Why we all Should Print our Work

In my previous post I wrote about how I had recently purchased a small Canon Photo Printer (Selphy CP1500). I have been using the printer for a few weeks now and I have found it has given more enthusiasm to get out a take more picture. I have been experimenting with the option in the Selphy Iphone App and thinking about how creative I could be with such as small postcard image format. While I have been doing that I have been thinking about why we all don’t print our work more. Many people take photos solely via our mobile phones and these images never leave their digital format. One reason why more people don’t print is Social Media. We want that instant image of what we are doing and then the instant gratification of likes and shares via Social Media. Another is the perceived cost of printing.

In my short experience of printing my work I have found I think more about the composition of the images I take which means I slow down more this also flows onto the printing process. I am not rushing to take that image just so I can then rush to upload it to Social Media. I know this goes against all the current philosophy of making things go ever faster. I maybe only printing in postcard size but I still need to think about composition and because it’s a much more affordable way of printing I can experiment a bit and make mistakes. Finally I think printing your images putting them into a frame or even gluing them to card to make postcards that you can write message on the back off is a unique idea for gifts for friends and family. So why not give it a go?

Photos in frames and one glued to white card.

White card for gluing to the back of the image.

The image I used for my printing exercise.