Table of Contents

1. Why Should You Print and Display Your Family Photos?
2. Best Practices for Printing Your Images
    - Family Photo Cropping Tips
    - The Best Places to Print Your Family Photos Online
3. Creative Ways to Display Your Family Photos at Home
    - Traditional Photo Display Options
    - Creative Photo Display Alternatives
4. Gallery Wall Examples: Sizing, Colors, and Layouts
    - Gallery Frame Sizes and Layouts
    - How to Build a Gallery Wall in Your Bedroom
    - How to Build a Gallery Wall in Your Living Room
    - How to Build a Gallery Wall in Hallways and Mudrooms
    - Color Tips For Your Gallery Wall
5. How to Involve Your Kids in the Process of Displaying Family Photos
6. Seasonal Refreshes: Updating Your Family Photo Displays Throughout the Year
7. Storing and Preserving Your Prints
8. Final Thoughts on Printing and Displaying Your Family Photos at Home

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Why Should You Print and Display Your Family Photos?

There’s something special about walking past a photograph and pausing—even if it’s just for a second—to remember. Maybe it’s your child’s first muddy hike, your family’s lazy Sunday in pajamas, or something more fleeting like your first pregnancy. These are the moments that shape your days and your life. Seeing them in print transforms memories into anchors in your home.

When photos are locked away on phones or hard drives, they’re easy to forget. When you print and display your family photos, you’re not just decorating a space—you’re creating an environment that reflects what matters most. These prints become part of your family’s daily rhythm, grounding you in the story you’re still writing.

Printed family photos:

• Help you connect more deeply
• Personalize and warm your space
• Offer a lasting, tangible record of your family’s story

And let’s be honest—there’s no comparison between a glowing screen and a photo you can hold in your hands.

Best Practices for Printing Your Images

Before you can display your images, you need to decide where (and how) to print them. I include a comprehensive photo cropping, printing, and storage guide with every Vermont Family Session gallery I deliver because I want you to get the absolute most out of your images.

Here’s a peek into that process:

Family Photo Cropping Tips

• Use native ratios when possible: For example, a photo sized 4×6 will look its best printed at 8×12—not 8×10, which requires trimming part of the image.
• Avoid tight crops: Make sure no heads, hands, or toes are too close to the edges. A little breathing room keeps your images feeling balanced.
• Check your orientation: Horizontal shots don’t always translate well into vertical frames. Use a tool (or my portal!) that shows you a preview before committing.

The Best Places to Print Your Family Photos Online

Ordering prints directly through your online gallery means you get:

• Guaranteed color correctness
• Cropping that I’ve reviewed and approved to maintain your image’s integrity
• Professional-quality paper and finish designed to last

If you’re printing elsewhere, I recommend:

• Mpix: Great quality and reliable colors (they also have tons of gallery wall layout inspo here!)
• Artifact Uprising: Beautiful fine art options and photo books
• White House Custom Color: Exceptional print quality with a beautiful, timeless finish

Please skip big-box stores and one-hour labs when you can—they’re convenient but don’t preserve the colors and feel of your session as well.

Creative Ways to Display Your Family Photos at Home

You don’t need a full renovation or endless wall space to make your photos a meaningful part of your home. Here are some ways to thoughtfully integrate them into your daily life:

Traditional Photo Display Options

• Gallery Walls: A timeless favorite. Whether uniform or eclectic, gallery walls tell a layered story.
• Bookshelves: Add a frame or two among your favorite reads and keepsakes.
• Coffee Table Books: A printed book full of your family’s moments is perfect for sharing and reliving together.
• Photo Albums: The classic kind with sleeves you slip your images into. This has become one of my favorite ways to keep family photos safe and accessible.

Creative Photo Display Alternatives

• Instant Film/Polaroids: Great for adding a playful, nostalgic element—plus I offer these as add-ons for all family sessions!
• Magnets: Turn small prints into fridge art. Bonus: your kids can rearrange them anytime.
• Cork Boards: Mix photos with kids’ art, notes, birthday cards, and found treasures.
• Shadow Boxes: Add tiny keepsakes like hospital bracelets or shells from your beach day.
• Photo Ledges: Stack and layer multiple prints for a relaxed, lived-in look and swap images to match the changing seasons.
• Recipe Boxes: Stick printed photos in your recipe boxes to flip through as you search for your favorite meals and desserts. (This is hands down one of my favorite ways we’ve chosen to save keepsakes and images).

Think of your home as a living gallery—it should reflect your real, beautiful life.

Gallery Wall Examples: Sizing, Colors, and Layouts

Creating a gallery wall is one of the most beautiful and impactful ways to showcase your family photos. It’s also the display option I get the most questions about. Whether it’s the heart of your living space or a more private corner of your home, these curated walls can spark daily joy.

Gallery Frame Sizes and Layouts

• Symmetrical Grid: Use 6–9 same-size frames (like 11x14s with mats) spaced evenly for a polished look.
• Asymmetrical Story Wall: Combine different sizes (5×7, 8×10, 12×18) with a unifying frame color.
• Linear Display: Line 3–4 frames in a row, perfect for hallways or over beds.

How to Build a Gallery Wall in Your Bedroom

Bedrooms are intimate, personal spaces—perfect for displaying photos that bring comfort, love, and peace. For a bedroom gallery wall:

• Stick to softer tones and warmer frames like natural wood or brushed gold.
• Use symmetrical grids above the bed or dresser to create visual harmony.
• Feature more candid, cozy moments—snuggles, sleepy mornings, or black-and-white portraits.
• Keep it minimal with 3 to 5 frames for a calm, restful vibe.

This space is for you—let the photos reflect the beauty in the quiet parts of your family’s story.

How to Build a Gallery Wall in Your Living Room

Your living room is often the heart of your home—where you gather, entertain, and unwind. It’s the perfect place to tell a dynamic story through photos. For a living room gallery wall:

• Consider larger prints (like 12×18 or 16×20) to fill the space with impact.
• Mix frame styles if you like an eclectic feel, or go sleek with matching frames for a modern look.
• Incorporate photos from milestone events and favorite adventures—moments you love to talk about.
• Emily Henderson has some of my very favorite tips for building a unique gallery wall. Here is what she has to say!

Lay it all out on the floor first, or use painter’s tape to visualize spacing on the wall. Most importantly—have fun with it!

Pro tip: Artwork and frames can go closer to your furniture than you think! Aim for 6-12 inches for a more elevated look.

How to Build a Gallery Wall in Hallways and Mudrooms

These often-overlooked spaces are perfect for gallery walls that evolve over time. Hallways and mudrooms are high-traffic areas—your family walks through them every day—so why not fill them with reminders of love, adventure, and growth?

For a hallway gallery wall:

• Think linear: A horizontal row of matching frames works beautifully in narrow spaces.
• Use uniform sizes (like 8x10s or 11x14s) for a clean, streamlined look.
• Try a chronological story—photos arranged from oldest to newest to show your family’s journey.

For mudrooms:

• Embrace a more playful or rustic feel: Mix wood frames, clips, or even wire and clothespins.
• Include seasonal snapshots, school portraits, or silly outtakes.
• Add small shelves for baskets or hooks underneath for a functional/photo combo.

Color Tips For Your Gallery Wall

• Monochrome: All black-and-white images with black frames = timeless and clean.
• Natural Tones: Wood frames and warm edits work beautifully in cozy, earth-toned homes.
• Bold Pops: Pair colorful photos with minimalist frames for a modern contrast.
• Checkerboard: Alternate between color photos and black-and-white photos for a balanced look. (Peek at my Instagram feed as an example)

Lay it all out on the floor first, or use painter’s tape to outline your layout on the wall. Trust your eye—it’s your story.

Pro Tip: Keep tabs on close-up vs far away shots and—much like alternating between black-and-white and color images—try to balance things out.

Whether you lean toward classic or eclectic, gallery walls offer one of the most powerful ways to print and display your family photos with intention.

How to Involve Your Kids in the Process of Displaying Family Photos

Making this a family experience can be rewarding. Ask your kids which photos they love best. Let them help choose a spot for their favorite print or decorate a corkboard in their room. They’ll feel seen and proud—and more connected to the family stories those photos tell.

Pro Tip: give them Washi Tape and let them tape prints to their walls or furniture!

Even something as simple as making a monthly ritual of choosing new fridge prints can become a sweet tradition.

Seasonal Refreshes: Printing and Displaying Your Family Photos Throughout the Year

You don’t have to commit to the same frames all year long. Seasonal refreshes are a fun way to keep things feeling current and meaningful:

• Spring: Brighten things up with playful outdoor shots.
• Fall: Lean into warm tones and cozy in-home session photos.
• Holidays: Swap in a few prints from years past—holiday baking, tree cutting, or snowy walks.

Floating shelves, ledges, and small clipboards make switching things up easy.

Storing and Preserving Your Prints

Not all photos will end up on the wall, but that doesn’t make them less valuable. Here’s how to store them well:

• Use archival-quality boxes or albums to prevent yellowing over time.
• Keep prints away from direct sunlight and moisture.
• Include notes on the back or in your album about the date and story behind the photo.

A sturdy keepsake box can hold your memories safely, ready to be enjoyed anytime.

Printing and Display Your Family Photos: FAQs

Q: How Many Photos Do I Need For My Gallery Wall?

A: The exact amount depends on how much space you have, what else is on your wall (and beneath it—like furnature) and how big your frames are. Most gallery walls are at least three photos and that is if the prints are on the larger side. Many people choose 6-12 photos. Sometimes more!

Q: Shoud All My Frames Be The Same Size?

A: They definitely don’t need to be. It depends on your style and vision. (I personally love different sizes.) Varying sizes can make a gallery wall a tad more interesting. But, you’ll want to lay your framed image out on the floor and move them around to find the shape, order, and spacing you like and that works on your wall. Don’t forget to trust your eye! There is no right or wrong here — if you like the way something looks, go with it! If it feels off to you, make a switch!

Q: Should All My Photos Be Black and White? Can I Mix-and-Match?

A: You can totally mix and match! Alternate black-and-white and color images for a balanced look. If you’re building a gallery wall similar to the “Living Room” example above, trust your eye and still do your best to create some kind of balance.

Q: How Do I Pick the Best Frames For My Gallery Wall?

This comes back to your style and vision. Thrifted frames can be very fun and have a more playful and vintage look. If you like a more modern feel, going black never hurts, and if you like a more natural look, wood is a great option.

Final Thoughts on Printing and Displaying Your Family Photos at Home

Your family photos are more than pixels on a screen—they’re mini time capsules of the pure joy, chaos, love, and growth happening in this season of life. Whether framed above your bed, clipped to a mudroom wall, or nestled in a coffee table book, these images help you relive and reread your story every single day.

If you’re dreaming about bringing more of that everyday magic into your home, I’d love to help. My Full Narrative Family Session includes everything you need to start printing and displaying your images with intention—including five 5×7 prints of your choosing, hand-packaged by me and delivered right to your doorstep.

There are so many ways to print and display your family photos—from cozy bedroom moments to playful kid-created collages. However you choose to do it, you’re building a visual legacy your family can see and feel every day.

Ready to create something beautiful together? Explore Vermont Family Photography Session Packages and let’s turn your fleeting moments into prints and displays you’ll love.

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Additional Vermont Family Photography Resources

Whether you’re ready to print and display your images or you’re in the planning stages of your session, the resources below will give you a head start!

The 15 Best Family & Maternity Photo Locations in Vermont
What to Wear For Family Photos (Tips & Photo Examples)
The Best Time of Day For Family Photos