You booked an in-home family photoshoot and had an absolute blast. The kids had so much fun hanging out with their parents and siblings, making new memories as you enjoyed some of your favorite day-to-day activities in front of the camera. But it’s what comes after the photoshoot that parents ask me about most, including delivery of their photos (which occurs through a slideshow and online gallery preview within 14 days) and the process for printing family photos. Through the details below, you’ll find a quick guide on how to use your print credits, which printed items to select, and what to avoid when making the decision to frame your cherished memories.

After Your Session, You’ll Receive a Print Credit

For each one of the sessions I capture for local families in Edina, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, I include a print credit. The intentional decision to include a print credit within my photography packages allows for ease of printing family photos when it’s time to move those memories beyond your digital gallery.

Life as a parent to littles is busy, and it’s easy to get swept up in the numerous day-to-day tasks. This usually leaves “printing family photos” at the bottom of your never-ending list. 

Print credits allow you to order your prints directly from within your online gallery, and they are delivered to your doorstep within a few short weeks of your photoshoot. The process is easy, simplified, and accessible from the device of your choosing.

What Can the Print Credit be Used for?

The print credits offered as part of your photography package give you the flexibility to select ordering albums, framed prints, folios, and loose prints. 

Many of the families I work with often order an album along with loose prints. This option allows you to refresh the photos already hanging on the walls of your home, repurposing your cherished frames over the years, while also having a selection of photos through loose prints, available to gift to family members.

What Size Loose Prints Should We Order?

If you have ‘gifts for grandparents’ on your mind, I recommend 5×7 for desktop size. Prefer to frame and wrap your photos? 8×10 is a universal size, with an endless selection of framing options from any of your favorite stores.

If you’re considering which photos to order for your home, take a quick look at the back of the frames you have on hand to decide which ones need a refresh with your most recent memories. That will help you best determine sizing, while allowing you to visualize which images would look best in that particular space.

Do We Need Permission From Our Photographer Before Printing?

It’s true that a photographer, any photographer, automatically owns the copyright to the images they create. However, when it comes to printing family photos, I offer families a full print release. This allows them to enjoy their memories the way they were intended. 

What to Avoid When Printing Family Photos

It can be so tempting to order printed photos from a local pharmacy and pick them up the same day. But I would strongly caution against it. A quick print here or there for a school project or even a family craft is ok, but when you consider the enjoyment of your memories framed in your home, and the best allowable quality, there are preferable options to consider.

The beauty of family photography is reliving the memories in the coming years by stepping back into the joy of your family photoshoot each time you pass the framed photos hanging on the walls of your home. Those memories are deserving of the finest print quality.

So often, the printing machines at the ‘quick and easy’ shops are not calibrated properly for a high level of detail. Another major issue with quick prints is the ability to represent color in each of your photos. Places such as your local pharmacy or big box shops print photos on “paper grade” which can easily bleed, fade, or show discoloration.

Lastly, quick prints, such as those ordered at a kiosk, are often compressed, reducing the high resolution captured by your family photographer, affecting the overall features.

Family Photos in Edina, St. Paul or Minneapolis

I’m a firm believer that your best memories are enjoyed fully when they move from behind the scenes of a digital gallery to hanging on the walls of your home. Print credits are offered as part of the family (and newborn) photos I capture in Edina, St. Paul, and Minneapolis.

Over the years, your children will quickly shift from sleepy baby to active toddler, with the growth and adventure of childhood only continuing to evolve. If it’s time to refresh your family photos with a fun at-home session, you can find more details on working with me when you follow this link.