Printing your photos is an overlooked part of photography. In the age of social media, we usually never see our photos in tangible form. Unless you are shooting in film, you typically transfer the images, edit and post. What’s missing from that process is the satisfaction of holding a piece of art that you painstakingly worked on.
One of the most important reasons to print your photos is because it enables you to take your art seriously. When you look at your images on a screen, it is easy to get lost in other things that are in your way. When you have a singular print, everything is focused on it and it alone.
When asked about printing photos, third-year photography student Nina Cammarata said, “It’s therapeutic!” She continued, “While it may be a hassle to grasp and understand at first, you will be surprised at how much better your work will become as you begin to see it on a larger scale.”
Many photography jobs are still based around print media. You need to have an understanding of why photos work, and how they will turn out when you send them to the printers. Not every image is created equal —you will be surprised at how minor changes create huge differences.
Printing your photos also make you stand out in interviews. While many photographers use a website to showcase their images, bringing a tangible book of prints can set you apart from the crowd. This can also help with exhibition and gallery opportunities.
SCAD Atlanta professor Suellen Parker Shockley teaches photography classes that focus on the process of print, including PHOT 150 – Scanning and Printing the Color Image. In one of her lectures, she said, “Printing your photos is not a one shot and done process. Getting what you see on the screen onto the page requires patience and tweaking. While it is tedious, you will be rewarded in the end.”
