How to Print Your Photos After Your Elopement or Session

Sometimes the biggest barrier to tangibly getting your photos in your hands is not knowing how to print your photos!! It can be so easy to be faced with decision overwhelm.

But you invested in these photos because they matter!! They hold the belly laughs, the quiet hand squeezes, the wind in your hair, and the moments that made you feel completely alive. 

So why let them sit in a folder on your phone forever?

The good news is that it does not have to feel overwhelming!! With a little intention and a cozy evening set aside, you can get your favorite memories into something you see and enjoy every day!!

Why You Should Print & Display Your Photos

Printing your cherished photos brings warmth, grounding, and connection into your home! If you know me, then you know I’m a huge fan of hygge! And what’s more hygge than displaying your photos around your home?

They remind you to slow down, reflect, and surround yourself with what makes life meaningful. It’s also often just such a good reminder about what matters most in life!

Photos brings intentionality into your home and makes sure they get the love they deserve instead of sitting in the cloud graveyard somewhere.

A Step-By-Step Guide on Printing Your Photos

Set the atmosphere and the mood

Light some candles, order some of your favorite takeout, and put the phones on do not disturb or put them in a different room. Grab your favorite beverages, put on a cozy playlist. Sit down with your partner and let’s start picking out the photos to turn into artwork for your home (or gifts for loved ones!)

Revisit your gallery with your partner first

Now that the mood has been set and you both are ready to start printing your photos – scroll through your gallery once or twice, and just soak it in.

You’ll start to notice which photos keep pulling you back and those are your first clues to which photos you should print!

Utilize the favorite feature in your gallery

Now go through your gallery once more!! When there are photos that really stand out to you, hover over that specific photo and click the heart icon.

This allows you to create a separate album of favorite images without having to go through your entire gallery again! It’s a great way to keep track of your favorite photos.

Now it’s time to order your prints!

Now that you have your favorite photos selected and picked out, you can order your prints right through your gallery! When you order directly from the store that’s in your gallery, you don’t have to worry about downloading them, resizing them, if the quality stayed the same, etc.

This eliminates a lot of steps and stress! When you order through the gallery print store, you’re guaranteeing the quality and more since it’s through labs I (or your photographer) trust.

Why you should order prints through your gallery

Here are the cons of standard printing places like Walgreens, Walmart, Shutterfly, etc:

• Your images will be compressed and lose quality (and if you are order a big print, that really makes a difference)
  
• Prints from these places tend to warp, fade, and turn yellow over time
  
• These are meant for storage, not displaying in your home

When you’re ordering prints through your gallery, not only are you guaranteeing the quality of your photos, but you’re also supporting me/your photographer! One of youre favorite small business owners 😉

How & Where To Display Your Photos

Once you have your favorites picked out and your prints ordered, it’s time to think about how you want to display them!

Start with feelings, not design

Before you think about where a photo should go, ask yourself how you want that space to feel. Do you want your bedroom to feel calm and romantic? Choose soft, emotional images with warm tones and gentle movement!

Want your living room to feel joyful and full of life? Fill it with laughter-filled moments and playful candids!

Want to a different space to feel grounded? Add landscape or nature-focused photos, like in your entryway or office.

The photos in your home should tell a story!! Think of them as cozy storytelling woven throughout your space. Trust me, it makes such a difference when you start selecting your photos.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to display photos:

• A framed print in the hallway or living room
• An album on your coffee table or end table
• Small framed prints styled on bookshelves
• A print box beside your bed
• Ornaments or holiday cards made from your favorite images
• Custom calendars

If you’d like more ideas and inspiration, I created a whole Pinterest board here!

Photos make great gifts!

If you want to give your loved ones a meaningful gift, gifting them a way to display photos from your special day is perfect! Especially if they weren’t there physically.

Gift ideas:

• A framed print of your parents’ favorite family photo
• An album for your families filled with your adventures
• A print box for a long-distance best friend
• Mini desk prints for grandparents or your partner
• Metal ornaments

Pssst… you can even ask your loved ones to gift YOU a gift card for your gallery!

My Best Tips on Displaying Your Photos

Mix Textures: Pair wood, linen, or metal frames with soft fabrics nearby (think woven blankets, clay vases, or candles). The contrast adds depth and warmth.

Layer Your Prints: Don’t be afraid to lean frames against the wall on shelves or stack smaller prints with books and plants. Have fun and play around!

Use Soft Lighting: Place prints where the light hits gently like near a lamp, a window with filtered light, or a candle-lit corner. Warm light brings photos to life (And feels so cozy)

Create Cozy Corners: A reading nook, hallway, ledge, or entry table can all become little story moments that make you pause and smile 🙂

Keep It Intentional: Choose a few photos that make you feel calm, grounded, or joyful… and let them breathe.

Tips for Picking Your Frames

Frames are going to help you tie your prints all together! But it can be SO overwhelming trying to pick what frames go best with your photos (it’s one thing I use to struggle with when printing my own photos)! But here’s my little rule of thumb to go by:

Gold or brass: Warm fall tones, sunset moments, earthy portraits

Black: Timeless for moody, dramatic images or Iceland elopement photos

Natural wood: Cozy, organic, perfect for outdoor or adventure photos

White or light oak: Bright, clean, airy shots. Great for modern spaces

I also really love going thrifting for frames. Sometimes you can find some gorgeous, unique frames at thrift stores, antique stores, estate sales, garage sales, on Facebook marketplace, etc! I’m a big fan of thrifting!

Links To Some Of My Favorite Frames:

• Gold Accented Frame from Michaels (I use these for my warmer photos and art prints)
• Black Frame with Mat Option from Michaels (I use these frames for my Iceland photos since they’re cooler tones)

Let your photos be seen! 

Your photos deserve more than a hard drive or extra iCloud storage. They deserve to be part of your everyday life!!

The easiest way to make that happen is to choose the images that make you feel something, print them with intention, and enjoy them often.

As a Minnesota and Wisconsin elopement photographer, I hope you will print your photos often and keep your loving home FULL of incredible memories of the life you’re building!!