We’re on a “no more empty walls” mission to get you to print your photos. You’re a photographer, you should be showing off your work! We’re guessing you have about a million digital images hanging out on various hard drives, so why not bring them out into the light and put them up on your walls?
Our friend, pro photographer Divya Wolf, recently printed some of her family photos to create large wall art in her home and we’re totally in love. Her prints make a huge (pun intended) impact on her home. And, she says her daughters are so proud to see their life-sized faces on the walls. We interviewed Divya and here’s what she had to say about the process, from choosing images to mounting the final artwork in her home and, of course, her family’s priceless reaction.
Q: Tell us about why you wanted to create large wall art for your home.
A: I’ve been dreaming of finding “statement” wall art pieces that would seamlessly match my home décor, but also showcase my family, and I finally have them. Miller’s matte metal prints are an absolute dream come true. I love the modern sleek presentation and how they command a presence but also fit in our house perfectly.
But more importantly, it brings me joy when I see my daughters’ faces light up each time they walk past their larger-than-life images on our walls. Printing my photos of them was like a love letter they get to see over and over every single day. I can’t tell you what an amazing experience its been to print my art (large!) and showcase it for my family.
Q: What inspired you to choose this wall decor (big!) for this gorgeous space?
A: I fell in love with the beautiful windows and large open walls of our house when we first purchased it. However, these gorgeous, large walls have led to spaces that feel daunting to decorate.
While I have always loved a modern minimalistic style, I lean towards making sure our house feels like a home and our living spaces are a balance of being impactful but also warm and personalized to our family.
Originally, I had tried smaller pieces of art and an assortment of accessories but they always either seemed to lack scale or the personalization I was looking for in such an important part of our house. Given the vast space I had to fill, I quickly realized I needed large, impactful pieces of art.
Q: It’s hard to make time for printing your work, right?
A: There are a million reasons not to print your photos — you can’t decide what to print, what images go well together, what format you like best… no time! But Miller’s made the process absolutely effortless. And as a busy mom with two little children, that’s a big deal.
I was able to easily upload my images and make custom selections, and when I had a question Miller’s customer service responded even late on a weekend to help me out! Even better — I received my order fast! My five images were literally printed immediately and on my doorstep before I knew it.
All this is to say: Print your photos! It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, and it’s a hundred percent worth it.
I’m no longer on team empty walls!
Q: Can you tell us how you envisioned this space?
A: When looking at the space I was hoping to achieve balance and also to take the viewer’s eye on a journey. I knew I wanted a large statement piece that could be seen from both the main level of our house as well as our upper level looking down. It was important for me to have a piece that showed our connection as a family and I also wanted portraits that reflected my children at this moment of time.
Q: Why did you choose black & white photos?
A: Seeing as a lot of my photography is highly colorful, choosing to print in B&W is probably a bit of a surprise. However, I made a deliberate choice to print this set of photos in B&W. I wanted to simplify these portraits, especially since they are large, by removing the color to communicate the intensity of the emotion behind each image. I also chose to print them in B&W to also match our space and accents like our black iron railing.
Q: I think often people are afraid to go too big, but this proves that big makes a huge impact! Can you tell us why you opted for big in this space rather than more, smaller artwork?
A: To be honest, I probably was one of those people! Printing big is intimidating, but boy does it make a statement! I have loved seeing individuals piece together collections of images, but I was looking for an immediate wow factor. My goal in printing these large scale portraits is for my family to have that visual reminder of how loved they are and to feel that joy radiate off the walls on a daily basis.
I have collections of smaller images in other parts of my house, but for this space I wanted that immediate impact whether you were searching for it or just walking past it. Seeing as this is our stairwell and my own bedroom, I know our family will be walking past these images at a minimum of twice a day, and I love that they are surrounded by these images.
Q: Why matte metal prints?
A: My new matte metal prints show those priceless small details that I want to capture all the time. From the sparkle in their eyes, the cheekiness of their expressions, to the little curls that I always want to remember, I have found a way to freeze these moments for all time. I was absolutely taken away by the quality of each print and the richness in their tonality. My quest to find a deep, evocative black and white is finally complete.
I love how the matte metal prints have a large variety of print sizes. I have been looking for something to fit my oversized stairwell for years, and the ability to print a high quality 30-inch x 40-inch has been exactly what I have been looking for. More importantly, I finally have pieces that can anchor the empty walls that I have spent 4 years trying to fill, but even better is seeing my children light up every time they walk into a room with our new prints. Not only do we have these gorgeous pieces of art, but they truly help surround our house in love.
Q: Was your goal to create a real impact?
A: Yes, I truly was hoping the pieces left an impact, especially for my children. I believe these images help influence their confidence and the way they look at themselves as they continue to grow. My goal was to remind them how important they are to us and our family. Simply put, I want these images to pull the viewer in and see our family through my eyes.
I honestly am kicking myself for not printing these images sooner given how much joy they bring every single member of my family.
Q: Were these easy to install?
A: One of my biggest fears on having large pieces of art would be that they would be difficult to install properly. I was pleasantly wrong, they were actually easier than my smaller pieces of art in other parts of my house! Miller’s did an amazing job with the float mount and we had each piece up in a matter of minutes. I still can’t believe all I needed was a hammer and a nail!
Q: Can you tell us how your girls reacted to the display?
A: I surprised the girls after school with the final pieces of art, and their reactions were priceless. In this day and age I feel it is so important to lift them up and teach them to be confident in who they are. I will never forget how my youngest turned and looked at me, and with the purest glee exclaimed “Mommy, it’s ME!” She was mesmerized by seeing herself and her sister in an almost life-size representation.
Q: Any words of wisdom for others trying to create a moment with gorgeous, big wall art?
A: My biggest advice would be to stop doubting yourself and print your photos! Look for those pieces that pull your heart strings, the moments you never want to forget, and surround yourself with what you love.
I tend to over analyze things and have a form of paralysis doubting my own work at times and whether it is good enough. However, no one else sees that, they just see the beauty and emotion behind these pieces of art. I honestly am kicking myself for not printing these images sooner given how much joy they bring every single member of my family.
Meet Divya Wolf
Divya Verma Wolf lives with her husband and two daughters and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She considers herself an everyday mom who creates from the heart and hopes her photography is a living legacy for her children and generations to come. Her photography is infused with emotion, often with a creative twist, and tells a story of the twists and turns in her life. Follow her on Instagram @divyawolf and see her work on her website at Rocketmoonphotography.com.
Photos and video by Divya Wolf.
