Pro talk: What does it mean?

As a photographer who is daily immersed in pro terms such as archival, fine art texture, full wrap, etc., these terms are normal lingo for me. But being that my clients are not usually professional photographers, all the terms I use at consultations or ordering appointments can start to get overwhelming. This is a slimmed down guide to common pro photographic terms to help you determine what is best for displaying your personal art.

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Photographic Prints

What I would say: Archival photographic prints boast museum-grade semi-matte surface with unwaveringly accurate, brilliant color. Rated as archival to last a lifetime and beyond, the fine art linen lustre is consistently our most popular print. Available as loose, frame-ready prints carefully mounted white acid-free museum board for a stability over time.

What this means: The prints I offer are not 2 to a sheet, cut it yourself, flimsy prints. Sized from 4×6 up to 30×40, these prints are meant to last. My computer is calibrated to the lab I use for exact replica color every single time. To add a luxury quality, all of the ready-to-frame prints I offer have a slight linen texture and are mounted to a stiff board so they cannot bend.

When to buy a print: Loose prints can be best used by placing in a frame. Smaller sizes (under 8×10) can also be set on an easel. I also offer prints that are fully mounted, framed and ready to hang.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

What I would say:  These works of fine art make a lasting impact on viewers with vivid giclee color reproduction. Canvas is pre-stretched and wrapped onto 100% solid wood framing  and delivered with a sawtooth or hanging wire to make mounting on your wall a breeze. A 1.5” width standing out from the wall makes our canvases feel sturdy and luxurious while giving depth to the images. Our gallery canvas is rated archival and made with acid-free material to last for many decades of enjoyment.

What this means: Giclee is a type of printing (fine art digital prints made on inkjet printers). This type of printing means your canvas looks somewhat like a painting on canvas but with sharp details of a photographic print. Smaller canvases are hung with a sawtooth hanger and nail while larger canvases are hung with a wire across the back of the canvas (with the weight of larger canvas, you will need to make sure to hang on a stud or drywall mount). Canvas is UV coated for extra protection in high sunlight areas and easy to clean with dry cloth.

When to buy a canvas: Gallery wrapped canvas is a favorite amongst clients for larger wall pieces and multiple story wall galleries. When you see a giclee canvas in person, the quality is absolutely stunning. Canvas is incredible sturdy for high traffic area and won’t show finger prints or dirt smudges. It’s basically my favorite way to display photography on the wall.

Layflat Album

What I would say:  Our Keepsake Album features seamless full panoramic prints that allow you to showcase entire images across the page. Ideal for unobstructed presentations. Every album cover is fully customizable for your unique needs – from full wrap images to luxurious two-tone leathers. A refined take on printed books, the Keepsake Album uses the latest printing and binding technology to deliver a high-end, high-capacity album.

What this means: Albums are our favorite thing to make as it is the perfect way to display your full photo session. The spreads (2 pages) lay completely flat so there is no weird center crease that disrupts the storyline. With the ability to hold upwards of 50 pages, you can fit every favorite inside. And the cover is yours to customize too! This album is made to last.

When to buy an album: Albums are the answer to “how in the world am I going to choose from all of these pictures”. Your senior session is created to be a story and an album is the absolute best way to tell that story from beginning to end. We believe that every photography client should own an album of their session so that you can relive the whole day time and time again.