Tips for printing photos for the holidays (updated!)
'Tis the season for printing photos! Whether it's for your Christmas cards to send off to friends and family, for framing those precious moments from the year and displaying them on your walls, or you're giving photos as a gift, here are some tips for how to print and where.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a special little gift!
1. If possible, steer clear of convenience store 1 hour photo stores
I know, I know but it’s convenient, hence convenience stores… but try to avoid these types of photo printing stores when possible. The quality can often be a gamble and customer service isn’t specialized in photography and may not be able to answer your questions clearly. Let’s stick to getting our chewing gum and gift cards from these types of stores. *Note: if you’re in a bind or needing a last minute gift, 1 hour photo can come in handy and usually do get your photo(s) printed in under an hour.
2. Make sure the quality of your photo is enough to print.
Most phones and cameras have the ability to create images that are high enough quality to print standard sized prints. Here’s a great breakdown and guide to use when checking to see if your photos are the right size to print. Most photo printing sites will also tell you how large you can print your photos without compromising quality too!
3. Sending holiday cards? I’ve got recommendations!
Try one of these reputable card companies: Postable, Artifact Uprising, Shutterfly, Simply To Impress, and the Ink Card app (for iPhone and iPad users).
During the holiday season, most, if not all of theses companies have sales on their products, sometimes even a promo code for first time users too!
I used Postable for our Christmas cards this year and love how straightforward and user friendly it is. They even have a link you can send out to people to fill out their addresses and it saves it directly to your card design so save a bit of time! They have tons of designs, not just Christmas and holiday cards. They have postcard and sealed card options AND they address and postmark for you too, so you don't have to worry about buying stamps, labeling, and mailing off all the envelopes yourself!
From the research I did this year, Postable by far the simplest to use and all their pricing was straightforward. (For other sites, I would find out after spending time creating the card, that it would be an additional $ for labeling, then an additional $ for postmarking and shipping… and I just don’t have time for that!)
4. Talk about a meaningful gift for loved ones
Photographs are a simple and meaningful gift! Printed and framed photos add so much warmth and love to one's home and is such a special gift to give and receive.
Don’t know where to start? Here are a few ideas:
First, flip through your phone’s photos. I can almost guarantee that there are pictures you forgot existed in there that would be solid gold to give to a friend or loved one.
Find out where you can print your photos. To start, check out Artifact Uprising, Parabo Press, Shutterfly, or Minted.
Decide if you want to gift the photos as a wall hanging, an album or photo book, a calendar, or fridge magnets
Think about accessories needed to complete the gift. There are so many ways to display photos but here are a few that I recommend:
Matting and framing (you can do this affordably at Michaels - they have pre-cut mattes to standard print sizes, just buy a frame the size of the matte, not the size of the photo, plus they almost always have sales on frames). Check by doing a quick Google search for “Michael’s coupons” and you’ll find something;
Photo stands and displays - Parabo Press Photo Displays + Artifact Uprising photo ledge
Photo books and albums are also a favorite of mine! I love Artifact Uprising for beautiful, customizable, and quality photo books and Parabo Press for super cheap and easy to put together photo books!
5. Support local!
Look up local and individually owned print shops in your area to help out small businesses in your community.
Check your locally owned and small business related Facebook groups in your community for locals who make handcrafted frames for an extra special touch!
6. Got professional photos taken recently? Ask your photographer
If you got photos taken this year by a professional photographer and you received your photos through an online gallery, it is likely that they offer a printing service for those photos. Check with your photographer to see how you can print from the gallery, if you don’t know how to already. It’s so convenient and easy if your photos are in an online gallery to order prints and I can attest that the printing companies are top notch quality.
If you recently had a session with me, you can print photos directly from your gallery and right now you get free shipping on orders over $50!
A few things to remember:
There’s a lot out there when it comes to printing photos and gifting them. My recommendation: keep it simple!
It doesn’t have to be expensive! (Trust me, it can get pricey if you let it)
Photos are so meaningful to people and will be treasured for years to come. Take it from someone who has both given and received photo gifts. Having those photos displayed throughout your home or on a coffee table, is more than having a warm and inviting household. They’re tangible memories and nostalgia that will be cherished forever.
A little gift for you!
Use this link to get $20 off your first purchase with Artifact Uprising!
St. Louis dance and lifestyle photographer
