Wall Art and Photographs Matter In Interior Design

When we moved into our house and built an extension we painted all the walls white, put in beautiful accent coloured furniture, and it look beautiful... and maybe a little clinical?

The day that all changed for me was when I began to put our photos on the wall… with just a few well placed framed prints, the main room turned from a house into a home… and I know this is the sort of thing that people say, but it really did transform the space, and when my children got home from school they were so excited to see their beautiful faces adorning our walls. I think it made them feel special, important and loved?

My boys are big fans of looking at photos and videos of themselves on our phone immediately after we’ve taken them, we have a smile and a giggle, but the moment is fleeting, and while I take tens of thousands of photos each year, they never get looked at past this initial viewing, occasionally a posting on Facebook or Instagram, and the books I create, or photos I print.

The last two are the ones I cherish, the ones I remember, and more importantly, the ones my boys will remember for the rest of their lives… because when you think about it, a lot of our memories - especially the early ones - quite often aren’t memories of events at all, but memories of photos we flicked through time after time in a shoe box or an album, or looked at every time we walked past the mantlepiece.

Huge framed photograph of a large family on a wall in beautiful modern white home with splashes of yellow

For all the reasons I’ve mentioned above and more, I believe printing your photos and adorning your walls with them is the only right thing to do after your photoshoot… When I first started my photography business I used to offer just digital images, but after a while, when people came back year after year, and told me “I must print those photos, they’re still on a USB in my drawer” it made me really sad, and really confused why they were bothering to come back and get updated photos when they weren’t displaying them, sharing them and enjoying them.

Photography in the home reportedly makes children feel valued and gives them a rich understanding of where they come from.

In 2009 I read an article in the Daily Mail that said research had revealed “Children whose parents display family photographs in the home grow up with greater confidence and sense of belonging” – I believe in this so much that I saved a link to the article.

Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester said “We cannot underestimate the power of photographs to keep us feeling linked to others and belonging… For children in particular, looking at photographs is part of the socialising process; learning who you are and where you fit into the family. By displaying photographs of our children at different stages of their lives, we are making a very public statement that we are proud of them.'

So when you look at my packages, and see that they all include printed images with complimentary digital images you now know why… The prints are why we do this… and in an ideal world you will print huge wall art and hang it on every wall not just because it’s beautiful, and it’s your family, and you want to see them grow and display their gorgeousness for the entire world to see; but because every time your child walks past that picture, be they 3 years old or 30, they will think… “that’s me, my parents must be so proud of me to want to look at me on their wall… and my Nanny must love me too because she has that photo where we’re having a cuddle in her living-room”.

One of the most basic principles of interior design is that every room needs a focal point, that will instantly draw the eye into the space. It goes without saying that a piece of wall art displaying your family could easily fulfil this position.

Imagine your favourite artwork hanging above the mantle of a fireplace in your living space or standing proudly above the bed in your master suite. Alternatively, a creative gallery wall could easily spice up a more traditional dining area.

When choosing a piece of wall art to be a focal point for your space, the most important consideration is size. Too small will get dwarfed by the surrounding furniture. I always advice clients to take measurements of the wall space available, so you know how much room you have at your disposal.

Engagement photos taken in a studio printed and mounted

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by Joanne Lewis • 4 December 2020

A picture of Santa and me...

12 Day Christmas Giveaway - Day 3

by Joanne Lewis • 3 December 2020

... Buy one, Get one Free*

12 Day Christmas Giveaway - Day 2

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... a second print using the same photo for free*

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... a mounted print of a photo she's created for me*

Unbelievable Photography deals Black Friday 2020

by Joanne Lewis • 26 November 2020

I couldn't let Black Friday 2020 go by without some amazing deals for my wonderful and valued customers... I've missed you all so much this year, but have loved the few shoots I was able to squeeze in between lockdowns and Home Education. With all the optimism I can muster for next year (I am naturally a pretty positive person) I am offering some spectacular deals on vouchers for my Hertford Studio and outdoor or on-location sessions next year (packages may be given as gifts, but please confirm preferred locations around Hertfordshire and some parts of London, Cambridgeshire and Essex with me before booking).