Get Creative with Photos

The following post is written by Steady Mom's monthly contributor, Angie.
 

I'll admit, although I'm a professional photographer, I've printed far too few images of my own family. It pains me to admit it, but I strive to do better in 2010. 

I do, however, try to be a bit more creative with how I display them, you know, when I do print them. Frames are nice and work well - but there are so many other ways to show off your precious prints.

 

1. Mount them

By mounting your photo, you give it a sturdy backing whether it be foam board, mat board, styrene, and so on. These images can be framed with or without glass, or displayed nicely on a shelf or small easel.

A few options for mounting your images:

- I wrote about a DIY photo mounting a while back on The Creative Mama, you can find that here.

- If crafting isn't in your future, Mpix is an online photo company which is an off-shoot of a pro lab. They offer a mounting service which you will see here.


 

Photo by shutterfly.com

2. Create a book

There are many online companies out there that offer albums, with easy to understand instructions. A friend of mine creates one at the end of each year, highlighting her favorite photos. You could make one for your little one's first year, or separate ones for each child!

A few user-friendly sites:

- My Publisher

- Shutterfly

- Snapfish



 
3. Frame your layouts

I used to be a "scrapper" but those days have been replaced with blogging, photographing, and the business of life. One thing I enjoyed doing was framing some of my favorite scrapbooking pages in a 12x12 frame.

  Photo by Tasha Jean Photography
 
4. Enlarge

Most digital cameras these days are equipped with megapixels that will allow you to enlarge to ridiculous sizes. Have you considered even having an 11x14, 12x12, or 16x20 printed? 

They look beautiful matted and framed, and what a wonderful way decorate your child's bedroom than with a 12x12 of them? We're in the process of adding some enlargements to our boys' shared room. I'm thinking of going with a few of them together and one of each of them alone as 11x14--can't wait!

Photo by Pottery Barn Kids
5. Get creative with your display

When I'm in a rut creatively I hit up some of my fave magazines or online resources for some display eye candy, then I attempt to mimic it to fit my own style and space.

Some of my own fave sites:

- Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids

- Anthropologie

- Martha Stewart


**I'd love to hear some creative ways you like to display your portraits? Any resources you'd like to add to my own list?**
 

Angie is married to a baseball loving man, and is a mama to two little boys. She is the editor and founder of The Creative Mama, as well as a child photographer in the beautiful Bay Area, CA.