How To Print Wedding Photos

October 08, 2024

Capture Your Fall Memories: Tips for Creating Custom Photo Decor

As the crisp air of autumn settles in and the leaves change into vibrant hues of gold, orange, and red, all home makers across the nation begin to break out their fall decor. If you’re looking for a new way to cozy up your space with art that holds meaning, printing your own fall memories is a beautiful way to add warmth and nostalgia to your home. Let’s dive into a few creative ideas for what kinds of photos to print this season to create decor that tells your story. Print Your Fall Adventures: Pumpkin Patches, Apple Orchards, and More Fall is full of charming adventures like trips to pumpkin patches, apple picking, or hayrides with family and friends. These moments are brimming with picture-perfect photo opportunities, and what better way to capture the spirit of the season than by displaying these memories in your home? Imagine the joy of hanging a custom print of you and your little ones picking the perfect pumpkins, or a family snapshot taken at an apple orchard displayed as part of your seasonal decor. The vibrant colors of fall foliage combined with the happy faces of your loved ones will create a stunning and sentimental focal point in your home. These prints will not only bring back fond memories but also set the tone for autumn celebrations in your home. Tip: When selecting these photos, go for images with rich, warm colors to evoke that cozy fall feel. Think burnt orange, deep reds, and lush greens – colors that naturally blend with the season’s earthy tones. Showcase Scenery from Past Vacations Whether you've spent time hiking through forests with stunning fall foliage or visited a national park abundant with leaves changing color, those scenic photos make for breathtaking wall decor. Scenic shots are often when we snap some of our best photos, and the beauty of autumn is a natural canvas. Turn those landscape shots into custom canvas prints that highlight the beauty of nature. It’s not just about hanging pictures; it’s about bringing nature’s serenity and tranquility into your home. The vivid colors of the mountains, the serene waters of a lake, or a quaint country road surrounded by fall trees—these images can help create a calming, peaceful atmosphere in your living room or hallway. Family Gatherings: Thanksgiving, Reunions, and Holiday Get-Togethers Fall is often synonymous with family gatherings, especially around Thanksgiving or family reunions. These special moments of togetherness are the perfect memories to capture and print, whether it’s the whole family gathered around the dinner table or an impromptu photo session in the backyard. A family group shot from last year’s Thanksgiving can make a wonderful addition to your gallery wall or mantel. It’s not only a visual reminder of love and connection but also a great conversation starter when guests come over. You can create a wall dedicated to family gatherings, changing out the prints as you collect new memories each year. For extra sentimental value, consider pairing these prints with custom captions or the date of the event. This makes the print not just a piece of art but a lasting keepsake that can be enjoyed for generations to come. Tip: Candid shots are sometimes the most cherished. Don’t just print the perfectly posed pictures—capture the laughter, the spontaneous hugs, and the joy that happens when no one’s looking. Create a Seasonal Gallery Wall Can’t decide on just one photo? Why not create a seasonal gallery wall? Fall lends itself perfectly to a collage of memories that you can display together. Choose a mix of fall adventures, vacation scenery, and family gatherings to create a gallery that reflects the best moments of the season. Opt for a combination of different print types to add texture and depth to your gallery wall. Canvas prints can add a warm, cozy feel, while metal prints bring a sleek, modern touch. Use a variety of sizes to keep the wall visually interesting, with a larger print as the centerpiece, surrounded by smaller images that complement the theme. A gallery wall is a fun, versatile way to decorate your home for fall, and you can easily swap out prints for new memories when the seasons change. It’s a creative and personal way to show off your favorite fall moments. This fall don’t just settle for generic store-bought decor—bring your own memories to life through custom photo prints that celebrate the beauty of the season and the people who matter most. From fun fall adventures to family reunions and serene vacation scenery, printing these moments is a wonderful way to make your home feel cozier and more personal. Start sifting through your photo albums or camera roll and get ready to create decor that is uniquely yours.

September 05, 2024

Choosing the Best Images for Your Custom Jigsaw Puzzle: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating a custom jigsaw puzzle is a fantastic way to turn your favorite memories into a fun and engaging activity. Whether you’re looking to relive a special moment or simply enjoy a beautiful scene in a new way, selecting the right image is key to crafting a puzzle that’s both enjoyable and visually appealing. In this guide, we'll walk you through the best practices for choosing the perfect image for your custom jigsaw puzzle, with tips on resolution, composition, and emotional significance. Use High-Resolution Photos To ensure your custom puzzle is clear and detailed, it's essential to use high-resolution photos. For our largest puzzle size, we recommend using images that are at least 3000 x 2000 pixels. High-resolution images prevent blurriness and pixelation, capturing every detail beautifully. Tip: Most modern smartphones take photos with sufficient resolution for custom puzzles. However, avoid using screenshots, photos downloaded from social media, or images with filters, as they often lose quality and may appear blurry when printed. Avoid Large Uniform Areas When selecting an image, try to avoid photos with large sections of the same color or texture. These areas can be difficult to assemble and may not be as engaging as images with a variety of colors and details. The best jigsaw puzzle images are those with intricate details that keep you interested as you piece them together. Example: Instead of a photo of a plain blue sky or a large green field, choose an image with multiple elements, such as a family portrait in a colorful garden, a bustling street scene, or a collage of your favorite vacation spots. Select Photos with Personal Significance Custom jigsaw puzzles are more than just a typical puzzle; they’re a way to relive your very own cherished memories. Choose photos that have personal significance, such as family portraits, pictures of your pets, vacation snapshots, or images from special events. These will make your puzzle not only fun to assemble but also a treasured keepsake. Tip: If you’re making a puzzle as a gift, think about what’s meaningful to the recipient. Wedding photos, family gatherings, or their favorite travel destinations are great options. Ensure Photos Are Well-lit Lighting is a crucial factor in how your puzzle will look. Well-lit photos, especially those taken in natural light, tend to be more vibrant and detailed. Avoid photos that are too dark or have harsh shadows, as these may appear grainy and have less detail. Tip: Photos taken outdoors during the golden hour—just after sunrise or before sunset—often provide the best lighting for rich, warm images. Consider Cropping Your Image If your photo has large, empty spaces or areas that lack interest, consider cropping it to focus on the more engaging parts. Cropping can help eliminate any boring sections and highlight the details that will make the puzzle more enjoyable to assemble. Example: If you have a family photo with a lot of background scenery, crop it to focus more on the faces and expressions, which will be more fun to piece together. Creating a custom jigsaw puzzle is an exciting way to bring your memories to life. By choosing the right image—one that is high-resolution, detailed, personally significant, and well-lit—you can ensure that your puzzle will be a beautiful and enjoyable experience. Whether you’re designing it for yourself or as a gift, these tips will help you select the perfect photo to make your custom jigsaw puzzle truly special. Start browsing through your favorite photos and select one that will not only be fun to assemble but will also be a keepsake you’ll cherish for years to come.

August 12, 2024

Top 5 Tips for Capturing Perfect Back-to-School Photos: Location, Props, and More

Back-to-school moments seem perfectly made for great photos. The photos you take can document the growth of your child based on a memorable event. They can also portray the excitement of a new experience about to begin and give you beautiful mementos of your child’s education journey from kindergarten to move-in day on a college campus. Your back-to-school photos present opportunities to let creativity help mark the occasion by adding fun touches and, with a bit of planning, celebrate the moments you want to hold onto forever. Here are five tips to spark ideas for memorable back-to-school photos. Use school and favorite locations. Situate your back-to-school photos in locations and next to landmarks that have a special meaning. You could select spots at the school entrance, in school hallways, and even sitting at a new desk in a classroom. Taking pictures at home can add familiarity in comfortable settings and give you control over lighting and background colors. Outdoor photos can capture the time of year with a change in the season that represents the turning of a calendar page. Keep your back-to-school photos natural. There’ll be plenty of time throughout the year for standard class or yearbook style photos. This is an opportunity to have fun and let the excitement of the day bubble to the surface. Let personalities shine through with the joy of the moment. Include other family member to show the passage of time and changes that you all went through over the years. It can fun to look back on the day and laugh at hair styles and fashion choices. Add props to help tell the story visually. Props can add a personal touch to your back-to-school photos and can bring interesting elements like favorite books or toys into the frame. You can find or create fun ways to indicate new grade levels with numbered signs or decorations. New clothing with school mascots or boasting school colors can indicate advances through grades, and photos of new backpacks and supplies indicate fresh beginnings. Props can also break up space and create layers and depth to make your photos more appealing and artistic. Change Levels of Perspective. Show the impact of the day through different camera perspectives that result in memorable and unique back-to-school photos. Get down and see what the front doors to the school or a room full of desks look like from a small child’s viewpoint. Get back-to-school photos from a bird’s eye view to create more artistic and dynamic shots and experiment with photos from different angles for unique pictures. Keep it candid. It’s okay to pose your children for more traditional back-to-school photos, but sometimes it can be those candid, unscripted moments you capture that turn out being the most memorable. Follow your children as they prepare for their big day and are collecting school supplies and packing backpacks and getting ready to board the bus. Take photos of your children on the move to add action and excitement to your shots and capture genuine moments of happiness. Bonus Tip. The first day of school can be stressful enough without the added pressure of hurrying through the morning trying to capture great photos. If possible, take location photos a day or two before the big day so you have time to set up shots or account for weather or other distractions. You should start the new school day early and prepare your children as much as possible for the disruptions that may be part of the process. Taking terrific back-to-school photos can capture your child’s personality at a key moment in their lives, and bring years of smiles and warm memories when you view them again in photo albums or journals. These five tips will help you make them even better.

July 10, 2024

Top Reasons Why Custom Prints Make Perfect Housewarming Gifts

Moving into a new home is a momentous occasion, filled with excitement and the promise of new beginnings. What better way to celebrate this milestone than with a thoughtful, personalized gift that adds warmth and character to their new space? Custom prints are the perfect housewarming gift, combining beauty, sentimentality, and functionality. Here are the top reasons why custom prints make the ideal present for new homeowners. Personalization Adds a Special Touch Custom prints are all about personalization. By selecting photos that have significant meaning to the recipient, you show that you’ve put thought and effort into the gift. Whether it’s a cherished family portrait, a snapshot from a memorable vacation, or a beloved pet, custom prints convey a level of care and affection that generic gifts simply can’t match. This personal touch transforms a simple piece of decor into a meaningful keepsake. Capturing and Sharing Memories Photographs capture moments in time that can be revisited and cherished forever. Gifting custom prints of special moments allows the new homeowner to relive those memories every day. Whether it’s a wedding photo, a picture from a fun outing, or a candid shot of loved ones, these prints help to create a sense of continuity and connection in their new environment. It’s like giving a piece of their history to grace their new home. Versatile Decor Options One of the great things about custom prints is their versatility. They can be made in a variety of formats, including canvas, metal, wood, and acrylic, each offering a unique look and feel. This means you can choose a style that best matches the decor of the recipient’s new home, whether it’s modern, rustic, or classic. Custom prints can enhance any room, from the living room to the bedroom, adding a personal touch that blends seamlessly with the existing decor. Unique and One-of-a-Kind Unlike mass-produced gifts, custom prints are unique to the individual. No two prints are exactly alike, especially when they feature personal photos or artwork. This uniqueness makes the gift stand out and be appreciated more than something that can be found anywhere. It’s a one-of-a-kind gift for a one-of-a-kind occasion. Conversation Starters Custom prints often serve as great conversation starters. When guests see a beautifully framed custom print, they are likely to ask about the story behind the photo. This gives the homeowner an opportunity to share their memories and stories, making the print not just a piece of decor but a storytelling medium. It’s a way to bring the past into the present and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Ease of Creation and Ordering With our technology, creating custom prints is easier than ever. All you need to do is upload your photos, choose your desired print format, and place your order with just a few clicks. You could even ship the print directly to the recipient. This convenience means you can give a thoughtful and personalized gift without the hassle. Ideas for Custom Photo Gifts Family Portraits: A timeless family photo can be the centerpiece of the living room, bringing a sense of unity and love to the home. Vacation Memories: Photos from memorable trips can bring a sense of adventure and joy into the new home, reminding the recipients of their favorite moments. Pet Photos: Custom prints of beloved pets can bring warmth and happiness to any space, making it feel truly personal and comforting. Art Prints: If the recipient has a favorite piece of art or their own artwork, turning it into a custom print can be a cherished gift that adds a touch of elegance and personal style to their decor. Custom prints are more than just wall decor; they are a way to share memories, add a personal touch, and make a house feel like a home. Whether it’s for a family member, a friend, or a colleague, a personalized photo gift is a thoughtful and heartfelt choice that will be appreciated for years to come. So next time you’re looking for the perfect housewarming gift, consider the timeless charm and personal touch of custom prints. They are the perfect blend of sentimentality and style, making any new house truly feel like home.

June 03, 2024

Savoring Summer Nights: Tips for Capturing and Printing Breathtaking Evening Scenes

There’s a reason so many unforgettable songs exist about summer nights. It’s because summer twilights and evenings are magical times, when possibilities seem endless and the company of family and good friends creates moments you wish would last forever. Today’s smartphone cameras let you capture and hold onto those memories, with excellent-looking images that once were possible only with a dedicated camera and equipment. Even better, you don’t have to be a professional photographer to take amazing early evening or late summer night shots. Chances are that your phone’s camera has everything you need for photos that you’ll be proud to display around your house or give to others. That’s not to say there aren’t some techniques you can apply to guarantee great looking pictures. With practice, you’ll get the hang of it. Plus, whether you have an Android or iPhone, features like long exposure modes and time-lapse options can also give your pictures an artistic flair. Here’s how to get started: Night Mode Is The Right Mode Fortunately, if you have a recent smartphone model, either Android or Apple, your camera will automatically adjust to Night Mode or its night shooting mode when your camera is opened and its lens detects low-light conditions. Otherwise, take the following steps. On the iPhone 15 series or more recent models, the moon icon that exists in the top-left corner will automatically turn yellow (gray when inactive) and the flash is also automatically turned off when the camera detects low light. If, instead, the Flash icon illuminates, turn that off and the moon icon will turn yellow and a number will appear beside it in the lit slider setting. The number indicates how many seconds the camera lens has determined is needed to take a good picture. You can use the slider to adjust the duration of the exposure, keeping in mind that the more time you add the longer you will need to keep the camera steady (more on camera steadiness below). Experiment with the slider to gauge the effect additional light has on the object of your lens. Even in Auto your photo will appear bright and enhanced. If you have an Android phone, your camera likely comes with a night shooting mode that may be called Night Sight, Night, OnePlus, Vivo, or Xiaomi. These modes deploy high dynamic range (HDR) for better outcomes in high-contrast conditions. On most models, you have very little control over exposure time. The lens automates the process depending on how starless the summer night or bright the outdoor lighting. To begin, open your camera, tap More, and select Night. Then simply frame your shot and you’re ready to take your picture. Steady Your Phone Clear, sharp summer night photos require longer exposure times, which means it’s important that the camera remain steady long enough based on the amount of light needed. The easiest solution is a tripod to stabilize your phone. Of course, it’s not realistic expect someone to cart a tripod along with them, even though mini and extendable tripods are relatively convenient to carry and set up. Instead use any stable object like a table top, bench, fence, or branch where your phone can be safely balanced throughout your shot. Plan Your Shot and Have Fun With Light Taking a great summer night picture takes a little more planning and patience than a daytime or indoor snap. Even for low-light images, some light is required and, in fact, the right amount of light can create a compelling look. The goal is to illuminate your subject as much as possible without washing it out or making it indistinguishable in darkness. It’s usually not difficult to find some light source like street lighting, exterior building lights, car headlights, holiday lighting, or the flame from a campfire. If you’re placing people in your shot, it may require a little more patience to get the lighting right or have them hold a pose a second or two longer than usual. Finish Your Photo In Style After you’re taken a summer night photo that you’re proud of don’t keep it on your phone. Print and mount it on a substrate to be placed around your house or office or shared with your friends or family. The best substrates for making darker images stand out with greater luminosity and detail are metal, glass, and acrylic. The hardness of these materials prevents the absorption or diffusion of inks common with traditional print substrates. Once, taking a perfect is perfect summer low-light or night shot required special camera equipment and the skill to adjust camera’s shutter speed settings. No longer. Today’s smartphone camera technology continues to advance and blur the line between digital cameras and smart phones. Explore all the wonderful options and camera modes available on either your iPhone or Android phone and this summer, when that perfect moment needs to become a keepsake, you’ll be ready. We can help you turn your most treasured memories into brilliant art. Print with us today!

Bring Your Wedding Photos to Life

Latest Blog Posts

Capture Your Fall Memories: Tips for Creating Custom Photo Decor

Choosing the Best Images for Your Custom Jigsaw Puzzle: A Comprehensive Guide

Top 5 Tips for Capturing Perfect Back-to-School Photos: Location, Props, and More

Top Reasons Why Custom Prints Make Perfect Housewarming Gifts

Savoring Summer Nights: Tips for Capturing and Printing Breathtaking Evening Scenes