What photo print style should I choose?
While it’s easy to snap away on your smartphone and store thousands of photos in the palm of your hand, nothing quite beats the feeling of holding a printed photograph. It offers a far more tangible connection to memories and moments that you can display proudly in your home or keep on your person. There is an art, craft, and joy to photo prints that digital screens just can’t replicate.
Whether it's candid snapshots of your holiday or professional portraits for a portfolio, photo prints capture what was important to us at a particular moment in time. Let’s explore which photo print style you should choose by taking a closer look at the different kinds out there!
Types of photo print styles
1. Standard photo prints
Standard photo prints are the most common and affordable style of photo printing. They come in a traditional rectangular shape, a range of standard sizes and can be printed on photo paper with either a glossy, lustre or matte finish. They’re a great option if you want to preserve your digital memories in a physical format - from holiday shots to group selfies - and can be printed in either colour or black and white.
Here are just some of the many sizes we can print standard photo prints:
- 6" x 4"
- 7" x 5"
- 8" x 6"
- 10" x 8"
- 12" x 8"
- 4" x 4"
- 5" x 5"
- 6" x 6"
- A4
- A3
- A2
2. A-size prints (large photo prints)
A-size prints refer to the larger-sized prints (starting at around 8.5x11 inches). These prints are slightly larger than standard sizes, allowing you to print more detail and create a truly visual impact upon gifting and/or displaying. Plus, this larger size also makes them good for personalised photo frames.
Common large prints in A-sizes include:
A1 - 594 x 841 mm
A2 - 420 x 594 mm
A3 - 297 x 420 mm
A4 - 210 x 297 mm (standard 8.5 x 11 in)
Large photo prints are best when you want to make an impact with your gift or fill up a large space on your wall. You’ll need to take image quality into account though, as a blown-up image with low resolution can make the final print look pixelated, blurry, disproportionate or a combination of all three.
3. Square photo prints
Square photo prints have equal width and height, usually dimensions such as 4x4", 5x5” and 6x6". Square prints put the focus on the photo's central subject without any distracting orientation, and are often reminiscent of vintage photos, like retro-style or Instax photo prints. The main advantage of small prints is their compact size, making them great to carry with you in the back of your phone or in your purse or wallet.
4. Small photo prints
As the name suggests, small photo prints are physically smaller in size, usually around 2x3 or 3x5 inches. Their compact size makes them easy to carry around or pop in the post, and they can be printed in large quantities. Small prints are economical and good for creating wallets or sharing casual snaps with friends. We even have a guide on how to decorate with small prints - including tips on how to decorate every space of your home.
The great thing about small prints is their cost efficiency - meaning you can print many photos in one go for a fantastic price. If you can't decide on just one or two photos to print, getting several small prints can be a good option. You can print multiple photos from a holiday, special event, or other special moment in your life.
5. Retro photo prints
Retro prints mimic the style of old photographic processes like Polaroids and black and white snapshots. Effects like faded colours, vignettes, or white borders add that vintage (or Instagram!) look. Retro prints go great with themes like old-school, nostalgia or photo booths. The nostalgic style of retro prints makes them popular for things like newborn photos through to holiday snaps. They also work well for parties or wedding photos where you want a romantic and timeless aesthetic.
6. Lustre photo prints
Lustre photo prints have a pearl-like glossy finish that is not overly shiny. Lustre prints have richer colours with excellent detail and clarity. The glossy coating also provides some minor protection for the print, but fingerprints can easily show on lustre, so be careful when handling! Lustre is a popular option for high-quality photo printing.
7. Metal photo prints
What are metal photo prints? Essentially, metal prints are made by infusing dyes directly onto sheets of aluminium to create vibrant colours with stunning detail. The sleek metal surface creates very crisp, clean prints without texture – a look that many prefer for images with tons of detail. Plus, metal prints have an ultra-modern, high-tech look and feel.
Another benefit of metal prints is that they’re extremely durable and waterproof. They can be displayed with or without a frame, as due to the rigid aluminium backing, it’s durable enough to be supported on its own.
When should I gift photo prints?
Giving a photo print as a gift is a thoughtful way to showcase your relationship with the recipient. Here are some of the best occasions to present a custom photo gift:
Birthdays
A photo collage or framed print makes for a fantastic personalised gift to commemorate a milestone birthday. For kids, choose fun casual snapshots that represent their interests and highlights from the past year. For adults, pick meaningful moments from throughout their lives or during your relationship.
Weddings
When it comes to wedding gift ideas, photo gifts are popular for bridal showers, engagement parties and wedding favours. The couple will appreciate custom prints like canvas wall art of their engagement shoot, guest book inserts with engagement photos, or framed wedding portraits.
Mother's Day/Father's Day
Not sure what to gift for Father’s or Mother’s Day? They’ll cherish photo books and framed prints of their children. For new parents, choose shots of their baby's first year, or for parents of adult children, pick family photos from throughout the years.
Anniversaries
Mark a special anniversary by remembering fond memories with a custom photo print, collage or album to showcase your journey together with meaningful photos from each year.
Move-in dates
Housewarming gifts like canvas prints and metal photo panels featuring photos of good times spent together will add a personal touch to their new home.
Reunions
If it's been a while since you've seen each other, a photo gift commemorating your friendship is the perfect reunion present. Choose fun casual photos that show the fun times you’ve had together in the past.
Glossy vs. matte photo finishes - Which is better?
When choosing photo prints, one of the key decisions is whether to get a glossy or matte finish. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages, such as:
Glossy photo prints
- Produces vivid, saturated colours
- Creates a luminous, wet glossy appearance that brings out details
- Fingerprints, smudges, and dust tend to show up more on glossy prints
- The high-gloss finish can be prone to glare in bright lighting
- Glossy paper tends to curl more than matte finishes (if they aren’t hung up properly!)
Matte photo prints
- Provides a more muted, softer colour palette that gives a more natural look and feel
- Has a flat, non-reflective appearance that avoids glare
- Feels smooth, but has more texture than gloss
- Hides fingerprints and smudges better than glossy prints
- Can lose some vibrancy and pop compared to glossy prints
We hope this guide has helped you decide on the types of prints you can buy and when to gift them. Check out the Max Spielmann blog for more photo inspiration and information on our prints, personalised products and much more.
