Why Stop at Digitals?

Every now and then, something happens in this job that completely baffles me. Families spend weeks (sometimes months) planning the perfect portrait session. Outfits are coordinated, hair is brushed (for at least five minutes), and somehow everyone manages to show up on the day — kids, pets, grandparents, the whole crew.

We have a brilliant session together, full of laughter, snuggles, maybe a few bribes with snacks, and we capture these gorgeous moments that feel so them.

And then…

…they stop at the digital files.

Now don’t get me wrong, I get why digitals are appealing. They feel practical. Convenient. Safe. But honestly? I’m always a little confused when this happens. Because if the end goal was just to have a folder of images on your computer or phone, what was the point of all that effort? Our phones take pretty great photos these days. The reason people hire a photographer is because they want something more. Something lasting. Something worth the wrangling, the outfit debates, the tears, the laughter, and the investment.

And that “more” doesn’t live on a USB. It lives on your walls.

The “I’ll print them later” trap

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had someone say, “We’ll just order the digitals and print them later.” And maybe a few people do. But do you know what I hear just as often?

“We still haven’t printed our wedding photos.”

Or, “Our baby is now in high school and I still haven’t printed the newborn shoot.”

Life gets busy. Files get buried. One day it’s on your to-do list, the next it’s ten years later and those images are still sitting on a hard drive you’re not even sure you can plug into a modern computer anymore.

And that makes me sad — not for me, but for the families who invested so much into their session and never get to truly enjoy the finished product.

Why prints matter

Here’s the thing: printed photographs change the way we connect with our family stories.

It’s not just about decoration (although a framed family portrait can transform a space like nothing else). It’s about belonging. For children especially, seeing their photographs displayed in the home sends a powerful message:

You are loved. You are important. You belong here.

Research even shows that children who grow up seeing themselves in family photos develop stronger self-esteem and a deeper sense of identity. A folder of digital files can’t do that.

When your images are hanging on the wall, in a frame on the shelf, or collected into an album, they’re woven into your everyday life. They become part of the rhythm of your home, the background to your days. You see them when you walk past, when you’re making coffee, when you’re tidying the living room. They’re not hidden away, they’re lived with.

My own family wall

I practice what I preach. In our house, we have a gallery wall that we update every year with our latest family portraits. It’s become a tradition — one that not only keeps our home fresh but also reminds us of the way our family shifts and grows each year.

And it’s not just one wall. We’ve got icetile collections scattered throughout the house too, so no matter where you are — the kitchen, the hallway, the bedroom — there’s a little piece of our story on display. It makes the house feel like our home, not just a place we live.

And honestly? I can’t imagine not having that.

The myths about digital files

There are a couple of big myths that trip people up when it comes to digitals versus prints.

Myth 1: Digitals are cheaper.
Not with me. My printed products actually include the matching digital files because I don’t want families to have to choose between one or the other. But when people go for “digitals only,” thinking they’re saving money, they often end up with less value in the long run — and nothing tangible to show for it.

Myth 2: I’ll definitely get around to printing them later.
I touched on this already, but let’s be honest: life happens. The kids need new shoes, work deadlines pile up, someone gets sick, and suddenly printing those photos is way down the list. And the longer you leave it, the less likely it is to ever happen.

Myth 3: Digitals are enough.
Sure, they’re convenient for sharing online or sending to grandparents. But they don’t give you the same experience as walking past your wall every day and seeing your family smiling back at you. They don’t transform your home. They don’t stop you in your tracks the way a framed piece of art does.

Why I love wall art collections

For me, wall art collections are the game-changer. One framed print is beautiful, but a thoughtfully arranged collection turns a blank wall into a story — your story. It pulls a room together in a way that no store-bought artwork ever could.

I’ve walked into homes where family portraits are the very first thing you see, and I can’t tell you how much warmth and personality it adds. Whether I took the photos or not, I always love seeing them. It’s proof that this family values their story enough to put it front and centre.

So yes, I’ll admit — part of me is amused by the idea of going through all the effort of planning and booking a professional portrait session only to tuck the results away in a digital folder. It’s a bit like baking an elaborate cake and then never actually eating it.

But mostly, I just feel sad for families who miss out on the best part of the process. Because the truth is, digital files aren’t the finish line. They’re just the middle step. The real magic happens when your photos come to life in print — when they fill your walls, your shelves, your hands, and your heart.

A gentle nudge

So if you’re planning a family session (or even if you’ve had one recently and your digitals are still sitting on your laptop), here’s my gentle encouragement: don’t stop halfway. Your family deserves to exist in more than pixels.

Let’s create something you’ll see, touch, and enjoy every day — not just when you remember to scroll back far enough in your camera roll.

If you’d like to chat about what’s possible for your home, I’d love to walk you through some of the beautiful options we can create together. Prints aren’t just products — they’re your family’s story made tangible.