Common Myths About Wall Art Photography Prints
I wanted to write about some common myths regarding wall art, because I feel like it gets an unfair rep. Prior to becoming a photographer, I always printed small paper prints and would tack them to a corkboard or pop them in some cheap Hobby Lobby frames, but never really gave much thought to actual wall art. Before we dive in, I guess I should answer the question, “what is wall art?” Wall art, simply put, is art you hang on your walls. However, since I’m a portrait photographer, I’m specifically referring to wall-sized prints that I’ll create for you of you and your family that you can use to decorate your home. My studio specializes in handmade canvases and recycled metal wall art, but for those looking for something truly one-of-a-kind, I also can create a hand-painted portrait of your family based off an image that we’ll capture and then place it in a handmade frame. So let’s jump in!
Nobody prints portraits of when they're pregnant. They wait until the baby is here.
FALSE. The portraits are just as much for baby as they are for their parents. Kids LOVE growing up and seeing pictures of when they were in your stomach! Plus, each and every pregnancy is so different. It’s an amazing way to document a short, but incredible, period of life. Personally, I’m so happy that I documented the heck out of my pregnancy. I had no idea then that I was only going to have one child, and I would have been devastated to have missed out on recording that period in our lives. I also felt an immense amount of gratitude towards my changing body and wanted to have images that reminded me of this time. After struggles with infertility and loss, hanging a maternity portrait in my home felt like a gift from the universe.
Wall art is only for vain people.
FALSE. I think it’s such a contradiction that we’re often told to love ourselves, but when we hang a portrait of ourselves on the wall we suddenly must be vain and self-absorbed. I had a lot of fear of judgment when I printed a 60″ (5’!) canvas of me and my son. However, I know my motivations for printing that portrait weren’t because I was obsessed with myself. Rather, that image was incredibly healing for me during my struggle with postpartum depression. You see, I had purchased the red gown in this photo for client use but Will told me to put it on and offered to take a photo of me and our son in the azaleas that were blooming behind our home. At that time, my self esteem was so low that I couldn’t imagine loving an image of myself. However, I’m so glad I listened and have this image. I still go into the studio to look at it almost every day. It symbolizes my bond with my child, my own resilience, and the love and support of my partner who still saw my beauty, even when I couldn’t. Your reasons for printing your portraits are your own. Plus (and maybe this is just my own opinion), but I don’t have people in my home who would make snap judgments like that.
Canvases are for old people.
FALSE. These are not your grandma’s canvases! We’ve all seen the cringey portraits we had to do growing up (thanks mom, for letting me wear that beret), but these are not those. Our canvases are handmade in the USA. In fact, it’s no extra cost to do custom sizing because they handmake each wooden frame. The canvases are then printed, hand-stretched, and lacquered. With the modern process, they’re supposed to be protected from fading for 50+ years! Even still, canvases are a bit more traditional. If that’s not your sense of style, no worries! We also offer some modern metal artwork as well. Our metal pieces have your images sublimated into recycled aluminum (not printed and glued on top like many). I love that they’re pretty much lifeproof! We’ve had one in our high humidity bathroom for the last 5 years and it’s still flawless.
Wall Art is expensive.
TRUE. I guess this is a bit more nuanced because pricing is relative. I try to balance the cost of handmade, heirloom quality pieces with the value that they provide. All of my wall art is handmade to order in the USA and made from sustainable materials. If you’re getting joy out of looking at a portrait every day and it documents the journey you’ve been on, I do believe it’s worth it. We offer payment plans as well, because I want these beautiful pieces of art to be available to anyone who wants them.
Portraits of me and my family aren't "real art"
FALSE. I think this one bugs me the most because please define “art” for me. Art is anything that we find beauty in. Art is something that inspires us. Art makes us feel things. And what is your family, but all of those things?! There is nothing on this planet I cherish more than my family. I want my child to grow up in a home that celebrates his childhood by placing those memories on the walls instead of cheap Ikea aesthetic prints. I want my house to feel like a home by personalizing it with images of us – the people who live and love in it. We are art, each one of us. In 50 years, would you rather traditional “art” that you spent a ton of money on by a stranger you’ve never met or would you rather a piece that documents a time in your lives that can never be re-lived? I promise these memories only get more precious with each year that goes by. From the chubby-legged toddler in the rain to my lanky prince in the hallway, I’m so glad I can see the growth of my child and the evolution of our family year after year. You ARE art.
Maybe wall art really isn’t for you (and if so, that’s ok!). However, in all my years of doing this, I’ve NEVER had someone regret printing a portrait. I’ve only had them regret that they printed it too small. My wall art is my most prized worldly possessions and I adore each and every piece because it freezes a moment that we can’t go back to. If you’re on the fence, I’m always happy to create mockups of your images to scale so you can experience them for yourself.
