How to choose which family photos to print

Avoid overwhelm with my guide to choosing the perfect photo display for your home

After your family photoshoot, you have received your gallery filled with beautiful images. Your gallery can be enjoyed in many ways. Viewing them digitally lets you see the full story—the connections, the fleeting moments, the way it all flows together—while printing is about celebrating the images that stand out, the ones that feel uniquely yours. Digital keeps every memory within reach; print brings the most meaningful ones into your daily life.

However, choosing which photographs to print can be overwhelming. I know this because I put off printing for years due to analysis paralysis.

After lots of trial and error, I came up with a framework that helps me narrow down the choice. This guide will help you choose in a structured way, whether you're framing a single statement piece, creating a wall gallery, or placing prints around your home.

Don’t start by picking the photographs. First, choose where you want to put your prints

Where do you want to put your prints? In which rooms? Who will see them and how often? Will they be in freestanding frames on top of a sideboard? Or do you have an empty wall that you want to bring to life? Choosing where you want to place your prints first will help you narrow down your choices in terms of how many photographs you’ll be printing, their size, colours, and look.

Then, choose how to display the photographs. This will help you select which photos to print

There are many ways to display your photographs. The main ones are loose frames, a wall gallery, a single statement wall piece or a photo collage. Each serves a different purpose, helping you showcase your images in a way that best fits your home and decor.

Loose frames for shelf or tabletop displays are best for personal, intimate portraits that can be swapped over time

Choose a mix of black & white and colour for added interest and a mix of different sizes for variety. Avoid photographs that are too busy with detail. Due to their small size, it should be immediately clear to the viewer what they’re looking at. Choose simple compositions and colour palettes.

Tip: Stick to sizes like 4x6”, 5x7” or 8x10” for easy placement in frames. Refresh them regularly or move them around your home.

A wall gallery is best for telling a story through multiple images in a cohesive display

A wall gallery is a collection of framed prints arranged together. It adds balance and cohesion to a space, creating a beautiful focal point without overwhelming a room. Combining close-up portraits with wider scenes adds visual interest, while choosing a consistent editing style or colour palette ensures harmony. Avoid an overly busy look.

Tip: Mix portrait and landscape orientations to add variety, or keep it visually cohesive by arranging the frames into a defined shape—such as a square or rectangular layout. This lets you showcase multiple images without needing a single oversized print while still making an impact. Lay out a digital mock-up or arrange prints on the floor before hanging.

A single statement print on the wall is best for a bold image that stands out on its own

Choosing the right one can be the hardest decision, as it’s deeply personal and depends on your style, preferences, and the surrounding environment. For me, a true statement photograph feels like something you’d find in an art gallery, or an image that resonates deeply, rather than a traditional posed portrait. But the right choice is whatever speaks to you. Is there a photograph that made your heart stop? Choose that one.

Opt for a strong composition with a clean background or a subject that naturally draws the eye. Alternatively, select an image rich in detail that invites closer engagement from the viewer. Black & white adds timeless elegance, while a colour print should complement the room’s palette for a harmonious look.

Tip: A statement print should be high quality to do it justice—choose a premium framed fine art print with art glass for lasting impact. Consider landscape orientation above furniture or portrait format for a narrow wall.

A photo collage is best for capturing a variety of moments in a limited space

A collage is a single framed print with multiple images. It works beautifully in high-traffic areas like hallways, staircases, or above a desk, where you can enjoy the details up close.

Choose photographs with a mix of expressions and interactions to create a dynamic feel, or images with a common thread (e.g., a day in the life, sibling interactions, baby’s first year) or colour palette. Ensuring a consistent editing style—whether all black & white, warm tones, or soft pastels—helps create a cohesive look.

Tip: Use a simple frame with a wide mount to keep the collage looking clean and intentional.

Lastly, keep it simple with the finish 

The choices for printing photographs are vast—fine art, mounted, unmounted, framed, canvas—you name it. 

I like to keep it simple. For my own displays, I choose mounted fine art prints in a sleek wooden frame—either white, black, or oak. Fine art paper ensures a smooth surface, enhanced durability, and archival quality—qualities typically found in art galleries and museums. The mount guarantees a visually stunning and long-lasting presentation. 

These are the same high-quality products I offer through my online galleries, sourced from specialist suppliers for artists and photographers only. This means you get expertly crafted prints without the overwhelm of endless choices.

No matter how you choose to display your photographs, each print becomes part of your home’s story. Don’t overthink it!

Do you want me to capture your photographs to display?

I’d be delighted to be the photographer capturing where you’re at as a family. With my reportage-style family photoshoots, no photograph is the same. If you’re considering a hassle-free family session at your home in London, to refresh your family photographs, I’m the person for you.

(Not quite ready? Download my brochure instead, so you can be sure we are the perfect fit!)