Digital Files vs Printed Artwork
One of the questions I’m often asked is whether I offer digital files, and I totally get it. I understand that as a parent, you want these digital copies as a backup. You want to be able to make your own duplicate prints for friends and family, or to make thank you cards, or a cute calendar! You might also want to have the option to share your photographs via email or on social media. Let me start by saying digital files are always available, but let’s first explore the reasons why we focus on printed artwork.
- When your images are transformed into physical prints, you can truly enjoy them every day in your home. That wall art piece that makes you smile every time you walk past it. The album that has become the perfect tool for bonding with your child as you flick through it together. The collection box that holds the story of who your family is now.
- There is research evidence that having portraits of your children displayed around the home gives them a heightened sense of belonging, and even increases their confidence & self-esteem. What better reason to put up those prints!
- Artwork which is printed using archival papers and inks are designed to last a lifetime so that you can eventually hand them down to your children one day. They become family heirlooms, and part of your family's legacy for the next generation to treasure.
- In order to guarantee accurate colours, perfect sharpness for the print size and the highest quality materials that will stand the test of time, it's always best to print professionally through your photographer rather than a consumer print lab on the high street, where there is much less control over these factors.
- Holding your printed portraits is a tactile experience, you're taking something tangible away from your portrait session and that feeling can't be matched with a USB drive. Clients have told me there's nothing quite like seeing their images printed and almost jumping off the pages of their album! They love holding the weight of their baby's print collection and feeling the different textures of their printed products. For me, there's nothing better than seeing my work printed large and displayed proudly up on a client's wall. In any case, printing is what really brings your images to life!
- Let's be honest, digital files on a USB always eventually end up getting lost in a drawer. They are shared once and enjoyed at the time, but later they are forgotten about and often don't see the light of day again! When I create artwork for a family, it's for the purpose of bringing you daily joy in your home, and presumably that's why you pay me too! :-)
- Something worth noting about digital files is that they are not archival and will eventually corrupt. We always encourage families to make backups of their digital files in at least 2 different places for this reason. Anything that you wish to keep long-term should always be printed, whether it was captured professionally or on your smart phone.
So, while the focus of my portrait business is printed artwork for the reasons above, you'll be happy to hear that I do have a compromise! I always provide the matching digital image with every print purchased, so you'll end up with the best of both worlds! The digital copy is perfect for making your own small duplicate prints, as well as for sharing online with your friends and family. And I can sleep well at night knowing you're going to have the highest quality prints to enjoy at home every day!