KWR:ask your photographer how their images will print in typical sizes post wedding**PAGING PHOTOGRAPHERS**

When I go to print any of these formal photos with the larger groups, the marginal space is too small and cuts the edges of people on the ends off to print in standard sizing. For example-an 8x10 print cuts off the people on the end, but is perfect if I go to a non-standard size of 8x12 (ie: more expensive to print) I brought this up to my mom and she said this is common and also happened with my brother’s wedding photos. She ended up custom framing his photos to make it work (thankfully her and my dad used to have a framing business on the side) I know I can buy some frames in these non-standard sizes but they are pricier and im having trouble finding frames I like- so we may have to go the custom route too…

If anyone has suggestions- please share! Just thought it may be something others want to discuss with their photogs pre wedding so that maybe they can get some images with more “blank space” around people so they don’t have this issue after the wedding.

1 more question-our photog did some prints for us on deep matte paper. It is GORGEOUS! Im thinking of framing these without glass so you can really see the image as is-thoughts? Is that weird?

Following.

My only thought on the matte framing without glass..It might get dusty and difficult to clean?

ETA: FH is weird about displaying photos in public areas of the house. He says he feels like we're "advertising" ourselves. However, I love putting pictures up everywhere, so I just stick my tongue out at him and hang them anyways. Why have photos taken if you aren't going to use them?

I've been doing my own research on wedding albums, size, resolution, print quality etc and learned A LOT.

Isn't it weird how all photography is usually shot in 2:3 ratio yet all frames are awkward like 8x10?

But the most important thing to consider is resolution pixels and what your printing company prints in quality and the colour code used.

You can always crop pictures using online print companies that print in Photographic Archival paper that will lasts 100 years or longer and provide more paper options you can find. These also include online software that allows you to change your pictures, blow them up, shrink or crop to the specific dimensions of your print.

Look around for those instead since you can upload your pictures and play with them how you like. Order and have them shipped.

I am fortunate my photographer shot 4000 x 2667 resolution and provided edited photos in sRGB colour code with 350DPI which should work nicely with the online company I plan to print my wedding album with using the Fujicolor Crystal Archive Paper in Silk or Lustre finish.

VC-thanks! I will check into that. Thankfully her resolution and coloring is phenomenal! I could literally blow one of these up to mural size and still have great quality... Just was trying to figure out the best way to work with the odd ratios!

@mrs voegs--supposedly the deep matte prints don't collect dust or finger prints like glossy photos do...im sure some dust would settle on the frames (but it would with glass too) and I could just blast them with a little air...

Great questions! First of all, it's your home and if you want to be surrounded by photos of the best day ever, you get to do that. It doesn't get any better than that when personalizing your home. Second, I'm glad you brought up the photo developing issue. I am so glad for these forums. You guys have saved me tons of frustration and money! I will address with our photog and will be more prepared. Thank you!

Depending on the background, your photographer could photoshop extra space without it being very noticeable. (Content aware cropping) I asked by photographer to shoot wide and crop tight. This way the raw photos can be edited to my needs. Most photographers shoot in raw and shoot very large photos. You only really need 300 dpi to print. Larger is fine, that will allow you to extend the photo if you want a poster-sized print. You can play with mats in addition to custom framing.

ETA: spelling. Also, I'm not a pro, but hopefully they'll weigh in.

I would ask a framing workers at a frame store or michaels, they usually have good advice. Our home is COVERED in pictures of us, our friends, our family, and our pups. It's our home, we love having pictures to remember all the fun times.

Are you able to contact your photographer and ask them to format certain photos for you to be printed in standard photo frame sizes? I just met with a photographer yesterday and he said I should be able to got to Michaels or a similar store and get matted frames in the sizes he shoots in. Also, if you can't display pictures of yourself in your own home, then where can you lol.

I like foam core and photo float mounting better than frames....but a white matted thick black frame looks good. You can do a diagonal wall in one area of the house, and also an album is a great way to include more and have more of a story, why I love them.

@Jay- Thank you! can you give me some more insight about the actual images? Is it likely that my photog shot wider and the versions she provided are edited/cropped to fit those more unusual sizes like an 8x12? If so- should I ask her about re-editing a few for common size frames?

I do like floating mount photos, and hadn't really thought about that.I will look into it.

Also- what are your thoughts on the deep matte paper? Any other suggestions?--not a fan of super glossy.

@APZ - from what I know, it's because most photographers shot 2:3 ratio which is why it fits 8x12 better since that is the ratio.

As for paper, from what I read MATTE is really nice but for wedding pictures, I heard LUSTRE and SILK are best as the colours stay true, minimal finger prints, no glossy sheen etc. I think MATTE may make your colours a bit dull looking.

VC- so you think sticking with the current ratio for prints is the only/best option? Do you think it is likely that she actually shot farther away (had more blank space) and cropped it out, while maintaining that ratio? or that she shot exactly the photo I received plus edits on color/light? I know this sounds cheap--but printing in standard sizes for standard frames would be SO much easier and cost effective, but if I do that with some of the photos as is-I will totally lose the effect of them- and not be able to see some of our loved ones in the photos.

ETA: I will check out the lustre and silk! thanks.

I have no insight on the prints themselves, but I love photos everywhere! Right now we live in a teensy apartment, so most of our photos are in the hallway (H has his Star Trek posters hanging in the living room...), but once we have more space, we'll have pictures everywhere.

My only rule is that I don't want other people's faces in the bedroom (I do not want my late Granny looking at my bedroom activities!), so if there are photos in there, they're of us.

@-APZ - unless they used some sort of wide angle lens but from what I can tell, almost all pictures are just straight up 2:3 ratio. If her pictures were not in that ratio, then she obviously cropped it. She MAY have zoomed in because she wanted to cut out something.

For that, you can asked her which ones she did (if she can remember). Then you can take those un-cropped ones and redo them yourself.

But as far as I know, most pictures are always in 2:3 ratio so you will have to cut something else out to fit 8x10 or other sizes.

It makes NO SENSE to me why photos are one size and then prints can be different. it's like 4x6, 5x7 and 8x12 work but 8x10 doesn't...

Thanks VC---looks like ill end up doing a mix of 5x7(these just look so tiny on a wall to me!), 8X12 and maybe 1 or 2 even larger!

I'll end up going custom if I frame or may look into the floating mounts Jay mentioned!

Bumping because i know there are more photogs than jay here!

Deep matte is a nice option, semi lustre is my usual go to personally....deep matte is also lovely and. colors pop nicely....so do monochrome images. If the images are high resolution / 300 DPI and not resized then you can easily print large, like 20x30. Any less common size is also doable if the crop points can work with how each image is composed, negative space, if you need help with that let me know. I like to think rules of thirds and tend not to go centered and static. Certain sizes require cropping...most digital camera frames are 2/3 ratio, so this is why 4x6" 8x12, 24x36 and the same ratios do not require cropping.

If you wanted to show me the images in question i can give an opinion.

Jay here is an example- if I do an 8x10 my brother and husbands grandad are cut partially out.