Choosing the size to print a photo isn’t easy.  In fact precisely the opposite, and often you can be left in a quandary trying to decide what size to print a photo.  I tend to find that many clients find it more difficult to choose print sizes than it is to choose which images to print.

The the print sizes you choose will ultimately depend on the way in which you want to display them.  Smaller prints like 5″x7″ (approx. 12 x 18 cm) are usually more suited to displaying in albums, or in a free-standing frame on a dressing table or bedroom pedestal.

As you can see in the image sizing template above, even an 8″ x 10″ (20cm x 25cm) or 11″ x 14″ (28cm x 35.5cm) print can easily become lost on a large wall.  A large print, such as a 24″ x 36″ (60cm x 90cm) can, on the other hand act as a very dramatic centrepiece on an otherwise empty wall.  I have found that this template really helps to give an appreciation of what a photo will actually look like and what impact it will have when mounted on a wall.

Still, there is also really no substitute for seeing examples of wall art or albums when choosing how to present the photos from your wedding or photo shoot.  Before you choose a photographer, it is important to make sure that they have available a selection of finished products in their studio, as that will give you the best way to choose between the different print sizes and finishes available.  The only way to really get a feel for the difference between say a lustre and metallic finish print is to see the two side by side in albums or on the wall.  There is also really no way to feel the impact of, say, a 20″ x 30″ (50 x 75 cm) print without first seeing one on the wall in the studio.

Thank you to Tina Boyd for sharing the photo size template which I have used in this post.