had a toddler knows this. Allowing children some freedom to explore their surroundings during the shoot provides an opportunity for real smiles and great candid photos of your family playing, interacting and adventuring together. So let your kids run wild in circles, look at flowers, splash in some water. You may notice less tantrums at these photoshoots and more genuine smiles. Even if your husband is the grumpy dad type, he’ll probably have fun too! No one has to look at the camera. I’ll guide and prompt you, but “everyone look at the camera” isn’t quite what I do.
No need to force your children to smile.
I don’t ever make anyone smile, so you don’t need to force your kids to smile. I like to allow each family member to express their individuality, and for some people that means not smiling and that’s okay! Some families are playful, some are more serious or intense and that is great. What I love about humans is that they are all unique and photographing that uniqueness makes my job more interesting. Let your individuality show!