Living in the age of digital photography means the everyday photographer is taking more pictures than ever before, but most of those pictures never find life off a screen.  It’s time for that to change! I believe wholeheartedly that photos are works of art that are meant to be displayed and enjoyed. That is why most of my photo packages include high quality, professionally printed tangible photos, canvases, and albums.

Your photos - both professional and everyday shots -  are too precious to live on your computer.

Here are some easy, inexpensive ways to get your favorite photographs off your computer and out into the world where you can enjoy them.

Use photos in your decor.

Photos are a great way to add flair and personality to your home.  With a large variety of online and local stores vying for your business, your photos can be be printed on canvas or enlarged for framing for a reasonable price.  Use large canvases or framed prints to create a gallery wall or display smaller photos on tables and shelves. Gallery shelves allow you to display a collection of photos of different sizes that can be easily updated and changed.  And don’t forget about those digital photo frames that were so trendy a few years ago. These frames scroll through a series of images, allowing you to display a large number of photos without a lot of space. I especially love to use these in an office.  

Create a photobook.

Technology has made creating photo “albums” and scrapbooks simple and affordable.  Many programs will use a chosen theme or template to create the book for you, if that is what you want, while others have tons of options to edit and customize your project.  Use an online photo book site to create a baby book, a wedding album, a year in review, or a book of vacation photos. Or get creative and make an ABC book full of pictures of your child or a cookbook of favorite family recipes.

Have your favorite photos printed.

You don’t always have to create a book or a fancy display.  When a photo makes you happy, print it! Use a clothesline or a corkboard to pin them up where you can see them and look back at cherished memories.  Kids also love to see their pictures displayed throughout their home - it makes them feel loved. Take a few minutes, jot a quick note, and send your favorite photos to grandparents or relatives you don’t see as often as you like.

Of course, be sure to always keep your digital images safe.  Backup your photos to an online or cloud storage service or keep a copy on an external hard drive.

Great photos are meant to be shared.  Choose some of your favorites and get them off your screen and into your home today.