Prints Matter - Let Me Print Your Professional Photographs For You!
From St. Louis Maternity and Newborn Photographer Amber Sargent
The year 2020 has been an interesting one to say the least. If you are anything like me, there has been a whirlwind of emotions as things seemed to be in a constant state of chaos and unknowns. The truth is, life has always been filled with unknowns, but when we are settled into the comfort of our daily routines, we come to expect that things will always be the same. I couldn’t help but have all the feels when I realized that the first big birthday of my youngest was just around the corner. We say it all the time, but children really do grow so fast - time flies. As a mom of two and a newborn photographer, its all around me. I spent his first year capturing and preserving as many memories as I can. I found myself begging for a pause button. I love watching him grow and learn, but there never seems to be enough time in a day to soak up all the love, all the snuggles.
In this day and age, many people ask for photo sessions with photographers, and the majority of these photographers only give digital images. They do this because it is what people ask for. “How much are the digitals? I want just the digitals”. It makes me so sad to see this. How many times have you had your photos taken, asked for “just the digitals”, then two years later, you don’t have a single image from that session printed and displayed in your home? During your photo session, you may have thought, “Prints are too expensive. I can get it cheaper if I get just the digitals and do the printing myself”. This is partially true. The question is, will you actually do it? And if you do, will your Walgreens print stand the test of time? Will your children be able to enjoy their first family portrait 20 years from now? What about 40 years from now? And what is that worth to you? Is it worth more or less than the generic mass-produced artwork from Hobby Lobby?
Try to notice how easy it is to go to a store and spend hundreds on the same home decor everyone else has. Can we say the same about having photos of our families in our homes? Personally, I try to fill my walls with as much artwork of my family as I can. Some people want their house to be a “shrine” to their children while others don’t, and nothing is wrong with either. But no matter which kind of person you are, you can still have family images on your wall that you truly get to enjoy everyday.
Think back to your childhood. Do your parents or grandparents have portraits in their homes, albums, or even just a chest of loose photos? Did you ever get to look through family photos and ask questions about the memories behind them? If we don’t print our photos, the next generation won’t get to have what we had, experienced, and enjoyed. I don’t think you’d want to spend 20 minutes digging through their phone, Facebook, or desk drawer to try and find memories to share. So why not put these memories in your home? Why not fill your walls with them? Printed photographs evoke emotion like no other. Our computer and phone screens cannot do the same.
As parents, we all want to raise children that feel safe, confident and valued. Printed images, according to experts in child psychology, are actually helpful in making children more confident, and aware of their worth and capabilities. As Dr. David Krauss, a licensed practitioner of clinical psychology from Cleveland, Ohio puts it, it is a photographer’s mission to create and make images look like safe spaces where kids could feel protected. Isn’t it just wonderful to know that having the printed images of our children in our homes already helps us carry out our duties as parents, and even allows us to constantly make them feel how important they are to us, and how loved they are? I think you will agree with me when I say that it just warms the heart to think that every time our children look up the walls of their bedroom lined with their pictures, or flip through the pages of photo books we made for them, they will have with them thoughts like, “my mom cared enough to print my photo for the walls”, or “look at this book my dad made with all my pictures".
Someday, as sad as it is, some of the people we treasure most might no longer be with us. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it would be if the only photos we have of them are ‘just the digitals’, ‘cell phone pics’, or photos stored in a USB that we could lose in a flash. But we all have the power to change that. Now try to picture and even feel the joy in the scene of you walking into your living room, and seeing your most cherished family, all the happiness and the love captured in the beautiful portrait hanging above your fireplace. No digital image can replace that pleasant, welcoming feeling. I have a framed portrait in my living room of my brother who is no longer with us. I see his face everyday.
Humans have a history of treasuring and passing down to the generations after theirs things they feel could show where they come from and who they really are, which is perhaps the reason we have family heirlooms. But aside from representing the place we grew up in or the work we did, I think we value our family heirlooms because they provide this sense of connection between and across generations in a family. Printed photographs, as identified by antique collectors, are among the most prized of family heirlooms. A picture is worth a thousand words after all, right?
This age of Instagram and iPhone has surely distracted us from seeing the value of printed photographs. But as we have seen, these photographs are more than just digital images printed on high-grade paper. They are instrumental in raising children to be confident individuals and in preserving the precious bond of families through times.
Allow me to end with a little challenge for everyone: have the conscious effort to capture the best memories you share with your family and fill your home with them.
#printyourphotos
I offer a complete line of custom frames to house your family’s artwork. I am happy to help you find a frame that suits your style and perfectly complements your portrait. My framing includes an 8-ply archival mat (if desired) and archival fine art paper. All of my offered frames are solid wood and the acrylic is your choice of top-grade standard acrylic or museum-grade glare-free acrylic.
I offer a variety of other printed artwork as well, including albums, wood prints, and collection boxes. Click HERE for examples.
I can assist you with printing any images you have printing rights to. (Wedding Album?). Please get in touch if you need help preserving your memories! I would love to help!
Sargent Photography is a custom portrait photographer located in O’Fallon, Missouri (Winghaven area), serving the greater St. Charles County and St. Louis area.
I would love to help you with maternity, newborn, children, and family portrait sessions. Get in touch today to customize your session!
