Robin Allen, a Lexington photographer has a great eye for how family photos can fit into the decor of a home. Read on to discover her tips for selecting photos.
What would you guess is the most popular “big wall portrait”
size among consumers. Since the answer
is in the title, I’ll assume you guessed right…. One of those big 8x10s! I always have a little internal chuckle when
a client of mine will say to me they’re planning on “getting a big one.” In my experience, that word varies from
person to person, so I ask them to define “big.” She
replies with the word ‘duh’ woven in to her tone, “8x10.” The next popular response is 11x14, which
isn’t much larger.
I in no way mean to take a jab at these clients, and all
professional photographers have them.
It’s my job to help them see how different sizes can really make a great
impact on the decor of their rooms. I
know exactly why we have a whole generation of people who gravitate to this
tiny wall size. But first – more jabs at
the 8x10…
Think of a beautifully decorated house or hotel. Picture in your mind what ‘beautiful’ looks like. What do the window coverings look like? The
furniture? The floors? …Now what’s on
the wall? Every grand home and high-brow
hotel has had a grand statement in wall art (no matter the particular style). This could mean a large wall portrait or
painting that fills the space in which it was displayed. This could also mean eight small prints which
resemble soldiers marching in line.
These eight, I must say, since they are dressed all alike (mats and
frames and content) are together ONE piece of art. They are in series. The grand 60 inch art piece which stands
alone is also one piece of art. Never
have I seen a lonely 8x10 on the wall. Matted (needing a larger frame) or not,
the designers never have elected to employ the use of this postage stamp.
So then where do these tiny photographs belong? The answer is
1)
on book shelves.
(The prints are delightful little ways to break up the repetition of the
books.)
2)
on desks and table tops
3)
if their home MUST be the wall, then they should
live only in series. (A series is marked
by its similar display characteristics: A frame style is repeated and a print style is
repeated. ( i.e. all photographs are black
and white, or maybe the photographs are all very colorful and all have a fun
subject matter. ..but they are alike.)
Then WHY oh WHY are these small sizes so popular on the wall
among the common consumer!?
I am a professional photographer and my concentration is the
young, growing family. I photograph
maternity clients, then the newborns, then the baby as she grows in to her
childhood. One thing I can COUNT ON
during an ordering appointment… mom wants
every single shot I have taken. For
this reason I only let her see the best 40-ish, otherwise we’d be there all
night! The knee-jerk reaction to her
feeling of being overwhelmed is to get a bunch of 8x10s and the rest in
5x7. Maybe her favorite is promoted to a
“big” 11x14.
There are problems with this order and I don’t even have to
know what her house looks like. 11x14s
are RARELY large enough for any prominent wall, though usually that is where
the ‘big one’ is placed. Go ahead and
measure the space over your mantle. What would a professional designer assign for
that location? Probably something in the 30-40 inch range. Whatever size that will fill the
space. Then, what on earth
happens to the 8x10s?! Surely she
doesn’t have room on her tables and shelves for ten 8x10s then 9 more
5x7s! Sadly, after a handful would be
framed and displayed in miscellaneous locations around the house, the rest
would meet an early and unfortunate demise in a drawer, the photo drawer that
is the graveyard of too many portraits.
Here’s what I help her with…
We find out BEFORE the session what she really wants. Does she need a great piece for over the
mantle? Does she have a couple of large
voids on the wall that she needs me to fill?
OR does she want a great book or wall series that showcases her
children’s wild personalities? What
would she really enjoy every day? What
would she be so proud to show all of her friends? That’s what we photograph for and that is what she ends up ordering!
I do NOT want buyer’s remorse ANYWHERE near my clients, so I really
discourage the collection of drawer photos. That’s a waste, and I know we can do better
than that. I know she will be happy with,
and will be so proud to own works of art that are the right size for their
space, and then when there are still too many photos left, she can rediscover
her kids’ sweet pictures as she thumbs through a beautiful book or album.
At the end of the day, Say NO to the drawer full of postage
stamps!!
-Robin
You can reach Robin the following ways:
Robin Allen Photography
Located at 711 Millpond Road
Lexington, KY 40514 (all sessions, appointments, and drop-ins are by
appointment only)
(859)685-8516 or robin@robinallen-photography.com
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