Did you know that October is National Family History Month in the United States? What better way to celebrate than to fill your home with stunning, high-quality photos! There are many benefits to printing your digital photos. Let’s walk through a few of them!
1- You’re not looking at them on your phone or computer
How many photos do you currently have on your phone or computer? How many of those photos do you look at on a daily basis, a monthly basis, or even a yearly basis? I'm going to guess the answer is very few.
When you hire a photographer, you're paying for professional photos that capture significant experiences in your life. You don't want to spend your money on photos that will sit on a platform where you forget they even exist. It's a waste of money!
You want to get the most out of booking a photographer. Display your photos the way they were meant to be displayed by printing them.
2- You’ve already invested in your favorite memories - show them off!
There are so many benefits to displaying beautiful images throughout your home.
They create beautiful, timeless displays of the most important people in your life. They are a unique and customizable way to decorate your home.
They also give you a constant reminder of the most precious memories in your life. As a photographer, I'm constantly searching to capture genuine moments. Yes, it's important to get those formal photos at an important event, but they usually aren't the photos you're displaying in your home.
You're displaying the candid photo of your children laughing because the family pet got into something he shouldn't have behind the camera. You're displaying the photo of your spouse teary-eyed at your wedding. You're displaying the photo of your child digging into their first birthday cake and making a complete mess. You're displaying the photo of your parents dancing together during their 50th wedding anniversary party.
These raw moments are the ones you want to remember. At the end of the day you want to remember the real moments, not just what everyone looked like. A great photographer is able to capture both the posed photos and the genuine ones. Life is messy and that's the most beautiful thing about it. Printing your digital photos is one of the best ways to display your beautiful, messy life.
3- Technology is unreliable
One of the hardest things about saving your photos online is the dreaded software update. Most of the time, your files will survive an update. But your photos won't be compatible with your devices forever. There's no way to know when file types like JPEG will become dormant.
Remember CD drives? Not only are they no longer compatible with modern technology, but there's really no way to view, display, or retrieve photos from old platforms. Printing your digital photos is one way to ensure you have at least one copy that will last.
Computers crash. Phones restart. Documents shut down without saving your work. It happens to the best of us and it happens often.
At the end of the day, there's still so much we don't understand about modern technology. It is constantly changing and there may come a day when your photos can't keep up.
Who knows what will happen to our photos in a few years when new technology is created. Don't lose your photos forever because you didn't print them.
4- JPEG files deteriorate
We are lucky to live in an age where we can easily access thousands of files with the touch of a button. But technology isn't the best option if you want to enjoy your photos in their best form.
Every time you open a file on your computer, that file starts deteriorating just a little bit. It might be difficult to notice it at first, but over time your photos will lose they're wonderful quality. Print your digital photos when you first receive them to make sure you have a copy of them in their best shape.
5- You don’t really own your files unless they’re printed
After your photos are taken, they're shared with you. From there you can download them to your computer or phone to store them. You might store them on an external platform like Dropbox or Google Drive instead. Regardless of where you're putting your photos, if you're not printing them, they're not completely yours.
This is because you don't own the platform where they're stored. Even if you own your computer or phone, you're probably going to update your device eventually. Ownership implies you have complete control over your photos at all times. But what happens if Apple or Google goes out of business? Will you be able to retrieve your photos from those platforms if they no longer exist?
I would recommend backing up your photos onto an external hard drive. This is a good way to store them digitally. But of course, the best way to ensure that you have a physical copy of your photos is to print them.
6- Seeing your photos can boost your mood
We all have bad days. No matter what life throws at you, looking at happy memories can instantly boost your mood. Seeing the smiling faces of you and your loved ones is a pleasant reminder that while you may feel under the weather, better days are coming.
Seeing a beautiful, high quality photo printed in a stunning frame on your wall is such a better experience than scrolling through your phone. We get so much exposure to digital media by scrolling throughout the day. Your experiences with your photos should be something special.
7- Your children (and their children) will thank you
There have been many studies about the psychological effects of printed photographs in the home. This article in the New York Times explains one of these studies.
In the study, researchers found that children who know their family history have higher self-esteem, are better equipped to face challenges, and are better able to “moderate the effects of stress” [1].
Surround your children with beautiful photos of your family. Seeing these photos often helps young children begin to recognize parents and close family members. It can also be a great conversation-starter for your older children.
Do you remember asking your parents where a photo of them was taken when they were younger? Give your children the same opportunities by printing your digital photos.
8- You can order printed photos online
When you book a photo session with me, you're not only getting the experience of having your photo taken. I also offer printing and product services, so you can not only have your photos taken, but can find beautiful ways to display them all in one place.
Printing photos from third-party companies can be expensive and complicated. Printing them from your local drugstore is convenient, but they offer limited sizes and are not always the best quality.
Printing your photos doesn't just mean creating physical copies of photos you can hang on your wall in a picture frame. I offer many physical products that will display your photos beautifully. You can get your pictures printed traditionally and on my products all in one convenient place! My top priority is delivering quality service, and my printing services are no exception. If you'd like to learn more about the products I offer, please check out my product pricing guide here.
Where do you print your photos?
If you have recently had a photo session with me, you can head to my blog post to see all of the information about getting your photos printed. I can print photos in a variety of sizes and quantities to best fit your unique needs. If you are interested in printed photos or products, you can book a free consultation with me to discuss options that will fit your budget.
Are you looking to have photos printed from a previous session with me? This is not only possible, but extremely easy! I'd love to discuss your options for printing older photos. You can find all the information you need here.
How much does it cost to print digital photos?
The cost of printing digital photos varies according to what you'd like to order. There is no minimum amount needed to order, and prints start at just $20! My clients spend anywhere from $250 and $4000 on average. There are plenty of options to fit your needs, and each order is customizable, so you’re only paying for what you want. It is also possible to separate payments. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have and to give you a customized quote. Please contact me to learn more.
You’ve invested in professional photos because you want to capture important moments in your life. I firmly believe that the best way to enjoy your professional photographs is to print them. Keep your most precious memories close and allow yourself to be reminded of your favorite moments daily.
Have you ordered prints or products from me? Take a picture and tag me on Instagram (@sandrien_b_photos) or on Facebook(@SandrienBPhotography). I’d love to see how you’ve captured your favorite moments!
