Select The Right Photo Size For Your Home

Deciding on the right photo size for your portrait is crucial. A gigantic image that barely fits above your fireplace mantle makes the whole thing daunting and hard to look at. I mean, have you ever walked into a room and fell as though the close-up, ginormous portrait was watching you? That’s the result of having chosen the wrong print size for an image. It can get creepy.

On the other hand, ordering a portrait a size too small carries the risk of hardly anyone noticing it. Ask your photographer in Sydney what’s the best print size for your photo if you’re in doubt.

It’s not difficult to pick just the right photo size for your home. Consider the following:

Face size

First, to be able to figure out the ideal print size for a photo you need to determine the face(s) size. If you have a close-up photo of your baby, its print dimensions shouldn’t be bigger than 11x14 inches. This is the ideal size for putting it in a bedroom, hallway, or on a large desk/table, many Sydney photographers would advice.

Your goal is that people seeing the photo from up close do not feel daunted by its size. So, as a rule of the thumb, a person’s face in a photograph shouldn’t be larger than it is in real life because you risk it looming over a room in domineering way.

At Forever Beautiful Images, a Sydney photography services agency, we recommend that for family portraits where more than 4 people are in it, you can go big. But, hold your horses.

Unless you have a 30 ft high ceiling, your family print photo shouldn’t be bigger than 24 x 30 or 24 x 36. This is a photo you will usually hang above a couch, bed or fireplace mantle. It has a dominating size and it will catch the eye of every person entering the room so don’t overdo it.

Choosing this print size for a family portrait ensures facial expressions are easily discernible within viewing distance and one doesn’t have to get close up to the photo to make out beautiful photo details.

If you want to hang a family portrait in a bedroom, playroom or hallway the ideal print size is in the range of 20 x 24 and 16 x 20, considering the viewing distance is normally about 8 to 10 feet. To calculate viewing distance estimate the distance between where you usually sit in a room and where the photo will be placed.

Room/Wall Size

Context is also important. A 13 x 18 sq ft living room cannot host a portrait that’s 24 x 30 inches. It will be too big for its own good.

Consult your photographers in Sydney to determine the best photo size for your rooms. While you can choose whichever size you please, professional photography services in Sydney can help you make the best decision.

Forever Beautiful Images offers photography services in Sydney. After your photo shoot we can consult with you on what’s the appropriate print size for your images and ensure it blends well with the décor, style and colors of the room you’re planning to place it.