In the age of digital photography, few people still print their images. We are used to storing them on clouds, hard drives, and other digital mediums. But there are reasons why printing shouldn’t be forgotten and why it’s still an important part of the photography process. In his video, Peter McKinnon gives some excellent points about it. Even if you’ve completely switched to digital – there are a few good reasons why printing the photos is still relevant and irreplaceable.
1. Prints help you understand your photography
Printing an image gives you much more insight into details than observing it on the computer screen alone. Photos can look way different when printed. I haven’t printed my images too often since I went digital, but when I did make prints, I was always surprised – either positively or negatively.
Sometimes, the printed photos give even better result than they were on the computer screen. Other times, they make you realize that some images aren’t as good as you thought. Either way, printing helps you understand your photos better, learn what you need to change, and improve your photography.
2. Printing adds up to the experience of photography
In the era of film photography, there was an entire process that came after taking the photos. You would need to dedicate some time to developing the photos in the dark room, and it was the second part of the photography process. Just like taking the pictures, developing them was an important part f the process of creation. In the digital era, this is partially replaced with Lightroom, but it doesn’t give you the same feeling.
If you print digital images, you can bring back that second half of the process of image creation. If you print at home, you can pick put the paper you want, the frame, print several version… And this way, you can get the whole excitement of dark room all over again.
Where to print
Now, when it comes to printing, you can do it at home, or send it to a print shop. Printing at home can give you that feeling of creation, but not all of you want to buy a printer. In that case, sending the images to the lab is also a good option. After all, waiting for the tangible images to arrive and see what they look like can be pretty exciting, too.
3. The prints are there to stay
When you capture a fantastic shot, edit it and post it online, it is a form of sharing. People will react to it, and you will inspire others. But after you post other images, this one just gets pushed down in the feed, and people will rarely go back to it. Even you probably won’t look back at it after a while. In Peter’s words, it becomes the part of your digital past.
With prints, it’s different. When you print the image you love, it can be an inspiration to both the others and yourself. You can print your dearest pictures and hang them on your wall, as reminders of some great moments and inspiration for the future.
Prints of your photos also make a wonderful gift for someone who appreciates your work. With printed photos, people don’t just double-tap them and forget all about them after a while. And while we’re at gifts – Peter is giving away one of his prints, and if you want it, you can leave a comment on his video.
Although Peter doesn’t mention it, I feel the need to do so: when you print the selected photos, you won’t be that stressed if the digital storage fails. Of course, you will still lose some of the images, but if you have printed the most important ones – you will still have precious memories saved. I learned it the hard way, and I’m currently in search of a good photo lab in my area.
These were some of the points that should encourage you to print your photos even though it’s the 21st century and everything is digital. I am convinced, both because of my experience and because of the video. What about you? Do you print your images or you’re entirely digital? If you do print them, what are your reasons? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
[You NEED to be printing your photos!! Here’s why.. | Peter McKinnon]
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