Displaying Your Artwork In Style
My clients love to select high impact or statement portraits that showcase their family and can be displayed in an area of their home where they can enjoy seeing it every day. I always advise them to choose areas in their homes where they ‘live’ the most, but also where others will see their portraits.
Upon booking your photography session with Reflections of Life, you’ll be sent a customized welcome packet that includes a little gray card. It has a non-permanent adhesive on the back, allowing you to place it on a wall in your home that you’re considering for your new artwork. Please take a photo of the gray card as straight on as you can, from as far back as you can, and email it to me at karen@rolphoto.ca. You’ll want to ensure that we can see the floor, ceiling height, and furniture in the room if possible. I’ll use the image you send me to determine how I’ll compose your session images, and also to decide on the colours I’ll incorporate during your shoot.
You’ll be invited in to the studio about a week after your Photography Session for your Ordering and Design Appointment. Using specialized software and the image of your wall, I will show you the wall collections I’ve pre-designed for you. These are images from your session that I think work best together and are the correct size for your space. They will show you exactly what your beautiful new artwork will look like in actual size, black and white or colour.
During your Ordering and Design Session you’ll select your favorite images, and decide on the appropriate portrait sizes for your walls. We will play with your pre-designed wall collection until it’s absolutely perfect. There are three main things to consider as we’re designing it.
1. Room Size: Consider where the portrait may hang. Is the ceiling height 8 feet or 15? How large is the wall and the room itself? Can you see the portrait from 20 feet away? These factors play a large role in determining the best size possible. Your family room, formal living or dining room, the entrance to your home – all of these are very popular choices for where to hang portrait art.
2. Face size: Being able to see everyone’s expression is very important. For an average size room, with a viewing distance of 8-10 feet, a face height of at least 4″ to 6″ is recommended. Any smaller and expressions are lost, and you won’t experience the viewing pleasure you deserve.
3. Viewing distance will also determine portrait size. Again, I recommend face sizes in the portraits to be at least 6″ based on an average viewing distance of eight to ten feet.
This family photograph is one of the most impressive captures of your family to date – showcase it in style! What better way to brighten your day than to walk into a room filled with portraits of the memories we captured during your session?
How To Determine Sizing
In this example I’m showing one statement piece over a sofa for illustrative purposes. You may also consider a large family portrait over a mantle, a buffet, a bed, or a hall console, or several portraits as a wall collection. The same concept for determining size applies.
• A horizontal (or square) focal piece of art portrait should be at least 50-75% as wide as the sofa it hangs above. For example, if your sofa is 80 inches wide (6.5 feet), choose a portrait that is at least 40 inches wide.
• Many people hang art too high on the wall. I believe art looks best when centred on the wall space above the sofa, with the bottom edge of the frame approximately 6 to 9 inches above the back.
• Most clients enjoy the contemporary look of our gallery wrap canvases, and they are a great value because they do not require glass and framing. However if you will be hanging a large print, please allow an additional 3-6 inches around the portrait for a custom framed piece.
• Whether you choose one statement portrait, or a grouping of smaller portraits and space them 2-3 inches apart, just ensure the overall space you cover is at least 70% of the width of the wall area.
Finished Wall Collection Sample
You can review my gallery wrap canvases, standouts, wall portraits and additional products by visiting the products page, here.
