From session to wall: sizing a print

A quick way to measure a wall and choose a size that does not feel lost. Here is how it comes together, step by step.

Caring for prints

Hang prints away from direct sunlight and damp walls. Archival paper and inks last for generations when they are treated well, so a little care keeps them looking as they did on the day they arrived.

Why print at all

A photograph on a screen is seen for a second. A print on a wall is seen every day. Printing a few favourite frames is the simplest way to make a session part of your home and your life rather than a folder you rarely open.

Paper and finish

Matte papers feel calm and painterly, lustre papers add a little depth to colour, and cotton rag gives the richest blacks and a beautiful surface. I recommend matte or cotton rag for portraits, and lustre for vivid street scenes.

Choosing the size

Measure the wall and aim for a print that covers roughly two thirds of the space above the furniture beneath it. If you are unsure, tape a sheet of paper of the size you are considering to the wall and live with it for a day.

Framing

A generous white mount gives a photograph room to breathe. Simple frames in natural wood, black or white keep the attention on the image. Avoid ornate frames, which tend to compete with the photograph rather than support it.

This is a sample post used to preview the Journal layout.