Thank you to everyone for a fantastic 2009. I look very forward to seeing what 2010 brings me 🙂
First thing up – a new website that I hope to debut tomorrow!! (Possibly on the 2nd or 3rd depending on my hosting company’s holiday schedule, however.)
**Since a lot of photographers seem to be finding this, yes it is totally fine to link to it on FB or blogs, I don’t mind 🙂 **
I was originally going to entitle this post “Go BIG or go home” but then realized that my friend Kristina had used that same title for a post earlier this year. So instead, it’s Bigger Really IS Better. Below you will see a photo of my lovely Christmas-decorated fireplace mantel. Totally normal sized fireplace that you would find in any house. What size do you think the photograph on the mantel is? 5×7? 8×10?
Seriously. Surprised? SO often people are hesitant to buy what they term “big photos” for their house. And my question is, simply, WHY?!?!?!?!! A lot of people believe an 8×10 photo is “big.” Here is what an 8×10 photo looks like on a normal sized mantel:
You’ll notice it’s pretty much dwarfed by the wall. It completely disappears in the grand scheme of things. 8×10 for a wall just doesn’t do it. In fact, an 8×10 is considered a desk portrait, not a wall one. At the very *minimum* if you are going to even consider putting a photo on your wall, you should go for an 11×14. And even then mat and frame it to a 16×20. And then put more than one of them up there. Below are three 11×14 photographs matted to 16×20 frames that I have hanging in my dining room (ignore the clutter, this was at the height of orders rolling in). I honestly wish that I had gone bigger. You’ll see that while the 16×20 size sounds big, on a big open wall, it still leaves a lot of space. (There is another two feet of wall space below the chair rail.) The only thing that helps to balance it a little which you can’t see is that I have three MORE of these hanging on the other walls. But I still wish I had gone one step bigger. The cluster of frames does help to absorb some space, however.
Here is a 16×20, equal to the framed prints above, back on the same mantel again by itself. Sounds big when you talk about it, but as you can see, it’s not when put into normal display surroundings.
Back to the point. When debating print sizes, if you are going to take the time and money to invest in a portrait session, why not have something truly wonderful to remember it by? One of my recent newborn clients got two 20×24 canvases for her walls and I think I seriously had to wipe off the drool when I opened them up. Sadly I did not take a photo of them, something I am still kicking myself for. But they were absolutely AMAZING. And I recently did a bigger display for the wall over my sofa. I did two 18×24 prints, two 16×24 prints and two 16x20s. Now you are probably saying those are HUMONGOUS!! (Admit it you’re saying that. I know you are!) Here is what they looked like all put together (and yes, that is my little monkey hiding behind the table 😉 oh and please ignore the couch, came with the house and we haven’t gotten around to replacing it) :
I seriously totally and completely love walking into my living room now. I love seeing my kids up there big, it makes my heart smile. This is my family. The loves of my life. I love seeing them up on my wall. And notice that 16×20 (top left) which probably sounded big, how small it looks on a big wall over a full-sized couch. This post would have been much more effective had I put the photos on the same wall I have my display on, however I had already put the others up. To help imagine it, an 8×10 is less than 1/4 the size of the bottom center print. So here is a quick and dirty photoshop job of what that same space would look like with one print. On the left is an 11×14. On the right is an 8×10.
Oh and in case you were wondering what one of those “huge” prints looks like by itself (and, again, I know you were calling my prints huge, I just KNOW it 😀 ) this is the 16×24 over the mantel:
So hopefully as you can see, it’s okay to go big. You don’t have to do a 20×24 (though I wish you would) but do consider at least one 16×20 from your session. Or a 16×20 framed by two 11x14s. If you absolutely insist on sticking with that 8×10 size, consider a grouping of six or eight of them together at least! Or matting it to an 11×14 size. If you want help and feel lost when considering wall displays for images from your session I am MORE than happy to draw up a wall display idea for you using your images. In fact when you get your proofs, I will send you a link to the wall display ideas that I have. And if you’d like, I can make suggestions for what to do. But the important part to get out of this is…
Bigger really IS better.
Okay. I know I said I was going to announce it on Christmas Eve. Really, I had every intention of doing so. But I had NO idea how difficult the decision would be. I got seven nominations and I swear, I wanted to give them ALL a session. But sadly I couldn’t do it so I had to work at narrowing it down. There are so many amazingly inspiring people out there. People who have gone through incredible difficulties and heartbreak. Some have had personal tragedies while others have “just” survived and persevered despite overwhelming obstacles.
The winner of the Giving is Awesome giveaway is the Collins family, nominated by their dear friend Marion. Their story was truly inspiring, heartbreaking, uplifting and wonderful and, if I get permission from them, I will share their story with you.
Thank you SO much to all of you for submitting your entries. It was so so difficult to pick and I truly wish I could have selected everyone. I am already looking forward to next year’s contest!!!
Okay, so if I had planned better I would have done this on actual DAYS rather than all in one post. But between regular holiday craziness, extra sessions squeezed in and Layne’s upcoming birthday that just wasn’t going to happen. So instead it’s all here together. (A collective YAY!!) And if I had been more accurate, it would have been the top 12. But I just couldn’t cut it down. So my top 13 favorite images from 2009. This is not a countdown because I don’t think that I could narrow it down to an order, but these are my top choices 🙂
#13 Loved these boys. Loved this image. So, so sweet 🙂 (And as a side note, it got me a large editorial photo in The Baby Guide. Can’t complain!!)
#12 Perfection all curled up. The lighting, the cocoon, everything.
#11 This was taken during my shoot for my What to Wear guide. But the moment and the light make it one of my absolute favorites.
#10 You know I’m all about the moments. I love this one. So much that I wanted to put my family’s faces on it and use it for MY holiday photo.
#9 How could I not pick this one?!?!! The colors are what made this photo for me. Not only a gorgeous baby belly but in a gorgeous surrounding.
#8 Pure happiness 🙂
#7 Pure love. On both parts.
#6 I usually am not a fan of awake newborns. But L. totally rocked it 😉 Love how adorable she looks here, like she’s checking out the world.
#5 This just makes me feel good. Not only because it reminds me of my trip to the Outer Banks and my photog girls, but a family moment captured and in such a stunning location.
#4 I wonder when I see this if people think I put A into this pose. It was a completely spontaneous moment and he happened to put his hand up as I was snapping the photo. What resulted is one of my most favorite family moments.
#3 Do I really need to say anything?? 🙂
#2 More pure happiness! W family made it twice!!!
#1 I want to keep a big giant print of this next to my desk. So whenever I feel down in any way, I can look at it and smile. Her look, her expression, everything just totally make this.
That’s it for this year. I can’t WAIT for a whole new year to choose from!!!!!!
You know someone.
You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.
You know someone. I guarantee it.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $1500 worth, to be exact. This will include a complete session as well as all of the high-resolution digital files from that session, 5×7 prints of the files and a 16×20 mounted print.
And as an added bonus, the person who nominates the winner will also receive a $200 print credit to be used during a session!
The rules:
You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a multi-million-dollar-home does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
The nominee will receive either a newborn session, child session, family session or engagement/anniversary session. Weddings are not included in this offer.
The nominee must reside within 45 minutes of Cranston, RI or be willing to travel here for their session. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve a session. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
Comment on this blog entry to let me know you’ve entered, and e-mail me the full story: amy@amyrophotography.com
Nominations are due by midnight, Sunday, December 20, 2009 and the winner will be announced on Christmas Eve…so get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Amy
**Not in the RI area but know someone who could benefit? Check the GIA Map HERE for a photographer near you who is participating.**
