Photographers are notoriously terrible at printing and displaying our own work. But seriously, who can choose just a few photos to hang when we’ve got literally thousands of images?! And printing can be kind of a pain. We totally get it.
But, while we absolutely love that photo wall of newborn pictures you so carefully curated, it might be time for a quick refresh. We’re pretty sure your twelve-year-old agrees. And honestly, it’s not as time consuming and costly as you might think thanks to a fresh new (to us) print house we recently discovered — Saal Digital.
So let’s talk about how to create an updated look for spring without spending days agonizing over which images to print and how to hang them. We’ve got three totally fresh, totally easy photo wall ideas that will transform any room from adorably nostalgic to current and impactful. Because your kids are even more beautiful now than ever, and they deserve to know it.
1. Create a gallery wall with interchangeable photo tiles.
This is genius — magnetic photo tiles you can easily hang and change out in seconds. One side of the magnet goes on the wall, the other on the back of the print, making a gallery wall update as easy as hanging your kids’ artwork on the fridge.Â
We love the idea of having a photo wall you can move around. Because as your family grows and you collect more images to add, you can reposition your moments in a way that makes sense visually, chronologically or just stylistically without more nail holes.
Plus, you can easily add in seasonal photos for a short period of time. Want to display that photo of your in-laws only when they come to visit you? No prob!
Get the look:
We recommend starting with nine tiles. Center your grouping on the wall in rows of three (or two, depending on your space) so that when you are ready to add more images, you can easily order three more tiles (around $60 for three). As you continue to add columns or rows, alternate sides so that you keep your display more or less centered.
Take advantage of the magnetic hanging to easily reposition your images and keep them in chronological order, or mix them however you’d like. Want to add in black and white images without clumping them together on one side? Easy peasy.Â
Tips for ordering your gallery wall
- Whatever you do, do not go back to the beginning of time and search your photo archives from the past ten years. The goal here is to keep it current and fresh. You can always create albums later for those older images.
- Give yourself one hour to choose nine photos from the past year. They don’t have to be your absolute favorites or the best photos you’ve ever taken, they just need to be images that make you smile. Think of your summer camping trip or that day at the beach… mix and match candid moments for an intimate display of your family’s love.
- If you find that the images don’t feel cohesive enough, go ahead and convert to black and white for a dramatic monochrome look.
Once you have your nine photos, go ahead and crop to square and prep for printing. Then, upload and order right from your browser (no ROES required). - We highly recommend doing this all at once to prevent procrastination and overthinking! It’s supposed to be fun.
2. Make a bold statement with large format prints.
Large prints make a huge visual impact on a space. When you walk into a room and see a 24×36 inch print, you know that either that moment or those people are important to the photographer. It also says that your work is important and that you believe in yourself enough to print it huge.
Plus, we love that, because Saal’s PVC foam board is so lightweight, you can hang these anywhere without a second set of hands to help you.
Get the look:
To create the greatest impact, we suggest choosing just one or two images. Think of a family photo or one photo of each of your children. If choosing a grouping of photos, make sure the colors and styles of the photos coordinate for a cohesive look. If printing one huge image, don’t limit yourself to a posed portrait! Choose a photo you just really love.
Look at the wall space you want to freshen up and choose a size or grouping that fits the scale of that space. We love the look of two or three 12×18 inch prints side by side, or one huge 24×36 inch print.
Tips for creating your impact wall
- First, take a breath and relax. This is not the most important decision of your life, it’s just photos, meant to bring you joy.
Give yourself one hour to choose images. That will help force you to make a decision and prevent stress. - Decide whether you want to do one family photo or individual portraits of your kids. Then, go into your recent photos and choose your images. This is meant to be a current, fresh look so limit yourself to photos from this year.
- You don’t have to choose posed photos. If that candid photo you took of your kids laughing at the ice cream parlor is your absolute fave, then go for it! The trick here is to choose a photo or group of photos that YOU love. That way, when your family sees what you’ve decided to print and hang prominently on your wall, it will be like a big love note they see every single day.
3. Bring on the cozy vibes with classic canvas.
Canvas prints are simply gorgeous and classic. They give any space a warm, inviting feel that makes you think of home. Plus, gallery wraps look great from any angle, and that attention to detail adds a little something extra to your walls.
We love the idea of hanging two square canvases vertically on a smaller bedroom or office wall, or creating one larger canvas to hang over a child’s bed. Canvas groupings also look amazing over a fireplace or on a family room wall.
Get the look:
Find that wall you’ve been eyeing for month (years?) thinking it needed a little something. A canvas or two is the absolute perfect solution as they go with pretty much any decor from modern to classic.
One idea is to hang a current square canvas of each of your children in an entry area or family space. Leave it for the year and then order an updated image to replace it. Move the previous years’ photos to an upstairs hallway or your bedroom photo wall. After a few years, you’ll have a progression of canvas photos of your kids (or grandkids, or pets…).
Make sure you keep it simple and start where you’re at today. Don’t worry about going back to your archives to order photos from kindergarten on.
Tips for creating your canvas art wall
- First choose your wall space and decide on the vibe you’d like to incorporate (formal, joyful, candid, artsy…).
- Give yourself thirty minutes to look through your images from the past few months and choose a few options. Close-up images of faces look amazing on canvas, as do posed pet portraits. Don’t worry about matching outfits or coordinating looks, just choose your favorites for now.Â
- Once you have your selections, go back and narrow it down to just a few images that will look good when hung together. Remember, you can always convert to black and white or re-edit if needed.Â
- Now, measure the overall size you want to fill and then divide by the number of images you’ve chosen. Don’t forget to account for the spaces you’ll leave between canvases (usually a few inches).
- Go ahead and crop, prep and order right away to keep this whole process easy, stress-free and under an hour.
A new photo wall can completely transform a room. And, it’s a good confidence booster for your kiddos to see themselves on your walls, not just as cute babies and toddlers, but also as growing kids and beautifully awkward pre-teens. You can always move those baby pics to a less prominent place in your home or slip them into an album. It’s time for an update!
So, don’t overthink it. Choose some photos, print, hang and enjoy. With Saal Digital’s pro-quality products, easy ordering and fast shipping, you can get that room refresh started and finished before you have time to talk yourself out of it. Your walls will thank you!
Share your totally refreshed happy photo walls with us on Instagram #click.magazine and #saal_digital.
3 More fun, fresh products we love:
Honestly, we’re pretty in love with all of Saal Digital’s products. The price point is so good in relation to the quality products they deliver. And, they have so many unique wall art options to choose from. Plus, we’re definitely here for the fast shipping! Here are a few more print options we wanted to mention:
1. GalleryPrint
Available in just about any size and a variety of mounts, the GalleryPrint offers a new aesthetic. Direct printing on acrylic with a reinforcing aluminum plate creates a unique visual effect that pretty much transforms your room into an art gallery. And we love that it’s available in matte or glossy.
2. Acrylic
Acrylic prints have been trending over the past few years, so if you haven’t tried it yet, now’s the time! What we love about Saal Digital’s acrylic wall art is that it is exceptional quality both in terms of printing and product construction, so you’ll be proud to hang it in your home.
3. Metal Prints
This is another trending print option we absolutely love. And, while not all metal prints are created equal, Saal got it right with theirs. We love the high resolution matte finish that brings out even the smallest (but sometimes most important) details.
Pro tips for creating a photo wall you’ll love.
- Scale: Make sure your art is the right scale for your space. A 16×24 inch print may seem large, but if you plan to center it in on an eight foot hallway wall, it’s going to look teeny tiny. On the other hand, you don’t want your prints to barely fit within the space either.Â
- Color: Try and keep your art within the tones or color family of your space. For example, if your dining room is all shades of browns and neutrals, will a photo of sunflowers add a nice contrast or look out of place? Just as you curate your family’s outfits for photos, create a cohesive look with your artwork.
- Style: If you’re creating a gallery wall, decide what vibe you’re going for. Do you want all candid moments or posed portraits? Landscapes or travel pics? That’s not to say you can’t successfully create a great mix of styles as long as you’re intentional with your choices.
- Confidence:Â Choose your favorite work for your photo wall, and don’t stress over whether it’s the best image you’ve ever taken. Display photos you love and be proud of not only your gorgeous family/pets/partner/travels, but also where you’re at in your photography journey.
p.s. Pros photographers — Saal also offers pro pricing if you love their products and want to offer them to your clients. Here’s a shortcut. And we definitely recommend checking out their photo gifts section for the cutest selection of client gifts!
This is a sponsored post but opinions are our own. Photos provided by Saal Digital.
